Estonian Upper-Secondary English Exam flashcards

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

Skimming

Reading quickly for the main idea and text structure, focusing on titles, first sentences and subheadings rather than every word. Used to orient before answering detailed comprehension questions.

Scanning

Searching a text rapidly for one specific piece of information such as a date, name or figure, without reading surrounding sentences in full. Effective for detail and matching tasks.

Not stated option

An answer choice describing something the passage neither confirms nor contradicts. It is not the same as false, which requires the text to state the opposite.

Inference question

An item asking what the writer implies rather than states directly. The correct answer must be supported by explicit textual evidence, not by the reader's general knowledge.

Distractor by negation

A wrong option that repeats passage vocabulary but reverses meaning with words like not, never, fail to or without. Checking polarity prevents choosing it.

Part of speech check

Deciding whether a gap needs a noun, verb, adjective or adverb before selecting a word. This eliminates options that fit meaning but not grammar.

Matching headings task

A reading item where each paragraph is paired with a summary heading. The heading must cover the whole paragraph, not just one striking detail inside it.

Reference words

Pronouns and demonstratives such as it, this, they and such that point back or forward to another phrase. Tracking them is essential for coherence questions.

Self-correction in audio

A listening pattern where a speaker gives one figure or fact, then revises it with but, actually or sorry. The revised version is the answer, not the first mention.

Signal words in listening

Discourse markers like however, in fact, the problem is and to sum up that announce where key information or a contrast appears, guiding attention during the recording.

Predicting answer type

Before listening, deciding whether a question needs a place, a number, a reason or an attitude. This narrows attention to the relevant phrase when it is heard.

Note-taking shorthand

Using symbols and abbreviations such as arrows, plus and minus signs, and shortened words to record key points quickly without losing pace with the recording.

Speaker attitude item

A listening question about how a speaker feels, signalled by intonation, stress and hedges like probably or not really rather than by explicit statements of emotion.

Two-listening strategy

On the first playing grasp topic and gist; on the second confirm details, numbers and negations. Splitting attention this way improves accuracy on detail items.

Gist versus detail

Gist is the overall message of a recording; detail is a specific fact within it. Different question types target each, so the listening focus differs.

Matching speakers task

A listening format where several short monologues are paired with statements. Each speaker expresses one distinct view, so the statements must be differentiated carefully.

Formal register

Language avoiding contractions, slang and exclamation marks, using full verb forms and polite formulas such as I would be grateful if. Required in letters to institutions.

Thesis statement

One sentence in the introduction stating the writer's position or main claim. Every body paragraph should support it, and the conclusion restates it.

Topic sentence

The first sentence of a body paragraph, announcing its single controlling idea. It makes the paragraph's function clear to the examiner.

Cohesive devices

Linking words and phrases such as however, moreover, whereas and consequently that show relationships between ideas. Variety and accuracy are both assessed in writing.

Transactional letter

A writing task with a practical purpose such as complaining, requesting information, applying or inviting. It needs a clear purpose statement and a specific request or next step.

Sign-off formulas

Standard closings in English letters: Yours sincerely when the name is known, Yours faithfully when it is not, Best regards for semi-formal messages.

Word-count tolerance

Staying within roughly ten percent of the required length. Answers far below the limit lose content points; answers far above risk errors and irrelevance.

Estonian article interference

A common error where articles are omitted or overused because Estonian has no article system. Checking a, an and the is a high-value editing step.

Present perfect rule

Use for past actions with present relevance or unstated time. Use past simple when a finished time expression such as yesterday or in 2019 is given.

Third conditional form

If + past perfect, would have + past participle. It describes an unreal past situation and its imagined result, for example if I had known, I would have come.

Passive voice formation

Be plus past participle, with the tense shown by the form of be: is made, was made, has been made, will be made. The doer follows by if mentioned.

Reported speech backshift

When reporting, present becomes past, will becomes would, can becomes could, and time words shift: today becomes that day, tomorrow the following day.

Negating prefixes

Prefixes un-, dis-, in-, im-, il- and ir- make opposites, as in unfair, disagree, incorrect, impossible, illegal and irregular. The choice depends on the root word.

Noun suffixes

Endings -ment, -tion, -ness, -ity and -ance turn verbs or adjectives into nouns, as in development, decision, happiness, ability and performance.

Uncountable nouns

Words like information, advice, news, furniture and research take no plural -s and no a. Use some, much or a piece of instead.

Verb plus preposition

Fixed patterns such as depend on, succeed in, apologise for, insist on and look forward to, where the last takes an -ing form. These must be memorised as units.