Example: The assignment was to road two chapters in the textbook.

　　Suggestion: You had better read the assignment before class.

　　Assumption: So you did read the assignment after all.

　　Problem: I can't finish the assignment before class.

　　assistant professor n. a college or university teacher who ranks above a lecturer and below an associate professor 助理教授

　　Example: Dr. Green is an assistant professor.

　　Suggestion: Why don't you find out whether he is a lecturer or an assistant professor?

　　Assumption: You mean Dr. Green isn't an assistant professor?

　　Problem: I need to find out whether Dr. Green is an assistant professor,

　　assistantship n. an opportunity for a graduate student to teach or do research in exchange for a stipend 研究生助教奖学金

　　Example: Terry got an assistantship from State University.

　　Suggestion: If I were you, I would apply for an assistantship.

　　Assumption: So you did get an assistantship from State University.

　　Problem: The assistantship doesn't pay as much as I thought it would.

　　associate professor n. a college or university teacher who ranks above an assistant professor and below a professor 副教授

　　Example: Dr. Peterson Js an associate professor now, but she will be promoted to a full professor at the end of the year.

　　Suggestion: You could ask the secretary if Dr. Peterson is an associate professor.

　　Assumption: Dr. Peterson isn't an associate professor, is she?

　　Problem: If Dr. Peterson is an associate professor, I used the wrong title in my letter to her.

　　audit v. to attend a course without credit 旁听

　　Example: It usually costs as much to audit a course as to take it for credit.

　　Suggestion: You could audit the course if you don't need the credit.

　　Assumption: You mean you are auditing the course?

　　Problem: If I audit the course, I won't get credit for it.

　　bear n. a difficult class 难以对付的课程

　　Example: That computer science course was a bear.

　　Suggestion: I heard that Dr. Young's class is a real bear, so I would advise against it this semester.

　　Assumption: Your roommate thought this class was a bear?

　　Problem: Two of the classes I am in are real bears.

　　be behind v. to be late; to have a lot of work to do 迟到；课业负担重

　　Example: I am behind in my physics class.

　　Suggestion: You are behind in your psychology class so you should study.

　　Assumption: Bill is behind?

　　Problem: I can't go to the party because I am behind in my classes.