CA POST PELLETB 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 that covers the entire passage; correct answers summarize all paragraphs rather than restating one supporting detail.

EXCEPT questions

Questions where three choices are supported by the passage and the correct answer is the one the passage does not state or directly contradicts.

Inference question

Asks what the passage implies; the answer must be logically forced by the text and require no outside knowledge or personal assumption.

Extreme wording trap

Answer choices containing always, never, all, or none are usually wrong unless the passage itself uses that absolute language.

Author's purpose

The reason a passage was written, such as to inform, explain, persuade, or describe; the purpose is signaled by verb choice and organization.

Paraphrase answer choice

A correct choice restates the passage's meaning in different words; word-for-word copies with one swapped word are traps.

Tone from word choice

An author's attitude is revealed by loaded verbs and adjectives, so judge tone by specific words rather than by subject matter.

Clear pronoun antecedent

A pronoun such as it or they must refer to exactly one preceding noun; two possible referents make the sentence unclear.

Misplaced modifier

A descriptive phrase placed too far from the word it describes, creating unintended or nonsensical meaning in the sentence.

Parallel structure

Items joined by and, or, or in a list must share the same grammatical form, such as all nouns or all gerunds.

Subject-verb agreement rule

The verb must match the subject's number; ignore prepositional phrases between them, as in "the box of files is."

Dangling modifier

An introductory phrase whose intended subject is missing from the main clause, so the phrase attaches to the wrong noun.

Conciseness rule

The best revision is the shortest version that keeps the original meaning and is grammatically correct and unambiguous.

Run-on sentence

Two independent clauses joined without correct punctuation; fix it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus conjunction.

Contrast context clue

Words such as but, unlike, or however signal that an unfamiliar word means the opposite of something nearby in the sentence.

Prefix bene-

Means good or well, as in beneficial and benevolent; it helps decode unfamiliar words by revealing a positive meaning.

Prefix mal-

Means bad or wrong, as in malfunction and malicious; words carrying this prefix have a negative meaning.

Root -cred-

Means believe or trust, appearing in credible, credit, and incredulous; it signals words about belief or believability.

Connotation

The emotional tone a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning; choose the option matching the passage's positive or negative charge.

Part-of-speech elimination

If the blank needs a noun, discard verb and adjective options first; grammar alone can eliminate many vocabulary choices.

I before E rule

Write i before e except after c or when the sound is "ay," as in receive, believe, weigh, and neighbor; exceptions include either and seize.

Doubling final consonant

Double the last consonant before a suffix when a one-syllable word ends in one vowel plus one consonant, as in stopped and running.

Dropping silent e

Drop a silent final e before a suffix starting with a vowel (make to making) but keep it before a consonant suffix (hope to hopeful).

Changing y to i

Change final y to i before a suffix when a consonant precedes it (carry to carried), but keep y after a vowel or before -ing.

Homophones its and it's

Its shows possession while it's is a contraction of it is; test by substituting "it is" to decide which form to write.

Words ending in -ceed

Only exceed, proceed, and succeed use -ceed; most others use -cede, as in precede and recede, and supersede is the sole -sede.

Contrast transition words

However, but, although, and nevertheless signal that the next idea opposes the previous one; they fit blanks where a reversal occurs.

Result transition words

Therefore, thus, consequently, and as a result signal that the second clause is a consequence of the first one.

Cloze grammar cues

Number, tense, and article agreement narrow the choices; a plural subject requires a plural verb, and "a" precedes consonant sounds.

Fixed preposition pairs

Certain verbs pair with set prepositions, such as comply with, responsible for, prohibited from, and charged with.

Cloze read-back check

After choosing an answer, reread the entire sentence with it inserted to confirm that meaning and grammar flow correctly.

Tone consistency in cloze

A formal passage requires formal word choices; slang or casual words that clash with the surrounding register are usually wrong.