CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Main idea

The central point the passage is built to convey; it is broad enough to cover every supporting detail and is often stated in the topic sentence.

Supporting detail

A specific fact, example, statistic, or description that explains or proves the main idea by answering who, what, when, where, or how much.

Valid inference

A conclusion not stated outright but logically required by details the author actually provides; it is more than a guess or a restatement.

Topic sentence

The sentence that announces a paragraph's subject and controlling idea; it usually appears first but may appear last or be implied.

Transition words

Words such as however, therefore, and finally that signal contrast, cause, or sequence and show how ideas connect within a passage.

Sequence of events

The order in which actions occur in a passage; time words like before, after, during, and meanwhile mark that order and are frequently tested.

Chunking for retention

Grouping separate pieces of information into meaningful clusters so more items can be held in working memory and recalled later.

Subject-verb agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb; phrases between them do not change the verb's number.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement

A pronoun must match its antecedent in number and gender; each, everyone, and nobody are singular and take singular pronouns such as his or her.

Comma splice

Two independent clauses joined by only a comma; correct it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

Sentence fragment

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, a finite verb, or a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone.

Parallel structure

Items in a list or comparison must share the same grammatical form, such as all gerunds, all infinitives, or all nouns.

Affect versus effect

Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence; effect is usually a noun meaning the result produced by a change or action.

Active voice

The subject performs the action, as in "The officer wrote the report," which is clearer and more direct than the passive construction.

Percent formula

Percent equals part divided by whole, times 100; to find a part, multiply the whole by the percent converted to a decimal.

Percent change

Subtract the original amount from the new amount, divide by the original amount, then multiply by 100; a positive result is an increase.

Ratio and proportion

A ratio compares two quantities; write it as a fraction and cross-multiply to solve a proportion such as 3/4 = x/12.

Average (mean)

Add all values and divide by the number of values; reversed, sum equals mean times count, which reveals a missing value.

Order of operations

Evaluate parentheses first, then exponents, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right.

Distance formula

Distance equals rate multiplied by time; rearranged, rate equals distance divided by time and time equals distance divided by rate.

Deductive validity

An argument is valid when the conclusion must follow from the premises; validity concerns structure, not whether the premises are actually true.

Contrapositive

From "if A then B" it follows that "if not B then not A"; this is the only reversal that is always logically equivalent.

Necessary condition

A condition that must be present for the outcome to occur; without it the outcome cannot happen, though it may not guarantee it.

Sufficient condition

A condition whose presence guarantees the outcome, even though other conditions might also be able to produce that same outcome.

Correlation versus causation

Two events occurring together does not prove that one causes the other; a third factor may explain both.

Process of elimination

Removing answer choices that clearly violate a stated rule or fact narrows the remaining options and improves accuracy when guessing.

Active listening

Fully concentrating on the speaker, reflecting back what was heard, and confirming understanding before responding; it reduces miscommunication and defensiveness.

De-escalation

Reducing tension through a calm tone, physical space, and non-threatening language before a situation escalates into violence.

Chain of command

The formal line of authority in an organization; concerns and reports move to the immediate supervisor before going higher.

Objective documentation

Recording observable facts, times, and exact quotes rather than opinions, labels, or conclusions about a person's character.

Confidentiality

Sharing information only with persons who have a legitimate need to know, in accordance with agency policy and applicable law.

Implicit bias

Unconscious attitudes that can influence judgment; countering them requires checking decisions against consistent, objective criteria.