Kaplan Nursing key terms

The central point a passage is built to convey, usually stated in a topic sentence or implied across several paragraphs. Identifying it requires weighing supporting details rather than picking one vivid example.

A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or defends the main idea. Distinguishing major details from minor ones helps answer questions about what the author emphasizes.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text plus reasonable reasoning, rather than stated outright. Correct inferences must be defensible from the passage alone, not from outside knowledge or assumptions.

The reason a writer produces a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain a process. Purpose shapes word choice, structure, and how much evidence the writer supplies.

The writer's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and sentence style. Tone differs from mood, which is the feeling a reader takes away from the text.

Surrounding words, phrases, or examples that hint at the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Types include definition, contrast, example, and cause-and-effect clues.

The implied or emotional shading a word carries beyond its literal meaning. A word with a positive connotation can change a sentence's effect even when the denotation stays the same.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from emotional associations. Questions often test whether a word is used in its denotative sense or a figurative one.

Restating a passage's meaning in your own words while keeping the original sense and scope. A good paraphrase changes wording and structure without adding interpretation or dropping key details.

A brief restatement of a text's central points in condensed form. It should cover the main idea and major supports while omitting examples, repetition, and minor asides.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, or in addition that signals how ideas relate. Recognizing transitions helps readers follow contrast, cause, sequence, and emphasis.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written as a to b, a:b, or a fraction. Ratios can describe part-to-part or part-to-whole relationships, and the distinction matters in word problems.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, solved by cross-multiplying. Proportions model scaling situations such as recipe adjustments, map distances, and medication dosing by weight.

A rate expressed per single unit of the second quantity, found by dividing. Unit rates make comparisons fair, as when choosing the lower cost per ounce or the faster speed per hour.

A ratio comparing a number to 100, meaning per hundred. Percent problems are solved with the relationship part equals percent times whole, rearranged to find whichever value is missing.

The difference between a new value and an original value, divided by the original value and written as a percent. Increases and decreases use the same formula, with the sign showing direction.

The agreed sequence for evaluating expressions: grouping symbols, exponents, multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. Ignoring it produces a different, incorrect result.

The distance of a number from zero on the number line, always zero or positive. It is written with vertical bars and appears in problems involving temperature change, elevation, and error tolerance.

A statement comparing expressions with symbols such as less than, greater than, or not equal. Solving one resembles solving an equation, except multiplying or dividing by a negative reverses the symbol.

An equation in which each variable appears to the first power, graphing as a straight line. Solving usually means isolating the variable through inverse operations applied equally to both sides.

The steepness of a line, calculated as the change in y divided by the change in x between two points. Positive slope rises left to right; negative slope falls; zero is horizontal; undefined is vertical.

A way of writing numbers as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of ten. It simplifies very large or very small values and supports quick multiplication and division.

Changing a measurement between metric prefixes by moving the decimal point, since the system is based on powers of ten. Common nursing conversions include grams to milligrams and liters to milliliters.

A calculation method that multiplies conversion factors written as fractions so unwanted units cancel. It reduces setup errors in dosage and measurement problems by tracking units to the final answer.

The arithmetic average, found by adding all values and dividing by the count. It is sensitive to extreme values, unlike the median, which is why both are often reported together.

The middle value of an ordered data set, or the average of the two middle values when the count is even. It resists distortion from outliers and describes a typical value in skewed data.

The value or values that appear most often in a data set. A set may have one mode, several modes, or none, and the mode is useful for categorical data.

The body's tendency to maintain stable internal conditions such as temperature, pH, and blood glucose despite outside change. It relies on feedback loops that detect imbalance and trigger corrective responses.

A control mechanism in which a change triggers a response that reverses the change, restoring the set point. Most physiological regulation, including thermoregulation and blood sugar control, works this way.

The selectively permeable barrier surrounding a cell, made of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins. It controls which substances enter and exit and carries out cell recognition and signaling.

The passive movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. It requires no energy and continues until concentrations equalize, as in oxygen moving into the bloodstream.

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration. It explains cell shrinking in hypertonic solutions and swelling in hypotonic ones.

The total of chemical reactions that build and break down molecules in the body. It includes anabolism, which builds and stores energy, and catabolism, which releases energy from nutrients.

A chemical messenger secreted by a gland or cell that travels through the blood to affect a target tissue. Hormones regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress responses.

Practices that prevent the spread of pathogens, including hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and sterilization. Standard precautions treat all body fluids as potentially infectious.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. Interrupting phrases, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns such as each or both are frequent sources of error.

The clarity of the relationship between a pronoun and the noun it stands for. Ambiguous or missing antecedents make sentences confusing and are commonly tested in revision questions.

Positioning descriptive words or phrases next to what they describe. A misplaced or dangling modifier attaches to the wrong word and creates illogical or unintended meaning.

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison. Parallelism makes writing easier to read and signals that ideas carry equal weight.

Joining two independent clauses with only a comma. It is repaired with a period, semicolon, coordinating conjunction, or by turning one clause into a dependent one.

Two or more independent clauses fused without adequate punctuation or a conjunction. Unlike a comma splice, it may lack punctuation entirely or rely on a weak connector.

Language suited to academic or professional writing, avoiding slang, contractions, and casual phrasing. Register should match audience and purpose, so tone shifts across contexts.