Cantabria PAU Foreign Language II - English flashcards

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

Main idea question

A global comprehension item asking what the whole text is about. The correct option summarises the entire passage, while distractors describe only one paragraph or one detail.

Paraphrase distractor rule

In multiple-choice reading items, the correct answer usually restates the text in different words; an option copying the text's wording but changing the logic is a trap.

Inference item

A question whose answer is not stated literally but follows necessarily from the text. Any option requiring outside knowledge or mere plausibility is incorrect.

Vocabulary in context

An item asking the meaning of a word as used in a specific line. Test each option by substituting it into the original sentence and checking meaning and grammar.

Reference resolution

Identifying what a pronoun such as it, they, this or such points to. The antecedent is normally the nearest preceding noun phrase that agrees in number and fits the sense.

Absolute quantifier warning

Options containing always, never, all, only or completely are usually wrong in reading tests because authentic texts use hedged language such as often, tend to or may.

True/False with justification

A reading task where the answer must be proved by quoting or closely paraphrasing the exact lines of the text; an unsupported justification earns no credit.

Author's purpose

A global item about why the text was written, for example to inform, persuade, warn or entertain. The answer is inferred from tone, structure and the closing sentence.

Negative prefixes

Prefixes forming opposites: un- (unfair), in-/im-/il-/ir- (incapable, impossible, illegal, irregular), dis- (dishonest), mis- (misunderstand), over- and under-.

Noun suffixes

Endings that turn stems into nouns: -tion, -sion, -ment, -ness, -ity, -ance, -ence, -ship, -hood, -ism. Choose them when a determiner or adjective precedes the gap.

Adjective suffixes

Endings forming adjectives: -ous, -ive, -able, -ible, -ful, -less, -al, -ic, -y. They fill the slot between a determiner and a noun or after the verb be.

Present perfect markers

For and since signal present perfect: for with a duration (for three years) and since with a starting point (since 2019). Past simple takes finished time expressions like yesterday or last year.

Third conditional form

If + past perfect, would have + past participle, as in If she had studied, she would have passed. It describes an unreal past situation and its imagined result.

Second conditional form

If + past simple, would + bare infinitive, as in If I had time, I would travel. It expresses a hypothetical present or future situation unlikely to happen.

Reported speech backshift

When the reporting verb is past, tenses move one step back: present becomes past, past becomes past perfect, will becomes would. Time words shift too: now to then, tomorrow to the next day.

Passive tense retention

The passive keeps the tense of the active sentence: they built it becomes it was built; they are building it becomes it is being built; they will build it becomes it will be built.

Relative pronoun omission

The relative pronoun can be left out only when it is the object of the clause (the book I read). It must be kept when it is the subject (the man who called).

Dependent prepositions

Verbs and adjectives followed by fixed prepositions: depend on, interested in, good at, afraid of, responsible for, insist on, succeed in, look forward to plus -ing.

Uncountable nouns

Nouns with no plural and no a/an: information, advice, furniture, luggage, homework, research, news, money. Quantify them with some, much, a piece of or an item of.

Gerund after prepositions

Any verb following a preposition takes the -ing form: interested in learning, good at cooking, instead of going, look forward to hearing. The to in look forward to is a preposition.

Three-paragraph plan

A reliable structure for a 120–150-word task: introduction stating the topic, one body paragraph developing the main point with an example, and a conclusion or opinion.

Formal letter closings

Dear Sir/Madam pairs with Yours faithfully; Dear Mr or Ms Smith pairs with Yours sincerely. Contractions and slang are avoided in both.

Opinion essay stance markers

Phrases that make position explicit: In my view, I strongly believe, It seems to me that, I am convinced that. They belong in the introduction and are restated in the conclusion.

Contrast linkers

Connectors signalling opposition: however, nevertheless, whereas, although, on the other hand, in spite of plus noun or -ing. They join ideas without breaking sentence grammar.

Cause and result linkers

Cause: because, since, as, due to, because of. Result: therefore, so, as a result, consequently. Due to and because of are followed by a noun phrase, not a clause.

Register consistency

Keeping the same level of formality throughout. Informal letters allow contractions and phrasal verbs; essays and formal letters require full forms and precise vocabulary.

Word count discipline

Staying inside the stated limit, typically 120–150 words. Being far under suggests underdeveloped content; being far over risks penalties and unfocused argument.

Narrative tense pattern

Stories use past simple for main events, past continuous for background action and past perfect for earlier events, linked by time markers such as afterwards, meanwhile and in the end.

Comma splice

Two independent clauses joined only by a comma. Correct it with a full stop, a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction such as but or so.

Agreement with everyone

Indefinite pronouns everyone, everybody, someone, nobody and each take a singular verb and singular pronouns: Everyone has brought his or her book.

Doubling final consonant

A final consonant doubles before -ing or -ed when it follows a single stressed vowel in a one-syllable or stress-final word: begin/beginning, stop/stopped, prefer/preferred.

Spanish interference errors

Frequent first-language transfers to correct: I am agree for I agree, people is for people are, depend of for depend on, and actually used to mean currently.