ATMA flashcards
ATMA · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Main idea
- The central claim the whole passage supports. It must cover all paragraphs, not one detail, and must not extend beyond what the author actually asserts.
- Inference vs assumption
- An inference is necessarily implied by stated text. An assumption is an unstated premise the author needs. Inference follows from words; assumption supports the reasoning.
- Para-jumble opening sentence
- The sentence that introduces a full noun with no backward-pointing pronouns or connectors like 'this' or 'therefore'. It starts the paragraph.
- Odd sentence out
- A sentence whose topic, referent, or level of generality links to no other sentence in the set. Removing it leaves a coherent paragraph.
- Analogy relation test
- Convert the given pair into a short relation phrase, then apply that same phrase to every option. Reject pairs where the relation reverses or changes type.
- Vocabulary in context
- Meaning determined by the sentence, not by a memorized first definition. Substitute each option and check grammar and contrast signals such as 'but' or 'although'.
- Misplaced modifier
- A descriptive phrase placed next to the wrong noun, as in 'Running late, the bus was missed'. The modifier must touch the noun it describes.
- Parallel structure
- Items in a list or comparison must share grammatical form: all nouns, all infinitives, or all clauses. Mixed forms create an error.
- Author's tone
- The attitude revealed by word choice. Positive, negative, or neutral. Neutral reporting uses factual verbs; evaluative words like 'unfortunately' signal a stance.
- Successive percentage change
- Two changes multiply as factors. A 20% rise then a 20% fall gives 1.2 × 0.8 = 0.96, a net 4% decrease, never zero.
- Profit percent base
- Profit percentage is calculated on cost price unless the question states otherwise. Selling price equals cost price times one plus profit rate over 100.
- Discount base
- Discount is a percentage of the marked price, while profit is a percentage of cost price. Selling price equals marked price times one minus discount rate over 100.
- CI minus SI two years
- For two years the difference between compound and simple interest equals principal times the square of the annual rate divided by 100 squared.
- Harmonic mean speed
- For two equal distances covered at speeds x and y, average speed is 2xy divided by x plus y. It is always below the arithmetic mean.
- Combined work formula
- When A alone takes a days and B alone takes b days, working together they finish in ab divided by a plus b days, because rates add.
- nCr vs nPr
- nCr counts selections where order is irrelevant; nPr counts arrangements where order matters. nPr equals nCr multiplied by r factorial.
- Ratio chaining
- To combine a:b and b:c, scale both ratios so the shared term b is equal, then read off a:b:c directly without changing the underlying proportions.
- Sphere formulas
- Volume of a sphere is four-thirds pi r cubed; surface area is four pi r squared. A hemisphere has half these values plus a flat circular base.
- Data sufficiency order
- Test statement one alone, then statement two alone, then both combined. Stop as soon as sufficiency is established; no exact value is required.
- Syllogism validity test
- A conclusion follows only if true in every possible Venn diagram of the premises. One valid counter-arrangement is enough to reject it.
- All A are B converse
- From 'All A are B' you may infer 'Some B are A' only if A exists. You may never infer 'All B are A'; that conversion is invalid.
- Some A are B symmetry
- 'Some A are B' is reversible: it always implies 'Some B are A'. This symmetry does not hold for 'All' or 'No' statements in the same direction.
- Facing-direction reversal
- In seating puzzles, left and right swap when a person faces south rather than north. Fix the facing before applying any positional clue.
- Direction displacement
- Net distance after moves equals the square root of the sum of squared net east-west and north-south displacements, with direction from their signs.
- Blood relation shortcut
- Translate each phrase into a tree edge with gender. 'Brother of father' is uncle; 'son of sister' is nephew; 'daughter of brother' is niece.
- Ranking inequality chain
- Convert ranking clues into greater-than or less-than symbols and order them into one chain. The extreme ends answer tallest, shortest, or fastest questions.
- Coding letter shift
- Compare each coded letter with the original to find a constant or alternating shift, such as plus one, minus two, or reversal of the whole word.
- Negation test for assumptions
- Negate each candidate assumption. If the argument then falls apart, that statement is a necessary assumption; if it survives, it is not.
- Strong vs weak argument
- A strong argument is relevant to the issue, logically connected, and substantial. Weak arguments appeal to emotion, tradition, or unrelated consequences.
- Cause-effect flaw
- Assuming that because two events occur together one caused the other. Correlation alone does not establish causation; a third factor may explain both.
- Series pattern order
- Check constant differences first, then constant ratios, then alternating or paired operations, then squares, cubes, and primes before concluding no pattern exists.
- Input-output rule
- In machine-input sets, compare successive steps to isolate one repeated operation, such as sorting numbers ascending or moving the largest word to the end.