Gunma Entrance English flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Second-play focus

On the second listening of a dialogue, confirm the numbers, times, and prices and listen closely to the final sentence, because the answer is usually stated or corrected there.

Corrected-number distractor

A price, time, or quantity mentioned first is often changed later, as in 'Actually, make it 4:30.' Keep the revised figure, not the first one you heard.

Time phrases in listening

'By seven' means no later than seven; 'in twenty minutes' means twenty minutes from now; 'a quarter to seven' means 6:45, fifteen minutes before the hour.

Next-action question

When a question asks what a speaker will do next, the answer comes from the last exchange, usually after 'I'll...', 'Let's...', or 'Can you...?'.

Price calculation cue words

Listen for 'each', 'for two', 'half price', 'twenty percent off', and 'change'; then compute the total and check whether the answer is in yen or dollars.

Pre-reading the choices

During the pause before a listening item, scan the answer choices to learn whether you must catch a place, a person, a time, a price, or a reason.

Listening for reasons

Answers to 'Why' questions come immediately after 'because', 'so', or 'That's why'. Note that short clause rather than trying to remember the whole dialogue.

Pronoun referent rule

For 'What does it refer to?', read the sentence just before the pronoun. The correct noun must fit both the grammar and the meaning of the passage.

Main idea location

In a medium-length passage, the writer's opinion or purpose usually appears in the first or last paragraph, often after 'I think' or 'I want to'.

Contrast signal words

Words such as 'however', 'but', and 'on the other hand' mark a change of direction. The sentence after them often carries the point a question asks about.

NOT-true question check

For 'Which is NOT true?' or 'All except', check every option against a specific line of the passage and eliminate only the one with clear contrary evidence.

Table and poster reading

Read the column headings first, then match the date, time, place, and price to the condition in the question, which often adds a restriction such as grade or membership.

Unknown word strategy

If a word is unfamiliar, read the next sentence for a definition, an example, or a contrast that reveals the meaning without needing a dictionary.

Paragraph reference question

When asked why the writer mentions something in a named paragraph, re-read that paragraph's final sentence; the reason is usually stated immediately after the example.

Indirect question word order

After 'Do you know' or 'Can you tell me', use statement order: 'where he lives', not 'where does he live'; the auxiliary does not move forward.

Too-to rewriting

'This bag is too heavy for me to carry' equals 'This bag is so heavy that I cannot carry it' and also 'I cannot carry this bag because it is very heavy.'

Present perfect with for and since

Use 'for' with a length of time, as in 'for three years', and 'since' with a starting point, as in 'since 2020'. The verb stays in the present perfect.

Passive transformation

Move the object to the front and use be plus the past participle: 'Many people visit this temple' becomes 'This temple is visited by many people.'

Gerund after enjoy and finish

Verbs such as enjoy, finish, stop, and practice take -ing: 'I enjoy reading.' 'He finished writing the report.' By contrast, want and hope take to plus a verb.

Than any other rule

'Mt. Fuji is higher than any other mountain in Japan' means it is the highest. Use a singular noun after 'any other' and keep the same group being compared.

Word-order question building

In ordering tasks, build the question first: question word, auxiliary, subject, main verb. Then place the remaining time or place phrase at the end.

Reading the reply line

When the first line of a dialogue is blank, read the second speaker's reply. 'Sure, here you are' signals a request such as 'May I borrow your pen?'

Would you mind doing

'Would you mind opening the window?' means 'Please open the window.' A polite agreeing answer is 'Not at all' or 'Of course not', not 'Yes, I would.'

Shall I versus Shall we

'Shall I...?' offers to do something for the listener, while 'Shall we...?' suggests doing something together. Both are answered with 'Yes, please' or 'Sure.'

E-mail header check

Before reading an e-mail passage, note From, To, Subject, and date. Questions usually ask who should reply or what the writer wants the reader to do.

Polite invitation decline

A polite refusal gives a reason and offers an alternative: 'I'd love to, but I have a game that day. Maybe next time.' A bare 'No' is too direct.

Poster deadline question

Posters often show both an event date and an application deadline. The answer to 'by when' is the earlier date, usually labeled 'apply by' or 'deadline'.

First conditional pattern

In a first conditional, use the present tense after 'if' and 'will' in the main clause: 'If it rains, I will stay home,' never 'if it will rain'.

Reason plus example structure

For opinion prompts, write a topic sentence, then 'because' with a reason, then one concrete example. Two supporting sentences are usually enough for full marks.

Word count check

Count every word, including 'a', 'the', 'and', and 'I'. Write two or three words above the minimum so the answer still meets the count after corrections.

Complete sentence rule

A writing answer needs a subject and a verb and ends with a period: 'I like soccer,' not 'Because I like soccer,' which is only a fragment.

Tense matching in replies

Match the tense and person of the prompt: an e-mail about a past trip needs the past tense, while a plan for next week needs 'will' or 'be going to.'