Nagasaki Public High School Entrance Examination - English flashcards

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

Second number rule

In listening tasks about prices or times, speakers often correct themselves. The number stated last, usually after but, actually, or sorry, is the one that answers the question.

Next-action question

A question asking what a speaker will do next is answered by the action following the final line of the dialogue, not by plans already agreed on earlier.

Distractor by keyword

A wrong listening option that repeats a word heard in the audio but attaches it to the wrong person, place, or time. Match the whole meaning, not the single word.

Signal words in dialogue

Words such as actually, instead, but, so, and in the end introduce the real answer or a change of plan. They usually come just before the information tested.

Reason questions

When the question asks why, listen for because, since, that's why, and so that. The answer states a cause, not a result or a repeated fact.

Main idea versus detail

The main idea covers the whole passage. An option that is true but describes only one paragraph is a supporting detail and is the wrong answer for main-idea questions.

Pronoun reference strategy

For it, they, this, or one, choose the nearest earlier noun that agrees in number and keeps the sentence logical. Test by replacing the pronoun with the noun.

Vocabulary in context

Replace the underlined word with each option and reread the sentence. The correct choice preserves the sentence's logic, tone, and grammar, even if another meaning of the word exists.

Inference rule

An inference answer must be supported by the text. A statement that is plausible in real life but never stated or implied in the passage is incorrect.

Two-source items

Some reading tasks combine a notice, chart, or e-mail with a question. The answer requires joining information from both sources, such as a date plus a rule.

Present perfect with since and for

Use have or has plus the past participle with since plus a starting point and for plus a length of time. Finished past times such as yesterday take the simple past.

Passive voice formation

Passive is be plus the past participle, with the doer after by. The tense of be matches the original: is written, was written, has been written.

Relative pronoun choice

Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for places, and that for either people or things in defining clauses.

Gerund after certain verbs

Verbs such as enjoy, finish, stop, mind, and practice take an -ing form. Phrases like look forward to also take -ing because to is a preposition there.

Infinitive after certain verbs

Verbs such as want, hope, decide, plan, try, and need take to plus the base verb. Using an -ing form after these verbs is an error.

Comparative patterns

Use as plus adjective plus as for equality, much or far before a comparative for emphasis, and the comparative, the comparative for parallel change. Never use very with a comparative.

Real and unreal conditionals

If plus present tense with will expresses a real future possibility. If plus past tense with would expresses an unreal or imaginary present situation.

Countable and uncountable quantifiers

Use many, few, and a few with countable nouns; use much and little with uncountable nouns such as information, advice, news, and furniture, which take no plural -s.

English word order

English sentences follow subject, verb, object, place, time. Japanese order cannot be transferred directly, so locate the verb first and place time expressions last.

Question formation with do

If the sentence has no auxiliary or be, insert do, does, or did before the subject and use the base form of the main verb.

Indirect question order

Inside an indirect question the word order stays as in a statement: Do you know where he lives, not where does he live. No inversion after the question phrase.

Active to passive steps

Make the object the new subject, change the verb to be plus past participle keeping the tense, and put the original subject after by or omit it.

Too and enough conversion

Too plus adjective plus to do equals so plus adjective plus that plus cannot. Adjective plus enough plus to do expresses sufficient degree in a positive statement.

Reported speech backshift

Shift the tense one step back, change pronouns to the reporter's viewpoint, and adjust time and place words, for example today to that day and here to there.

Composition structure

A short English composition has a topic sentence with the opinion, two supporting sentences with reasons or examples, and a concluding sentence that restates the position.

Linking words for reasons

Use First and Second to order reasons, For example to add a concrete case, However to contrast, and Therefore or In conclusion to close the paragraph.

Reason sentence pattern

A reason sentence follows because plus subject plus verb, or For example plus a specific situation. Repeating the opinion is not a reason and earns no content points.

Proofreading endings

Before submitting, check third-person -s, plural -s, and past-tense -ed. These endings cause most small grammar point losses in short compositions.

Offer versus request

Would you like is an offer, answered with Yes, please or No, thank you. Could you is a request, answered with Sure or I'm sorry, I can't.

Answering an apology

An apology takes That's all right, No problem, or Don't worry about it. You're welcome answers thanks, not an apology, and is a common trap.

Declining an invitation

A polite refusal gives a reason and often an alternative: Sorry, I'm busy then. How about Sunday? A bare no or a silent change of subject is inappropriate.

Asking for clarification

Use Pardon, Could you say that again, or What do you mean by that when information was not caught. This is appropriate even in formal shop or station situations.

Service counter response

When a clerk says May I help you, answer with what you want, such as I'm looking for a notebook or Two tickets to Nagasaki, please, rather than only yes.