hypothesis、assumption、presumption与supposition这些名词均有“假设、假想”之意。
hypothesis : 书面用词，指有待作进一步检验或证实的假设。
- Several hypotheses for global warming have been suggested.
已经提出了好几种全球变暖的假说。
assumption : 侧重主观推测或主观设想。
- People tend to make assumptions about you when you have a disability.
如果你有残疾，人们往往就会对你妄加臆断。 - These calculations are based on the assumption that prices will continue to rise.
这些计算是基于价格会继续上升这一假定之上的。
presumption : 着重指以可能性为依据的假设。
- The presumption of innocence is central to American law.
美国法律的核心是无罪假定。 - There is no scientific evidence to support such presumptions.
并无科学依据支持这样的推测。 - The decision is based on the presumption that all information must be freely available.
这个决定是建立在一切信息都必须免费提供这一假定之上的。
supposition可与assumption换用，还可表某种试探性的主观看法或建议。
- That article was based on pure supposition.
那篇文章纯粹是基于推测。
