Tottori Prefectural Public High School Entrance Examination - English cheat sheet

Preview each answer choice before the audio starts and note the difference: person, time, place, price, or reason. The question word tells you which difference matters.

Numbers: -teen is stressed and longer; -ty is unstressed. For prices and times, write digits immediately and compute after the second mention.

Time expressions such as 'half an hour later', 'ten minutes ago', and 'by 7:30' require arithmetic; note the starting time before listening for the change.

Discourse markers 'but', 'actually', 'instead', and 'to be honest' usually introduce the correct answer or a correction of an earlier statement.

Invitations and offers: 'Sounds good' = accept; 'I'd love to, but...' = decline. The reason after 'but' is the answer to 'Why can't...?'

Map/direction items: mark the starting point, then track each turn in order. Left/right are from the walker's perspective unless the speaker says 'on your left' while facing the map.

If a speaker asks a question in the dialogue, the next line usually answers it; the tested fact is often in that answer, not the question.

Write only key nouns, verbs, and numbers. Do not try to transcribe full sentences; transcription makes you miss the next item.

Question order normally follows passage order. Answer item 1, then move forward; do not search the whole passage for each item.

For pronoun/referent items ('it', 'they', 'this'), read the preceding sentence and match number and meaning; the referent is usually the nearest suitable noun phrase.

Main idea: check the first and last paragraphs plus any term repeated in each paragraph. A single detail is not the main idea.

True/false choices with all, never, only, must, or always are usually false unless the passage states them exactly; choose supported, hedged options.

Unknown vocabulary: use word parts (un-, -less, -ment, -able) and context signals (definition, example, contrast with 'but') before guessing.

Inference items: the answer must be supported by a stated fact. World knowledge or personal opinion is not enough.

Paragraph-matching: identify the topic sentence, then the supporting example; match the paragraph's function (reason, example, conclusion), not one shared word.

Tables/graphs: read title, units, and legend first; compare the same category across groups and check whether numbers are totals or percentages.

If two choices seem correct, choose the one that answers the exact question word (why, how, what) rather than a true but irrelevant statement.

Subject-verb agreement: locate the true subject, not the noun nearest the verb. 'One of the students is...' takes a singular verb.

Present perfect: have/has + past participle; use for + duration and since + starting point. Do not use it with a finished past time like 'yesterday'.

Indirect questions use statement order: 'Do you know where he lives?' not 'where does he live'.

Although/though introduces a contrast clause and cannot be paired with but in the same sentence; because cannot be paired with so.

Gerunds after enjoy, finish, practice, stop (quit), and look forward to; infinitives after want, decide, hope, and plan.

Relative pronouns: who for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for places. That can replace who/which in defining clauses only.

Passive = be + past participle; keep the tense on be. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject.

Countable/uncountable: many/few with countables; much/little with uncountables. 'A number of' takes a plural verb; 'the number of' takes singular.

Comparisons: as + adjective + as; -er/more + than; the -est/most. Irregulars: good-better-best, bad-worse-worst, many-more-most.

Before writing, list every required content point. One clear sentence per point; a missing point costs more than a minor grammar error.

Use short, correct sentences. A complex sentence with tense errors scores lower than two simple sentences that are accurate.

Opinion formula: state opinion, give one reason, add one example, restate. Keep the reason and example in separate sentences.

Sequence and contrast: first, next, then, finally; however for contrast; so/therefore for result. Do not start every sentence with 'and'.

Email/letter format: greeting, purpose sentence, body, closing, name. Use 'Dear Mr. Brown' and 'Best regards' for formal tasks.

Word limit: count words, not letters. Contractions count as one word. Cut adjectives and adverbs first, never content points.

Check list before submitting: third-person -s, plural -s, past tense, capitalization, period/question mark, and subject-verb agreement.

Avoid literal Japanese-to-English patterns: 'I want to go to there' -> 'I want to go there'; 'I am interesting in' -> 'I am interested in'.

Match the response to the function, not the words: invitation -> accept/decline; request -> grant/refuse; apology -> accept/repair.

Decline an invitation with thanks + reason + alternative: 'I'd love to, but I have practice. How about Saturday?'

Apologize with three parts: sorry, brief reason, repair. 'I'm sorry I'm late. The bus was delayed. I'll stay longer.'

Politeness: 'Could you...?' / 'Would you mind...?' for teachers or strangers; 'Can you...?' is acceptable with close friends.

If you miss a line, use repair phrases: 'Pardon?', 'Could you say that again?', 'What do you mean by...?' Do not guess silently.

Agree/disagree politely: 'I see your point, but...' or 'That's true, however...' acknowledges the other speaker before giving a reason.

Check pronoun and tense agreement with the previous line: if the question uses 'your', answer with 'my'; if it uses past tense, answer in past tense.

Discourse markers: 'by the way' shifts topic; 'actually' corrects; 'on the other hand' contrasts; 'so' concludes. Use them to predict the next line.