Oita 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 items, a speaker often states a figure and then corrects it with actually or instead. The corrected figure, not the first one, is the answer.

signal words that reverse

Words such as but, however, actually, and instead mark a change of plan or opinion. The information after them usually decides the answer in listening and dialogue items.

reply-choice question type

A listening item where you pick the best spoken response to a short question. Match the question word: How needs a manner answer, Why needs a reason.

place prepositions for maps

Next to, across from, between, and on the corner of describe location on a map or floor plan. Track each move from the starting point given by the speaker.

day after tomorrow

Two days after today. If today is Monday, the day after tomorrow is Wednesday. The day before yesterday is two days earlier, so Saturday.

polite refusal pattern

Phrases like I'd love to, but ... or Sounds good, but ... begin with agreement and end with refusal. The clause after but gives the real answer.

pronoun reference check

For it, they, this, and one, find the nearest earlier noun that fits the meaning and matches in number. Singular they refers to a plural noun, not a singular one.

function of a line

Every dialogue line does a job: greeting, request, apology, invitation, offer, or suggestion. Identify the job to choose the reply that fits it.

negative forms simplified

Not uncommon means common; I don't disagree means I agree. Remove the double negative and restate the sentence in plain positive form before choosing an option.

scope words in options

Only, all, always, and never narrow or widen a statement. If the text says often, an option saying always is too strong and therefore wrong.

main idea versus detail

A main-idea answer covers the whole passage. A statement that is true but concerns only one paragraph is a detail and does not answer a main-idea question.

order of detail questions

In longer passages, questions about details usually follow the order of the text. Use the previous answer's location to start scanning for the next one.

two-condition table task

When a question gives two conditions, such as price and opening day, check the column headings first, then eliminate every row that fails either condition.

author's purpose verbs

Purpose answers use verbs like inform, persuade, explain, warn, and invite. A school notice usually informs or invites; an advertisement usually persuades.

inference must be supported

An inference answer must follow from statements in the text. An option that is merely possible in real life but never stated is not correct.

context clues for new words

A definition, example, or contrast nearby explains an unknown word. Phrases like unlike A or that is signal a restatement or an opposite meaning.

past tense with time adverbs

Adverbs such as yesterday, last week, and in 2019 name finished past time, so the main verb takes the simple past, not the present perfect.

present perfect markers

Since, for, ever, never, already, and yet go with have or has plus the past participle. Simple past goes with a stated finished time instead.

subject-verb agreement rules

Each, every, everyone, and nobody take a singular verb. A number of takes a plural verb, while the number of takes a singular verb.

gerund or infinitive

Enjoy, finish, stop, mind, and look forward to take a gerund. Want, hope, decide, plan, and try take an infinitive. Learn the verb with its pattern.

passive voice form

Passive is be plus past participle. The active object becomes the subject, and the active subject, if kept, follows by. Tense is shown by the form of be.

relative pronoun choice

Use who for people, which for things, that for both in defining clauses, where for places, and whose for possession. The clause follows the noun it describes.

irregular comparatives

Good becomes better then best; many and much become more then most; bad becomes worse then worst. Regular short adjectives add -er and -est.

counting English words

English word counts count whitespace-separated words, not characters. A 25-word condition means at least 25 words in the answer, checked after writing.

guided composition structure

State the opinion in a topic sentence, give one or two reasons with because or for example, then close. This meets most Japanese prompt conditions safely.

linking words for coherence

First, second, also, however, for example, so, therefore, and in conclusion connect sentences. They show the reader the relation between ideas and raise the score.

adverb placement error

English places very much after the object: I like tennis very much. Japanese word order often produces I like very much tennis, which is incorrect.

five common writing errors

Check third-person -s, plural -s, articles a, an, and the, capital letters, and final punctuation. These five account for many lost points in short compositions.

describing a graph trend

Use increase, decrease, rise, fall, and stay the same, with adverbs like sharply or slightly. State the direction and the period shown in the chart.

common chart percentages

Half is 50%, a third is about 33%, and a quarter is 25%. Convert chart fractions to percentages before comparing sizes in a cross-curricular task.

email purpose and action

In an email task, identify the sender, the receiver, the purpose, and the one action requested. The reply usually confirms the plan or changes a single detail.

combining notice and timetable

Cross two sources to find the single time or place that satisfies every stated condition. Eliminate options that fail even one condition in either source.

summary rules in English

A summary keeps the original's key numbers and names and drops examples. It must not add the writer's own opinion or new information not in the source.