Hyogo Entrance English key terms

Listening for gist means catching the overall message of a recording without understanding every word. Even when some vocabulary is unfamiliar, the speaker's tone and repeated ideas usually reveal the point being made.

This is listening with a question already in mind, waiting for one particular fact such as a time, a price, a name or a place. Table-filling and picture-choice items test exactly this skill.

A distractor is a wrong choice, or a detail in a recording, that sounds relevant but does not answer the question. Numbers, similar names and near-synonyms are placed deliberately to catch careless listeners.

A monologue is a recording in which only one person speaks, such as an announcement, a weather report or a short talk. Nothing is repeated back by a partner, so you must hold the details yourself.

The main idea is the single point a passage is mostly about; every other sentence supports, explains or illustrates it. Questions often ask for it directly, or ask you to choose the best title.

A topic sentence states the point of a paragraph, usually near its beginning, and the rest of the paragraph develops it. Finding topic sentences quickly gives you the frame of the whole passage.

A supporting detail is a fact, example, reason or number that backs up a main idea. Detail questions ask you to locate one and check whether the wording matches the passage exactly.

An inference is a conclusion you draw from clues in a text rather than from a sentence that states it. Inference questions often include words like 'suggest', 'probably' or 'most likely'.

A referent is the person, thing or idea that a pronoun or pointing word such as 'it', 'they' or 'this' stands for. Reference questions ask what that word means in that particular sentence.

A context clue is the information around an unknown word - a definition, an example, a contrast or a result - that lets you guess its meaning. The grammar of the sentence often signals which kind of clue is present.

To paraphrase is to express the same content in different words. Correct answer choices are usually paraphrases of the passage, so an exact word match is not automatically the right answer.

To skim is to read quickly for the general sense before reading in detail. The title, the first sentences of paragraphs and any headings usually give enough to answer main-idea questions.

Tense is the verb form that shows when an action happens relative to now. Time expressions such as 'yesterday', 'now' or 'next week' usually decide which tense a blank needs.

The present perfect is have or has plus a past participle, as in 'She has finished her homework'. It covers experience, a result that still matters now, and actions continuing from the past.

The passive voice is be plus a past participle, as in 'The window was broken'. It puts the receiver of the action first and is common in notices and reports where the doer is unknown.

A relative pronoun such as who, which, that or whose joins a describing clause to a noun, as in 'the boy who won'. The choice depends on whether the noun is a person, a thing or a possessive.

An infinitive is 'to' plus a verb; a gerund is the -ing form used as a noun. Some verbs take one and some the other, so learn pairs such as 'want to go' and 'enjoy reading'.

A modal verb such as can, may, must, should or will comes before a plain verb and adds ability, permission, obligation or advice. It takes no -s and no 'to' in this pattern.

These are the forms used to compare things: 'taller' and 'the tallest', or 'more useful' and 'the most useful'. Short adjectives add -er and -est; longer ones take more and most.

A conditional sentence has an if-clause and a result clause, as in 'If it rains, we will stay home'. The if-clause uses a present tense even when it refers to the future.

Word order is the expected sequence of subject, verb, object, place and time in English. Because Japanese order differs, jumbled-word items are best solved by finding the verb first.

Prepositions of time are at, on and in, used as 'at seven', 'on Monday' and 'in July'. The right one depends on whether the time is a clock time, a day or date, or a longer period.

An indirect question puts a question inside another sentence, as in 'Do you know where the station is?'. After the question word the order becomes subject then verb, and 'do' disappears.

In a dialogue item, the function is the social job a line does: inviting, apologising, requesting, offering, suggesting or refusing. Naming the function first makes the correct reply much easier to see.

An appropriate response is a reply that matches the function, formality and tone of the line before it. 'Certainly, here you are' answers a request, while 'You're welcome' answers thanks.

Turn-taking is the way two speakers alternate in a conversation: one asks, the other answers, then the first reacts. Dialogue items test whether your reply keeps the exchange moving naturally.

A polite refusal says no while keeping the relationship friendly, usually with a softener and a reason, as in 'I'd love to, but I have a match that day'. Test dialogues often require this instead of a blunt no.

The conditions of a writing task state the situation, the points you must cover and the length required. Every required point earns credit, so list them and tick each one after drafting.

The word count is the length the task asks for, often given as a range such as 25 to 35 words. Falling far short loses content marks; going far over adds errors without extra credit.

A linking word shows how two ideas relate: 'because' gives a reason, 'but' a contrast, 'so' a result, 'for example' an illustration. A few used accurately improve clarity more than many used at random.

A paragraph groups sentences about one point, usually opening with a topic sentence and ending where the point changes. Short exam compositions work well with two or three clear paragraphs.

To proofread is to reread your own writing looking for mistakes in spelling, tense, word order and punctuation. Saving two minutes for this at the end usually raises the score more than adding sentences.

To scan is to move your eyes quickly over a text hunting for one item, such as a date, a price or a name, without reading every word. In practical texts, look for the shape of the number you need.

A notice is a short public text giving information, a rule or a warning, often with a heading and a date. Line breaks, capitals and punctuation carry meaning, so read them as part of the message.

A schedule lists the times and days of a service such as trains, classes or events. Before answering, check the day, the direction of travel, and whether a.m. or p.m. is marked.

An abbreviation is a shortened written form of a word or phrase, such as 'Mon.' for Monday or 'hr' for hour. Practical texts use them to save space, so learn the common ones for days, months and units.

A chart shows numbers as bars, lines or segments so that sizes are easy to compare. Read the title, the labels and the units first, then match the exact figure the question asks about.