WBCHSE HS Gujarati (First Language) key terms

A continuous, unbroken passage of prose, usually one paragraph or a short self-contained extract, given in the reading section to test comprehension. Candidates answer questions based only on what the passage states.

The central idea or gist of a passage, stated in one or two sentences rather than by repeating its details. Examiners often ask for it directly, so it must cover the whole extract, not one paragraph.

A short heading supplied for a passage or demanded from the candidate. A good title is brief, captures the main idea, and avoids full sentences or phrases copied word for word from the text.

The surrounding words, sentence, or situation that fixes the meaning of an expression. In comprehension and vocabulary questions, the intended sense of a word must be decided from its context, not from a dictionary alone.

A structured prose composition on a given topic, normally with an introduction, several developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Marks depend on relevance, organisation, vocabulary range, and correctness of Gujarati spelling and grammar.

A brief plan of points jotted before writing an essay or long answer, arranging ideas in logical order. It prevents repetition and omission and is usually written in the margin or rough sheet, not in the fair answer.

A formal letter written to an office, institution, or newspaper, following fixed conventions: sender's address, date, receiver's designation, subject line, salutation, body, and closing. The tone is impersonal and respectful, unlike a personal letter.

A personal letter to a relative or friend, written in a warm, conversational style with fewer formal elements. It may include personal news, advice, congratulations, or condolence, and the language can be less rigid than in official correspondence.

A factual written account of an event, meeting, or incident, presented objectively and usually in the past tense. It answers what, when, where, who, and why, and often ends with a conclusion or recommendation rather than personal opinion.

A short, tightly focused piece of prose on a single topic or impression, shorter than an essay. It demands economy of words, a clear opening sentence, and unity, since there is no space for digressions.

The subject line of a formal letter, placed after the salutation and before the body, stating the purpose in a few words. It helps the reader route the letter and is written without a full stop.

The expansion of an idea or maxim into a short connected passage, explaining its meaning and illustrating it with reasoning or example. It differs from an essay in being built around one given sentence rather than a broad topic.

A brief narrative of fiction with few characters, a single central incident, and a pointed ending. In the prescribed text, attention is paid to plot, character, setting, and the author's implied message.

The plot of a story or play: the sequence of events linked by cause and effect, moving through exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. Questions may ask for the main incident or the turning point.

Characterisation, the art by which an author makes figures in a work seem real through speech, action, and the reactions of others. Candidates are often asked to sketch a character with evidence drawn from the text.

A work written to be performed on stage, built mainly from dialogue and stage directions rather than narration. Reading it requires attention to speakers, entrances and exits, and the conflict that drives each act.

A major division of a play, roughly comparable to a chapter in a novel, containing one or more scenes. The act structure shows how the dramatist paces the action and shifts location or time.

A subdivision of an act in which the setting stays fixed and the action is continuous. A new scene usually begins when characters enter or leave or when the place changes.

Speech exchanged between characters in a play or story. It reveals personality, advances the plot, and carries the dramatist's themes, so quotation and comment on dialogue strengthen literature answers.

A composition in verse, organised in lines and stanzas and using rhythm, imagery, and sound devices. In the prescribed poetry section, meaning, form, and the poet's intention are all examinable.

The metrical pattern of a poem, fixed by the number and arrangement of syllables in each line. Identifying the metre helps a candidate describe the poem's form accurately and discuss its musical effect.

A figure of speech that decorates or intensifies expression, such as simile, metaphor, or personification. Naming the figure and explaining how it works in a specific line earns marks in poetry questions.

A simile, a comparison between two unlike things introduced explicitly by words meaning 'like' or 'as'. Both the similarity and the difference must be clear for the figure to succeed.

A metaphor, in which one thing is identified with another without any word of comparison, so the image is stated as fact. It is stronger and more compressed than a simile.

A pause or caesura within a line of verse, marking a natural break in sense or rhythm. It affects recitation and is sometimes noted when describing the metrical structure of a poem.

The joining of two sounds or words, often with change or elision at the junction, as happens when a word ends in a vowel and the next begins with one. Rules of sandhi explain many spellings that look irregular.

A compound word formed by combining two or more words into a single unit, whose meaning may be more specific than the parts suggest. Recognising compounds helps in splitting long words for comprehension.

A word formed from a verb root by adding a suffix, so that it functions as a noun or adjective rather than as a finite verb. Examples include verbal nouns of action and participles used attributively.

A case ending attached to a noun or pronoun to show its grammatical relation to other words, such as subject, object, or possession. Choosing the right ending is a common source of error in composition.

A short, fixed saying that expresses a general truth or practical wisdom in memorable form. Its meaning is figurative, so it must be explained rather than translated literally.

An idiom, a set phrase whose overall meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words. It behaves as a single unit and usually has a fixed form that should not be altered.

A group of words that functions as a unit within a sentence, such as a noun phrase or prepositional phrase. Replacing a phrase with a single equivalent word is a frequent vocabulary exercise.

A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same language. Exact synonyms are rare, so the best choice depends on register and context.

A word expressing a meaning opposite to that of another word, such as light and dark. Antonym questions test precision, since a word may have several opposites depending on the sense used.

The meaning a word or expression carries in a particular use. A word may have a literal sense and one or more figurative senses, and the correct one must be settled from context.

The stock of words a learner can recognise and use appropriately. It grows through reading, noting words in context, and practising them in writing rather than through memorising isolated lists.

Sentence construction: the arrangement of subject, object, and verb, and the agreement between them. Correct word order and concord are central to the grammar section and to clear composition.

Correction of errors in spelling, inflection, or usage, often presented as a sentence to be rewritten correctly. The task requires spotting the faulty element and supplying the standard form without changing the meaning.