In common usage both assume and presume can mean ‘suppose’ and are often interchangeable in this meaning.

　　在常见的用法中，assume和presume与suppose有相同的含义，意为假设/假定，表示这个含义是可以相互替换。

　　However, technically there is a subtle difference between the two words。

　　然而，严格来讲，这两个词之间还有一些微小的差别。

　　1.presume is to ‘suppose to be the case on the basis of probability’:

　　1.presume表示依据一定的可能性做出的假设：

　　Two of the journalists went missing and are presumed dead.

　　两名记者失踪，推测其已经死亡。

　　2.Assume on the other hand is to ‘suppose to be the case without proof’:

　　2.Assume则表示作出的推测和假设是不基于任何依据的：

　　I just assumed it to be the case.

　　我只是假设它是这样的。

　　另外这两个词都有“承担责任”的含义，表示这个含义时，assume意为“承担一种角色”：

　　I assumed the role of the aggressor in the conversation.

　　在这个对话中，我承担起侵略者的角色。

　　Presume多表示态度有关：

　　He had presumed too great a level of familiarity.

　　他在亲密程度上有过分的冒犯。

　　小测验：选词填空

　　1.You ____ his innocence before hearing the evidence against him.

　　assume presume

　　2. With the glances she was throwing at their adopted children, I would ____ the reason was jealousy.

　　assume presume

（编辑：何莹莹）