EPSO Verbal Reasoning flashcards

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

Main idea definition

The central claim a passage makes about its topic, broad enough to cover all paragraphs but narrow enough to exclude unrelated subjects.

Too narrow distractor

An answer option that accurately restates one sentence or example but does not capture the passage's overall point, so it fails as a main idea.

Topic versus main idea

The topic is the subject expressed as a noun phrase; the main idea is a complete statement asserting something about that subject.

Scope matching test

Comparing an option's qualifiers (all, most, some, often) with the passage's own qualifiers; a mismatch in scope makes the option wrong.

Explicit detail rule

A detail question is answered only by information the passage states directly; correct outside knowledge that the text omits is not a valid answer.

Swapped-subject trap

A wrong option that keeps a true fact from the passage but attaches it to the wrong person, place, time, or entity.

Absolute-word warning

Options containing always, never, all, or only frequently distort a passage that used qualified language such as often, some, or rarely.

Partial-truth distractor

An option whose first clause matches the passage while a second clause adds unsupported material, making the whole statement false.

Entailment test

An inference is valid only if denying it would contradict the passage; mere plausibility or consistency with the text is insufficient.

Contrapositive rule

From 'if P then Q' one may infer 'if not Q then not P'; the reverse inference 'if Q then P' is invalid.

Quantifier logic limits

'All A are B' does not imply 'all B are A'; 'some A are B' does not imply 'some A are not B'.

Contrast-word inference

Inference answers often follow concessive or contrast markers such as however, although, or despite, where the implied point is located.

Substitution test

Replacing a word with each candidate synonym inside the original sentence and checking which preserves the sentence's meaning and grammar.

Restatement cues

Punctuation and phrases such as dashes, colons, 'that is', and 'in other words' that signal a nearby definition or explanation of a term.

Connotation mismatch

A synonym that is denotatively close but carries the wrong evaluative colour, such as neutral wording for a critical passage.

Idiom as unit

Fixed phrases such as bear out, fall short, or give way to must be learned whole, since word-by-word reading misleads.

Purpose verb precision

Choosing among to describe, explain, argue, refute, caution, or advocate by asking what action the passage performs, not what it is about.

Tone evidence collection

Gathering evaluative adjectives, adverbs, and verbs from the passage before selecting a tone label such as critical, cautious, or ironic.

Hedging versus confidence

Hedged wording (may, appears, suggests) signals tentativeness, while strong modals (must, clearly, undoubtedly) signal authorial confidence.

Fair-minded versus undecided

An author who presents counterarguments and then rebuts them is balanced in method but committed to a conclusion, not neutral.

Conclusion indicators

Words such as therefore, thus, hence, and consequently that mark the claim the author wants the reader to accept.

Premise indicators

Words such as because, since, given that, and for that introduce the reasons offered in support of a conclusion.

Necessary assumption test

Negating a candidate assumption; if the argument collapses under the negation, the assumption is necessary to it.

Intermediate conclusion

A claim supported by evidence that in turn serves as a reason for the passage's main conclusion, forming a chain of support.

Alternative-cause weakener

An option showing that the observed effect could have arisen from another cause, thereby undercutting a causal conclusion.

Assumption-strengthener

An option confirming the unstated link between evidence and conclusion, which raises the likelihood that the conclusion follows.

Sample-bias weakener

Evidence that a study's sample is unrepresentative or self-selected, which undermines conclusions drawn about a wider population.

Analogy evaluation

An analogy argument is strengthened by a relevant similarity between the cases and weakened by a relevant dissimilarity.

Summary fidelity

A correct summary keeps the main claim and key support while dropping examples and repetition, and adds no new conclusion.

Paraphrase invariants

Scope, qualifiers, and logical relations such as cause, concession, and condition must survive rewording unchanged.

Two-passage synthesis

Separating the claim both passages share from the specific point on which they diverge, rather than treating them as wholly opposed.

Modal preservation

Paraphrase must keep modal strength: may cannot become will, often cannot become always, and can cannot become does.