IN State Police key terms

The central point a passage is built to convey, usually stated or strongly implied in one or two sentences. Test questions often ask you to choose the option that covers the whole text rather than a single detail.

A conclusion you draw from evidence in a passage plus your own reasoning, even though the text does not state it directly. Valid inferences must be supported by details, not by personal opinion.

A specific fact, example, or description in a passage that explains or proves the main idea. Details answer who, what, when, where, or how and are usually narrower than the central point.

The reason a writer produced a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain a procedure. Purpose shapes word choice, structure, and how much evidence the writer includes.

A fact is a statement that can be verified with evidence; an opinion expresses a belief, judgment, or feeling. Recognizing the difference helps you judge how much weight a passage's claims deserve.

Information in nearby words or sentences that helps you work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Clues may be definitions, examples, contrasts, or cause-and-effect relationships inside the passage.

The rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Interrupting phrases and inverted sentence order often hide the true subject from the reader.

The rule that a pronoun must match its antecedent in number and gender, and refer to it clearly. Ambiguous or missing antecedents make a sentence confusing even when the grammar is technically correct.

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, a complete verb, or an independent thought. Fragments can often be fixed by attaching them to a nearby sentence or supplying the missing part.

Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction. Run-ons can be repaired with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

A specific run-on error in which a comma alone joins two independent clauses. Fix it by adding a coordinating conjunction, replacing the comma with a semicolon, or splitting the sentence.

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list, a comparison, or a pair of ideas. Parallel wording makes reports easier to read and signals that the items play equal roles.

A phrase that describes something but is placed so that it seems to describe the wrong word. Rewriting the sentence so the intended subject follows the phrase usually corrects it.

Writing the needed information in as few words as possible without losing meaning. Concise reports remove redundancy, empty phrases, and repeated ideas so readers grasp facts quickly.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written as 3:5 or 3/5. Ratios let you scale a known relationship up or down to solve for an unknown amount.

A rate expressed as an amount per single unit, such as miles per hour or cost per item. Dividing the total by the number of units produces it and makes comparisons straightforward.

The difference between an old value and a new value, divided by the old value and multiplied by 100. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease.

The agreed sequence for evaluating expressions: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. Following it prevents different people from getting different answers.

The arithmetic average, found by adding all values and dividing by how many values there are. Extreme values can pull the mean away from the typical or middle value.

The relationship distance equals rate multiplied by time, often rearranged to find rate or time. Units must match, such as hours with miles per hour, before you calculate.

A statement offered as evidence or reason in an argument. Premises are supposed to support the conclusion, and an argument is only as strong as the premises behind it.

The claim an argument is trying to establish, supported by the premises. In exam passages, the conclusion is often signaled by words like therefore, so, or thus.

An unstated belief the argument needs in order to work. If the assumption is false, the evidence no longer supports the conclusion, which is why test questions target it.

A single case that shows a general claim is false. One solid counterexample can defeat a statement using words like all, always, or never.

Correlation means two things tend to occur together; causation means one actually produces the other. Without additional evidence, a pattern of association alone cannot prove cause.

A condition whose presence guarantees the outcome. If A is sufficient for B, then whenever A happens, B must follow, though B might also occur for other reasons.

A condition that must be present for the outcome to happen, though it may not be enough by itself. Without it, the outcome cannot occur.

The mental process of focusing on certain sights or sounds while filtering out others. Officers use it deliberately when scanning a scene for threats, evidence, or people needing help.

Failing to notice an unexpected object or event because attention is fixed on another task. It explains why a person can look directly at something and still miss it.

Failing to detect a change in a scene, especially when the change happens during a brief interruption or distraction. Careful re-checking of details reduces this error.

Grouping separate pieces of information into larger meaningful units so they are easier to hold in memory. Phone numbers and license plates are commonly chunked into familiar patterns.

The tendency for information encountered after an event to distort a person's memory of that event. Leading questions and conversations with other witnesses can introduce such errors.

The formal line of authority from a supervisor upward through the organization. Following it means routing questions and concerns to the right level instead of bypassing supervisors.

The lawful freedom to choose among reasonable responses within policy and law. Good discretion weighs risk, policy limits, and the specific facts rather than personal preference.

Techniques that reduce tension and the likelihood of violence, such as calm communication, space, time, and listening. The goal is to gain voluntary compliance and avoid unnecessary force.

Fully concentrating on a speaker, then reflecting back what you heard to confirm understanding. It builds trust, surfaces missing facts, and reduces misunderstandings during interviews or disputes.

A situation where a personal relationship, financial interest, or other private concern could improperly influence official judgment. It should be disclosed and avoided, even when no actual favoritism has occurred.