An assumption is something a person believes without checking it carefully. Assumptions can help people make quick sense of a situation, but they can also lead to misunderstanding. If a friend does not reply to a message, someone may assume the friend is upset. If a coworker asks many questions, someone may assume the coworker is criticizing the work. In both cases, the person may react to an idea that has not been proven. The situation may have a simple explanation, but the assumption changes how the person sees it.

Assumptions shape understanding because they influence what people notice and how they interpret it. Once a person believes something, the person may look for details that support that belief and ignore details that do not. This makes it harder to see the situation clearly. A better approach is to separate facts from guesses. The fact may be, “The message has not been answered.” The guess may be, “The person is upset.” When people learn to separate these two things, they become better readers, listeners, and decision-makers.

SPEAK

1. What is an assumption?

2. What example does the article give about a friend not replying?

3. How can an assumption change how a person sees a situation?

4. Why can assumptions make it harder to see clearly?

5. What is the difference between a fact and a guess?

1. Explain why assumptions can be useful but also risky.

2. Give an example of a fact and a guess.

3. Explain how separating facts from guesses can help communication.

LISTEN

I think assumptions can make people react to something that may not be true. A person may believe they understand the situation, but they may only be responding to their own guess. Separating facts from guesses helps people slow down and understand more clearly.

• What did the speaker say?

• How do you respond to the speaker’s opinion?

• Use the reading to support your response.

WRITE

Write 5–7 sentences about how assumptions can affect understanding. Include one example of a fact and one example of a guess.