CASAS flashcards

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

Listening for main idea

The answer states what the whole message is about, not one detail. Cue words include mainly, mostly, and the speaker's purpose in the first or last sentence.

Clarification request phrases

Polite ways to ask a speaker to repeat or explain: Could you repeat that? Did you say fifteen or fifty? Can you spell that? These often appear as correct answers.

Reduced speech forms

Spoken contractions test takers must recognize: gonna means going to, wanna means want to, kinda means kind of, and 'ja' often means did you.

Sequencing words in instructions

Words such as first, next, then, after that, and finally tell the order of steps. Test items ask what happens second or what comes before a named step.

Dial 211

Free, confidential referral line in the U.S. and Canada for food, housing, utility, health, and counseling help. It is not for emergencies; emergencies go to 911.

Dial 311

Non-emergency municipal line for city services such as trash pickup, street repair, noise complaints, and code violations. It does not dispatch police or fire.

Public library services

Free to local residents: borrowing books, computer and internet access, printing, English classes, citizenship and test-prep materials, and children's programs.

Sliding fee scale clinic

Community health center that charges patients according to income rather than a fixed price. Many accept uninsured patients and offer reduced or no-cost care.

Unit price calculation

Total price divided by the number of units. Comparing unit prices shows which package is cheaper per ounce, pound, or item when quality is the same.

Successive discounts

Discounts applied one after another multiply. Twenty percent then ten percent off equals 28 percent total off, not 30, because the second applies to the reduced price.

Sales tax computation

Final cost equals price times one plus the tax rate. At 7 percent tax, a 40-dollar item costs 42.80 because 40 times 1.07 equals 42.80.

APR versus interest rate

APR includes fees and points, so it is higher than the stated interest rate. Loans and credit cards should be compared by APR, not by advertised rate.

Simple interest formula

Interest equals principal times annual rate times time in years, written I = P × r × t. A 1,000-dollar loan at 5 percent for 2 years costs 100 dollars interest.

Prescription label order

Read patient name, drug name and strength, directions for dose and frequency, warnings, and refill information. Directions state how much and how often to take.

Take with food

Instruction meaning to take the medicine during a meal or immediately after eating, usually to reduce stomach upset or improve absorption of the drug.

Insurance deductible

The amount a patient pays for covered care before the insurance plan begins paying. Premiums are paid monthly regardless; co-insurance is the share after the deductible.

Adult vital signs

Normal resting ranges: temperature about 98.6 Fahrenheit, pulse 60 to 100 beats per minute, breathing 12 to 20 breaths per minute, blood pressure below 120 over 80.

Emergency warning signs

Call emergency services for chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or facial droop, slurred speech, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness.

STAR interview answer

Structure answers as Situation, Task, Action, Result. Describe the setting, your responsibility, what you did, and the concrete outcome or lesson.

Gross versus net pay

Gross pay is total earnings before deductions. Net pay is take-home pay after taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and benefit deductions are subtracted.

Overtime pay rule

Under U.S. federal law, covered employees earn 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek, unless an exemption applies.

Résumé section order

Contact information first, then a summary, then work experience listed most recent first, then education, then skills. Recruiters scan the top third first.

Three branches of government

Legislative makes laws, executive enforces laws, judicial interprets laws. Each branch limits the others through vetoes, appointments, and judicial review.

Bill of Rights protections

First Amendment covers speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. Fifth protects against self-incrimination. Sixth guarantees a speedy trial and a lawyer.

Voter registration deadline

Most states require registration before Election Day, often 15 to 30 days prior. Some allow same-day registration; mail ballots also have return deadlines.

Traffic stop requirements

When stopped, a driver must show a license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Refusing a chemical test can lead to license suspension.

Percent of a number

Multiply the whole by the rate divided by 100. Fifteen percent of 80 is 80 times 0.15, which equals 12. This is the most common consumer math item.

Percent change formula

New value minus old value, divided by old value, times 100. A price falling from 50 to 40 is a 20 percent decrease because 10 divided by 50 is 0.2.

Mean, median, mode

Mean is the sum divided by the count. Median is the middle value when ordered. Mode is the most frequent value. Outliers shift the mean more than the median.

Customary unit conversions

12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, 5,280 feet in a mile, 16 ounces in a pound, 4 quarts in a gallon. Multiply to convert to smaller units.

Active recall

Testing yourself without notes, such as answering practice questions or explaining a topic aloud, produces stronger memory than rereading or highlighting the same material.

Spaced practice

Spreading study of one topic across several short sessions over days. It produces more durable recall than one long session of the same total length.

Error log method

A record of each missed question with its type, the mistake made, and the rule that prevents it. Reviewing the log focuses study on weak areas.

Total monthly housing cost

Compare rent plus utilities, parking, laundry, and fees, not rent alone. A cheaper rent with paid utilities may cost more overall each month.

Security deposit return

A deposit, often one month's rent, returned after move-out minus itemized deductions for damage beyond normal wear. States set a return deadline, commonly 14 to 30 days.

Renter's insurance coverage

Covers the tenant's personal property and liability inside the unit, not the building structure. The landlord's policy covers the building, so the two are separate.