HiSET Reading key terms

The central point a passage communicates about its topic. It is often stated in a topic sentence or opening paragraph, but readers may need to infer it from details.

A fact, example, reason, or description that explains or backs up a main idea. Details answer questions like who, what, when, where, why, or how.

A reasonable conclusion drawn from clues in a text plus the reader's own knowledge. It is not stated directly, so readers must connect evidence to reach it.

Information stated directly and clearly in a text, leaving little need for interpretation. Readers can point to the exact words that give the answer.

The reason an author writes a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. Purpose shapes the content, organization, and tone of the passage.

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, revealed through word choice and details. Tone might be serious, humorous, critical, or hopeful.

The feeling a text creates in the reader, often through setting, imagery, and word choice. Mood is related to tone but focuses on the reader's emotional response.

The perspective from which a text is told, such as first person, third-person limited, or third-person omniscient. It affects what information the reader receives.

A message or insight about life or human nature that a literary work conveys. Themes are usually implied rather than stated directly and are supported by characters, events, and details.

A brief restatement of a text's main points in the reader's own words. A good summary keeps essential ideas and leaves out minor details or personal opinions.

A word, phrase, or sentence near an unfamiliar word that helps readers figure out its meaning. Types include definitions, examples, contrasts, and restatements.

Language that goes beyond literal meaning to create vivid images or comparisons. It includes metaphors, similes, personification, and idioms.

A direct comparison that describes one thing as another without using 'like' or 'as.' Metaphors help readers see familiar ideas in new ways.

A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.' Similes make descriptions more vivid and can reveal tone or mood.

A person, place, object, or event that represents a larger idea or meaning beyond itself. Symbols are common in literature and often support a theme.

A reading skill that examines similarities and differences between two or more subjects. Signal words like 'both,' 'unlike,' and 'however' often point to comparisons or contrasts.

A relationship in which one event or action makes another happen. Readers look for signal words such as 'because,' 'therefore,' 'result,' and 'leads to.'

The arrangement of events in the order they happened in time. Dates, times, and words like 'first,' 'next,' and 'finally' help readers follow the sequence.

A fact is a statement that can be proved true or false; an opinion expresses a belief, feeling, or judgment. Distinguishing them helps readers judge reliability.

A preference or leaning that affects how a writer presents information or treats a subject. Bias can appear through word choice, selection of details, and omission.

The degree to which a source or author can be trusted. Credibility depends on accuracy, expertise, evidence, and freedom from obvious bias.

A statement that a writer or speaker asks readers to accept as true. In an argument, the claim is the main point that evidence is meant to support.

Information used to support a claim, such as facts, examples, statistics, quotations, or expert opinions. Strong evidence is relevant, accurate, and sufficient.

An opposing view or objection to a claim. Recognizing and answering counterarguments can make an argument stronger and more persuasive.

A sentence that states the main argument or central idea of an essay. It usually appears near the beginning and guides the organization of the whole piece.

A sentence that introduces the main idea of a paragraph. It helps readers understand what the paragraph will explain and how it connects to the larger piece.

A word, phrase, or sentence that connects ideas and shows how they relate. Transitions can signal addition, contrast, cause, sequence, or conclusion.

The rule that a subject and its verb must match in number and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Two or more complete sentences joined without correct punctuation or a connecting word. It can confuse readers by blurring where one idea ends and another begins.

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or for ideas of equal importance. Parallelism makes writing clearer, smoother, and easier to follow.

The relationship between a pronoun and the noun it replaces. Clear pronoun reference prevents confusion about who or what is being discussed.

A testable prediction or proposed explanation that can be checked through observation or experiment. A hypothesis guides scientific investigation and may be revised as evidence appears.

Information collected through observation, measurement, or experiment. Data can be numbers, descriptions, or records and are analyzed to support or challenge explanations.

Information gathered directly through the senses or with instruments, rather than through guessing. Observations are the raw material of scientific inquiry.

A document, object, or record created by someone who took part in or witnessed an event. Examples include letters, diaries, photographs, and official records.

A work that interprets or analyzes events using primary sources and other evidence. Examples include textbooks, biographies, and history articles.

The social, political, economic, and cultural conditions surrounding an event or text. Understanding context helps readers interpret why people acted or wrote as they did.

A rate or ratio out of 100. Percent means 'per hundred,' so 45% equals 45 out of 100, or 0.45.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written as a fraction or with a colon. Ratios describe how much of one thing exists relative to another.

The arithmetic average of a set of numbers, found by adding all values and dividing by the number of values. The mean is one way to describe a data set's center.