Iowa Assessments key terms

The most important point that a passage or paragraph is about. It is often stated in a topic sentence or must be inferred from the details that support it.

A fact, example, or reason that explains or proves the main idea. Details answer questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how.

A logical conclusion drawn from evidence in the text plus background knowledge. An inference is not directly stated, but it must be supported by clues in the passage.

A word, phrase, or sentence near an unfamiliar word that helps you figure out its meaning. Types include definitions, examples, synonyms, antonyms, and general sense of the sentence.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. For example, 'happy' and 'glad' are synonyms.

A word that means the opposite of another word. For example, 'hot' and 'cold' are antonyms.

The reason an author writes a text: to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to explain. The purpose shapes the content, tone, and structure of the writing.

The attitude or feeling that an author expresses toward the subject or audience, such as serious, humorous, critical, or hopeful. Tone is conveyed through word choice and details.

The overall feeling or atmosphere that a text creates for the reader, such as suspenseful, cheerful, or gloomy. Mood is often built through setting, imagery, and word choice.

A central message or lesson about life that a literary work conveys, such as 'honesty is the best policy.' A theme is broader than a topic and is often implied rather than stated.

A statement that can be proven true or false with evidence. Facts are objective and do not depend on personal feelings.

A statement that expresses a belief, feeling, or judgment and cannot be proven true or false. Opinions often include words like 'best,' 'should,' or 'beautiful.'

The way an author organizes information in a text, such as cause and effect, compare and contrast, chronological order, problem and solution, or description. Structure helps readers follow ideas.

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

The rule that a pronoun must match its antecedent (the noun it refers to) in number, gender, and person. For example, 'Each student must bring his or her book.'

A group of words that is punctuated like a sentence but lacks a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. Fragments should be revised into complete sentences.

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

A specific type of run-on in which two independent clauses are joined only by a comma. It can be corrected with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.

A word, phrase, or clause that describes or limits another word. Adjectives modify nouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Place modifiers near the word they describe.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action of the verb. Active voice is usually clearer and more direct than passive voice.

A sentence construction in which the subject receives the action of the verb, often using a form of 'to be' plus a past participle. Passive voice can be useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

One of two or more words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings, such as 'to,' 'too,' and 'two.' Homophones are a common source of spelling errors.

One of two or more words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and sometimes different pronunciations, such as 'lead' (to guide) and 'lead' (a metal).

The value of a digit based on its position in a number. In 4,562, the 4 is in the thousands place and has a value of 4,000.

A number that represents part of a whole or part of a group, written as a numerator over a denominator. For example, 3/4 means 3 parts out of 4 equal parts.

A number written using a decimal point to show whole units and parts of a whole based on powers of ten. For example, 0.75 equals 75/100.

Fractions that name the same amount even though they have different numerators and denominators, such as 1/2 and 2/4. Multiplying or dividing numerator and denominator by the same number creates equivalent fractions.

A comparison of two quantities by division. A ratio can be written as 3:4, 3/4, or '3 to 4,' and it shows the relative sizes of the quantities.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, such as 2/3 = 4/6. Proportions are used to solve problems involving scale, rates, and similar figures.

A ratio that compares a number to 100. Percent means 'per hundred,' so 45% equals 45/100 or 0.45.

The arithmetic average of a set of numbers, found by adding all the numbers and dividing by the number of items. The mean is a measure of central tendency.

The middle number in a set of data arranged in order. If there is an even number of items, the median is the mean of the two middle numbers.

The number or item that appears most often in a data set. A set may have one mode, more than one mode, or no mode.

A letter or symbol that stands for an unknown number or a number that can change. In the expression 3x + 2, x is the variable.

A mathematical sentence that states two expressions are equal, using an equals sign. Solving an equation means finding the value of the variable that makes it true.

A mathematical phrase that combines numbers, variables, and operations but does not include an equals sign. For example, 5n - 7 is an expression.

A testable prediction or explanation that can be investigated through an experiment. A hypothesis is based on observations and prior knowledge and may be supported or rejected by data.

A procedure carried out to test a hypothesis under controlled conditions. It involves changing one variable while keeping others constant to observe the effect.

In an experiment, the group that does not receive the treatment being tested. It is used as a standard for comparison to see the effect of the treatment.

In science, a factor that can change in an experiment. The independent variable is changed by the experimenter; the dependent variable is measured and may respond to the change.

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their nonliving environment, such as a forest, pond, or desert. Energy and matter cycle through the ecosystem.

The path of energy transfer from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting with producers and moving through consumers and decomposers. Arrows show the direction of energy flow.

An organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis, such as plants and algae. Producers form the base of food chains and food webs.

An organism that obtains energy by eating other organisms. Herbivores eat producers, carnivores eat other consumers, and omnivores eat both.

The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and release oxygen. It is the main way energy enters most ecosystems.

The physical forms in which matter can exist, commonly solid, liquid, and gas. Changes between states, such as melting and freezing, involve energy transfer.

A change in a substance that does not alter its chemical identity, such as melting, freezing, or dissolving. The substance remains the same kind of matter.

A change in which one or more substances react to form new substances with different properties, such as burning or rusting. Chemical changes are usually not easily reversed.

A firsthand record or artifact created by someone who participated in or witnessed an event, such as a diary, letter, photograph, or speech. Primary sources provide direct evidence.

A source that interprets or analyzes information from primary sources, such as a textbook, encyclopedia article, or biography. Secondary sources are one step removed from the event.

A preference or inclination that affects how information is presented or interpreted. In sources, bias can appear through selective facts, loaded words, or one-sided viewpoints.

The perspective from which a person or group views events, or the narrative perspective in a text (first person, second person, third person). Point of view shapes what is included and emphasized.

The arrangement of events in the order in which they occurred in time. Chronological thinking helps historians understand cause and effect and change over time.

A relationship in which one event (the cause) makes another event (the effect) happen. Identifying causes and effects helps explain why historical events occurred.

The relationship between distance on a map and actual distance on Earth, often shown as a ratio or bar. Scale allows users to estimate real distances between places.

The distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. Lines of latitude run east-west and help locate places on Earth's surface.

The distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. Lines of longitude run north-south and converge at the poles.