BRIGHT Test key terms

The most important point a speaker or writer makes about a topic, stated or implied. Listeners and readers identify it to summarize a passage accurately.

A fact, example, or reason that explains or proves a main idea. Details answer questions such as who, what, when, where, and how much.

A conclusion a reader or listener draws from clues in a text or recording rather than from a direct statement. It requires combining evidence with general knowledge.

Information in nearby words, sentences, or the situation that helps a reader guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word or phrase.

A restatement of a text or utterance in different words that keeps the original meaning. Test questions often ask which paraphrase best matches what was said.

A short account that states only the central points of a longer passage, leaving out minor details and examples.

The sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that announces what the paragraph is about. Other sentences in the paragraph develop it.

The order in which things happen in a story or account. Signal words such as first, then, and finally show this order.

A relationship in which one event makes another happen. Recognizing it means identifying why something occurred and what resulted from it.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, or meanwhile that links ideas and shows how sentences or parts of a text relate.

The reason a person gives a talk or recording, such as to inform, persuade, warn, or entertain. Purpose shapes tone and word choice.

The attitude a speaker or writer expresses toward the subject, for example serious, humorous, or critical. Tone is conveyed through word choice and voice.

The general meaning or essential point of a spoken or written message, understood without catching every word.

An answer choice that looks plausible but is wrong because it misstates, exaggerates, or contradicts information in the passage or recording.

Writing brief keywords or symbols while listening or reading so that key facts can be recalled when answering questions later.

A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea, such as teacher, city, book, or freedom. Nouns can be countable or uncountable.

A word that expresses an action or a state of being, such as run, think, or seem. Verbs change form to show tense and agreement.

A word that describes or limits a noun, such as tall, three, or interesting. In English, adjectives usually come before the noun they modify.

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often telling how, when, or how often something happens, such as quickly or always.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens, such as past, present, or future. Consistency of tense keeps a text clear.

A verb whose past forms do not follow the usual -ed pattern, such as go/went or take/took. These forms must be learned individually.

A word such as in, on, at, or between that shows the relationship between a noun and another part of the sentence, often place or time.

A short word placed before a noun: the definite article the, or the indefinite articles a and an. Articles signal whether the noun is specific or general.

A word such as he, she, it, or they that replaces a noun to avoid repetition. A pronoun must clearly refer to the right noun.

A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses, such as and, but, because, or although. Conjunctions show how the joined ideas relate.

The form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things, usually made with -er or more, as in faster or more careful.

The form of an adjective or adverb used to compare three or more things, usually made with -est or most, as in fastest or most careful.

A sentence pattern in which the subject receives the action rather than performs it, formed with be plus a past participle, as in the report was written.

A clause beginning with who, which, or that that describes a noun, as in the woman who called. It can be defining or non-defining.

A sentence expressing a condition and its result, often using if, such as if it rains, we will stay home. Different forms show real and unreal situations.

A helping verb such as can, must, should, or might that expresses ability, obligation, possibility, or permission, followed by a base verb.

An -ing verb form used as a noun, as in swimming is healthy. Some verbs and prepositions are followed by a gerund rather than an infinitive.

The base form of a verb, often preceded by to, as in to run. It can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

Marks such as commas, periods, and question marks that organize written text and clarify meaning, including where sentences and pauses fall.