In common usage both assume and presume can mean ‘suppose’ and are ofteninterchangeablein 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 twowords。
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 thejournalistswent 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
答案：assume presume
