NB G7 PIF Reading key terms

The central message or big idea about life that a literary work communicates, usually revealed through what characters learn, how conflicts resolve, and repeated patterns rather than stated outright.

The most important point an informational text makes about its topic, supported throughout by details and evidence. It differs from a topic, which is merely what the text is about.

Specific facts, examples, statistics, or quotations that explain, prove, or elaborate on a main idea. They answer questions like how, why, or what evidence exists.

A conclusion a reader draws by combining clues in the text with prior knowledge. The text does not state the idea directly, so the reader must reason from evidence.

Details stated directly and clearly in a text, leaving nothing for the reader to figure out. Questions about explicit information can be answered by locating the exact words on the page.

Words, phrases, sentences, or data taken directly from a passage and used to support an answer, claim, or interpretation. Strong responses quote or cite such evidence precisely.

The way an author reveals a character's personality, motives, and changes over the course of a story through actions, dialogue, thoughts, and reactions of others.

The reason behind a character's behavior: the needs, wishes, fears, or goals that drive what the character says and does in a story.

The sequence of events in a narrative, typically moving through exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, with each event connected by cause and effect.

The central struggle in a story, which may pit a character against another person, against nature or society, or against inner doubts and desires. Conflict drives the plot forward.

The turning point of highest tension in a story, where the main conflict reaches its peak and the outcome begins to become clear.

The part of a story following the climax in which the conflict is settled and loose ends are tied up, sometimes called the denouement.

The series of events after the story's introduction that builds suspense and complicates the conflict, leading the reader toward the climax.

The time and place in which a story occurs, including historical period, season, weather, and social surroundings. Setting often shapes mood and characters' choices.

The perspective from which a story is narrated, such as first person, third-person limited, or third-person omniscient. It controls what information readers can access.

The voice or persona that tells a story. A narrator may be a character within the events or an outside observer, and is not the same as the author.

The attitude a writer or narrator expresses toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, sentence structure, and details. Tone might be humorous, solemn, or sarcastic.

The emotional atmosphere a text creates in the reader, built through setting details, imagery, pacing, and word choice. Mood is the feeling the reader experiences.

Language that departs from literal meaning to create vivid comparisons or effects, including similes, metaphors, personification, and hyperbole. It helps readers picture ideas freshly.

A comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as, such as describing someone as brave as a lion. It highlights a shared quality.

A direct comparison that states one thing is another without using like or as, such as calling hope a lighthouse. The comparison conveys qualities beyond literal meaning.

A figure of speech giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea, as when wind whispers or opportunity knocks. It makes abstract or nonhuman subjects relatable.

Descriptive language appealing to the senses that helps readers see, hear, smell, taste, or feel what is described, often creating mood and making scenes memorable.

Specific words describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. They make writing concrete and help readers experience a scene rather than merely learn about it.

The use of an object, person, or event to stand for a larger idea beyond its literal meaning, such as a caged bird representing lost freedom. Symbols deepen a text's meaning.

Words, phrases, or sentences around an unfamiliar word that suggest its meaning. Types include definitions, examples, synonyms, antonyms, and general sense of the sentence.

A word part attached to the beginning of a base word that changes its meaning, such as re- meaning again or pre- meaning before. Recognizing prefixes helps readers decode unfamiliar words.

A word part attached to the end of a base word that changes its meaning or part of speech, such as -less meaning without or -tion forming a noun.

The basic part of a word that carries its core meaning and remains after prefixes and suffixes are removed. Roots often come from Latin or Greek.

The emotional or cultural associations a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning. For example, thin is neutral while scrawny suggests criticism.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from the feelings or associations it may evoke. Denotation is the objective core meaning.

The way an author organizes information in a passage, such as cause and effect, comparison and contrast, chronological order, problem and solution, or description.

Transition words and phrases such as because, however, first, or as a result that show how ideas relate. They help readers follow a text's organization.

The reason a writer creates a text, commonly to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. Purpose shapes the content, structure, and tone an author chooses.

An author's deliberate selection of words and phrases to create precise meaning, tone, and effect. Analyzing word choice reveals why a particular word works better than an alternative.

A brief restatement of a text's main ideas and key details in the reader's own words, leaving out minor information and personal opinion.

A thinking and reading skill that examines similarities and differences between two or more subjects, people, events, or texts to reveal meaningful patterns.

The skill of combining information from multiple texts, or from text and other media, to build new understanding, note agreements and disagreements, and draw conclusions.

A firsthand account or original document created by someone who experienced an event, such as a diary, letter, photograph, or speech. It offers direct evidence.

A source that interprets, analyzes, or summarizes information from primary sources, such as a textbook chapter or encyclopedia article. It is one step removed from the original event.