Pancyprian Technical School English (4-hour) cheat sheet

Skim the title, headings, and first sentence of each paragraph to predict topic and text type (manual, safety notice, job advert, email, report) before reading closely.

Match the question type to a reading strategy: detail questions need scanning for a keyword; main-idea questions need the topic sentence of each paragraph; inference questions need two linked facts.

Signal words organise technical texts: sequence (first, then, after that, finally), cause and effect (because, therefore, as a result, leads to), contrast (however, whereas, unless, on the other hand).

In instructions and procedures, the imperative verb marks each step; numbered or bulleted lists mean order matters, so answer questions in the stated sequence.

Distinguish stated fact from inference: if the answer is not written in the text, it must follow directly from two stated facts, not from general knowledge.

Numbers, units, and dates are common distractors: check whether the text says 30 cm or 30 mm, 240 V or 240 W, before choosing an option.

For 'NOT mentioned' or 'EXCEPT' questions, verify each option against the text and eliminate the three that are supported; the unsupported one is the answer.

In workplace emails and notices, the purpose is often in the first two lines and the required action in the last two; the middle gives reasons and details.

Tool and process pairs: a spanner/wrench tightens nuts and bolts; pliers grip and cut wire; a screwdriver drives screws; a chisel cuts wood or metal; a file smooths surfaces.

Measurement terms: length in mm/cm/m, mass in g/kg, temperature in °C, pressure in bar or kPa, electric current in amperes (A), voltage in volts (V), power in watts (W), resistance in ohms (Ω).

Fault vocabulary: a leak loses fluid, a crack is a line fracture, a short circuit bypasses the normal path, overheating means excess temperature, wear is gradual damage from use.

Material properties: hard resists scratching, tough resists breaking under impact, ductile can be drawn into wire, brittle breaks without bending, conductive carries heat or electricity.

Fastener vocabulary: bolt (needs a nut), screw (threads into material), rivet (permanent joint), washer (spreads load), anchor (fixes into masonry).

Personal protective equipment (PPE): helmet/hard hat, safety goggles, ear defenders, respirator/dust mask, gloves, safety boots, high-visibility vest, harness.

Maintenance terms: inspection (checking condition), lubrication (reducing friction with oil or grease), adjustment (correcting settings), replacement (fitting a new part), calibration (setting an instrument to a standard).

Word building for technical English: verb to noun by adding -tion/-ment/-er (install → installation, measure → measurement, weld → welder); adjectives from nouns with -al/-ive (electric → electrical).

Passive voice is standard in technical writing: form be + past participle (The pipe was replaced). Use it when the action matters more than the doer; add 'by + agent' only when the doer is important.

Present simple describes rules, specifications, and routines (The machine runs at 1,500 rpm); present continuous describes temporary or current action (The technician is checking the valve).

First conditional for real future conditions: If + present simple, will + infinitive (If the alarm sounds, leave the area). Never use 'will' in the if-clause.

Second conditional for hypothetical situations: If + past simple, would + infinitive (If the cable were damaged, the system would fail).

Modals of obligation and permission: must (strong obligation/rule), have to (external requirement), should (recommendation), may/might (possibility), can (ability/permission), mustn't (prohibition), don't have to (no obligation).

Relative clauses define or add information: who for people, which for things, where for places, whose for possession, that for defining clauses; omit the relative pronoun when it is the object (the tool [that] he used).

Comparatives and superlatives: short adjectives add -er/-est (safe, safer, safest); long adjectives use more/most (more efficient, most efficient); irregular forms include good/better/best and bad/worse/worst.

Countable and uncountable nouns: equipment, machinery, information, advice, and safety are uncountable, so they take a singular verb and no plural -s (The equipment is new).

Prepositions in technical phrases: at 90 degrees, on the surface, in the container, under pressure, with a spanner, by hand, for maintenance, from the mains.

Decide the missing word class first: a gap before a noun is often an adjective or article; after a preposition it is a noun or gerund; between subject and object it is a verb.

Use collocation pairs as anchors: carry out an inspection, follow procedures, wear protective equipment, fix a fault, meet a deadline, take precautions, comply with regulations.

Check grammatical agreement after filling: singular subject takes a singular verb, plural noun takes a plural verb, and uncountable nouns take singular verbs.

Linkers signal the missing word's meaning: 'although' introduces contrast, 'therefore' introduces result, 'in order to' introduces purpose, 'unless' introduces a negative condition.

If two options fit grammatically, choose by meaning and register: technical reports prefer formal single-word verbs (obtain, require, commence) over informal ones (get, need, start).

Watch fixed phrases with articles: in the workplace, on site (no article), at work, in operation, under repair, out of order, on duty.

For word-formation gaps, read the whole sentence for the needed form: noun (-tion, -ment, -ness), adjective (-al, -ive, -able), adverb (-ly), or agent noun (-er, -or, -ist).

After filling all gaps, read the completed text once for coherence: tense consistency, pronoun reference, and logical flow between sentences.

Formal email layout: subject line stating the topic, salutation (Dear Mr X / Dear Sir or Madam), purpose in the first sentence, details in short paragraphs, action or request, closing (Yours sincerely with a name / Yours faithfully with no name).

Report structure: title, introduction stating purpose, findings in numbered sections or bullet points, conclusion, recommendations; use headings and keep one idea per paragraph.

Instruction writing uses the imperative and sequence markers: 'First, switch off the power. Then remove the cover. Finally, replace the fuse.' One action per step.

Formal register: avoid contractions (do not, not don't), slang, and vague words; use precise technical terms and passive voice where the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Linking devices for cohesion: firstly, in addition, moreover, however, therefore, as a result, in conclusion; use each once and place it at the start of a clause.

Describing a process: use present simple passive (The metal is heated, then it is shaped) and sequence connectors (after that, next, once, finally).

Incident or accident report content: date, time, location, people involved, what happened in chronological order, injury or damage, action taken, and preventive recommendation.

Length and task control: cover every bullet in the prompt, keep to the required word count, and reserve the final sentence for the purpose stated in the task (request, apology, recommendation).

Predict content from the situation and speaker roles before audio starts: a supervisor giving instructions uses imperatives and sequence markers; a helpline call uses questions and confirmation.

Listen for numbers, units, and names first: times, dates, quantities, and part numbers are frequent question targets and are often corrected mid-sentence ('ten, no, twelve millimetres').

Distinguish main idea from detail: the first and last turns of a dialogue usually carry the purpose and the decision; the middle turns carry reasons and conditions.

Note-taking shorthand: use symbols (→ cause/next, ↑ increase, ↓ decrease, = equals, ≠ differs), abbreviations, and keywords rather than full sentences.

Listen for discourse markers that signal a change of plan or a key instruction: actually, instead, on the other hand, so, from now on, make sure, whatever you do.

Negative and conditional instructions are common distractors: 'Don't touch the switch until the power is off' means the switch stays untouched while power is on.

In multiple-choice listening, options that repeat the exact words heard are often wrong; the correct answer usually paraphrases the idea.

Confirm understanding in dialogues through checking phrases: 'So you mean...?', 'Just to confirm...', 'Could you repeat that?', 'Let me write that down.'

Safety instruction verbs carry legal force: must (mandatory), must not/mustn't (prohibited), should (recommended), may (permitted); signs use imperatives (Stop, Wear, Keep clear).

Standard warning sequence: identify the hazard, state the risk, give the control measure (e.g., 'Danger: high voltage. Risk of electric shock. Isolate the power before work.').

Emergency communication order: raise the alarm, state location and nature of the incident, give casualty information, follow the evacuation route to the assembly point, do not re-enter.

Hierarchy of control for hazards: eliminate the hazard, substitute it, use engineering controls, apply administrative controls, then use PPE as the last line of defence.

Handover and shift-report content: machine status, work completed, outstanding tasks, faults or hazards found, and actions taken; use clear short statements and confirm receipt.

Lockout/tagout communication: state who is working, what is isolated, and that the tag must not be removed by anyone other than the person who applied it.

Reporting language for near misses and incidents: use past simple for what happened and present perfect for actions already taken ('The guard was loose. We have replaced it.').

Clarity rules for radio and telephone safety messages: speak slowly, use standard phrases, spell names with the phonetic alphabet, read back numbers, and confirm with 'received'.