Kaoyan English flashcards

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

Cloze lexical cohesion

A blank is often completed by a word that collocates with a word outside its own sentence; scan the surrounding clause for the fixed partner (e.g., 'play a vital role').

Contrast connectors

Words such as however, whereas, notwithstanding, and albeit signal that the clause opposes the previous idea; they determine whether a blank takes a positive or negative word.

Cause-effect connectors

Consequently, hence, therefore, and thus mark a result; because, since, and owing to mark a cause. The blank's direction depends on which logical relation the sentence needs.

Fixed preposition idioms

Verbs and adjectives take fixed prepositions: depend on, result in, result from, account for, subject to, in light of. Memorize the whole phrase, since single-word meaning cannot decide the blank.

Parallel structure clue

When a blank sits in a list or paired construction, the answer must match the grammatical form of its parallel element-same tense, same part of speech, same singular or plural number.

Referential pronoun blanks

Blanks filled by it, they, this, such, other, or another are resolved by locating the noun phrase they refer to in the preceding clause; number and countability must agree.

Paraphrase answer rule

In Reading Part A, the correct option restates the passage in different words; an option that copies passage wording verbatim is frequently a trap designed to reward surface matching.

Overgeneralization distractor

An option containing all, always, never, or only is usually wrong unless the passage states the absolute claim explicitly; correct answers tend to preserve the passage's hedges.

Inference question test

The correct inference must be necessarily true from stated facts alone; if an option requires outside knowledge or a probable but unstated assumption, it is incorrect.

Author versus quoted attitude

Attitude questions ask about the writer, not about scholars quoted in the text; distinguish the author's hedged evaluation from the opinions attributed to cited researchers.

Negative question handling

For 'which is NOT true' items, verify each option against the text and mark the three that are supported; the remaining unsupported option is the answer.

Detail question scanning

Locate the keyword or its synonym in the passage, then read the whole sentence and its neighbor; the answer often depends on a qualifier just before or after the keyword.

Heading matching function

A correct heading captures the paragraph's overall function-definition, example, contrast, or conclusion-not a single detail; reject headings that cover only one sentence.

Paragraph ordering signals

Pronouns referring backward (this, such), definite articles, and connectors (first, however, therefore, finally) indicate sequence; a result cannot precede its cause.

Statement-to-paragraph matching

Keywords in the statement rarely appear verbatim; search for synonym clusters and paraphrased claims concentrated in one paragraph, then confirm no other paragraph fits better.

Distractor heading trap

A distractor heading reuses vocabulary from the paragraph but misstates its function or scope; check that the heading describes the whole paragraph rather than echoing words.

Distinctive-first elimination

In Part B, assign the most distinctive headings or statements first; remaining items are placed by function and discourse flow, which narrows choices reliably.

Sequence verification

After ordering paragraphs, reread the transitions between adjacent pairs; each boundary must make logical and referential sense, and any broken link signals a misplaced paragraph.

Translation splitting rule

Long English sentences are split at relative clauses, participial phrases, and appositives; each part becomes a separate Chinese clause to preserve grammaticality and clarity.

Passive to active conversion

English passive constructions often become active or subjectless Chinese sentences; keeping the passive literally produces unnatural phrasing that loses fluency marks.

Explicit connector rendering

Logical connectors such as however, therefore, and while must appear explicitly in Chinese (然而, 因此, 而); omitting them erases the argument structure and costs points.

Modifier placement in Chinese

English postmodifiers move before the noun in Chinese or become separate clauses; avoid stacking multiple 的 constructions, which reads as ungrammatical.

Technical term consistency

Translate technical terms with one fixed Chinese equivalent throughout; when no standard term exists, keep the English term in parentheses after a descriptive rendering.

Exactness of proper nouns

Names, numbers, and dates in Part C must be reproduced exactly; omitting or inventing information is penalized even when the surrounding sentence reads fluently.

Formal letter closings

Use 'Yours sincerely' when the recipient is named and 'Yours faithfully' when addressed as 'Dear Sir or Madam'; the wrong pairing is a visible format error.

Purpose statement opening

The first sentence of a Part A letter or email states the purpose directly ('I am writing to apply for…'); burying it later weakens task achievement.

Content point coverage

Every content point listed in the Part A prompt must be addressed in its own sentence or two; an uncovered point loses task-achievement marks regardless of language quality.

Formal register control

Formal letters avoid contractions, slang, and vague fillers; short unambiguous sentences and formulaic phrases such as 'I would be grateful if you could…' maintain register.

Part A word count

The short applied writing task requires about 100 words; falling below 80 or exceeding 130 risks penalty, so count roughly by lines before finishing.

Three-paragraph essay structure

Part B essays use description of the picture or chart, interpretation of its meaning, and comment with a recommendation; each paragraph has a distinct function.

Description versus interpretation

The first paragraph states only what is visible-figures, labels, trends; interpretation of causes and significance belongs in the second paragraph and must not intrude.

Chart data citation

Chart essays cite selected figures with comparison ('rose from 20% to 45%', 'accounted for nearly half') rather than listing every number; comparison demonstrates analysis.