PAC Cadet Scholarship Exam key terms

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in a given context, such as 'brave' and 'courageous'. Questions often ask you to pick the closest match from four options.

A word whose meaning is opposite to another word, such as 'ancient' and 'modern'. Recognizing opposites helps eliminate wrong answer choices quickly in vocabulary questions.

Information in the surrounding sentence that hints at the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Examples include restatements, contrasts, and examples placed near the difficult word.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in a passage rather than stated directly. The reader combines stated facts with general knowledge to work out what the writer implies.

The central point a paragraph or passage is built around. It is usually broad enough to cover all supporting details but narrow enough to exclude unrelated material.

A sentence, often first in a paragraph, that announces the paragraph's controlling idea. The remaining sentences develop or support it with reasons, facts, or examples.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action, as in 'The cadet wrote the report.' It is usually shorter and clearer than the passive alternative.

A construction in which the subject receives the action, formed with a form of 'be' plus a past participle, as in 'The report was written by the cadet.'

Reporting a person's exact words inside quotation marks, with a reporting verb such as 'said'. Tense and pronouns inside the quotation stay as originally spoken.

Reporting what someone said without quoting exact words, usually shifting tense back and adjusting pronouns and time words, as in 'He said he was tired.'

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

A singular word naming a group of people, animals, or things, such as 'team', 'flock', or 'committee'. It usually takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as 'to burn the midnight oil', which means to study or work late.

A verb combined with a preposition or adverb that together carry a new meaning, such as 'give up' or 'put off'. The particle cannot usually be replaced freely.

A letter group attached to the front of a root word to change its meaning, as 'un-' in 'unfair' or 'pre-' in 'prepaid'. It rarely changes the word's part of speech.

A letter group added to the end of a root word, often changing its part of speech, as '-ness' turns 'kind' into a noun and '-less' turns 'hope' into an adjective.

A whole number greater than one whose only positive divisors are one and itself, such as 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11. One is not considered prime.

A number that divides another number exactly without leaving a remainder. For example, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.

The result of multiplying a number by a whole number. Multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20 and so on, continuing without end.

Highest common factor: the largest number that divides two or more given numbers exactly. For 12 and 18 the common factors are 1, 2, 3, 6, so the HCF is 6.

Lowest common multiple: the smallest number that is a multiple of two or more given numbers. For 4 and 6 the LCM is 12.

A comparison of two quantities of the same kind, written as 3:5 or as a fraction. It shows how many times one quantity contains the other.

A statement that two ratios are equal, such as 2:3 = 4:6. Problems often ask you to find a missing term in a proportion.

A fraction or ratio expressed as a part of one hundred, denoted by the symbol %. To convert a fraction to a percentage, multiply it by 100.

The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values, also called the arithmetic mean. It gives a single value representing the whole set.

Interest calculated only on the original principal, using the formula principal multiplied by rate multiplied by time, divided by one hundred when the rate is a percentage per year.

The amount of flat surface enclosed by a shape, measured in square units. A rectangle's area equals length multiplied by breadth.

The total distance around the boundary of a closed shape, measured in linear units. For a rectangle it equals twice the sum of length and breadth.

In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides, written as a squared plus b squared equals c squared.

The fundamental set of principles and rules by which a state is governed, defining institutions, powers, and citizens' rights. Pakistan's present Constitution was adopted in 1973.

The national legislature that makes laws. Pakistan's Parliament consists of the President, the National Assembly, and the Senate.

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional units, each having its own defined responsibilities. Pakistan is a federal state with provinces.

An international organisation founded in 1945 to maintain peace and security and promote cooperation. Pakistan joined in 1947 and has contributed troops to many peacekeeping missions.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a grouping of Muslim-majority states founded in 1969 to promote solidarity and coordinate policy. Its secretariat is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Islamic belief in the absolute oneness of God, that Allah is one and has no partner or equal. It is the central principle from which other Islamic beliefs follow.

The Islamic concept of prophethood, meaning that God communicates guidance to humanity through chosen messengers. Belief in the prophets, ending with Prophet Muhammad, is a core article of faith.

Belief in the life after death, including resurrection, judgement, and reward or punishment. It is one of the fundamental articles of Islamic faith.

An obligatory annual charity in Islam, paid on qualifying wealth at a fixed rate, usually one-fortieth. It is one of the five pillars and is meant for specified categories of recipients.

Fasting in Islam, especially during the month of Ramadan, from dawn to sunset. It is one of the five pillars and is obligatory for able adult Muslims.

The practice and sayings of Prophet Muhammad, recorded in hadith collections and treated as a major source of guidance alongside the Quran.

A set of connected beliefs and values that shapes how a community or state views itself and its goals. The Pakistan Movement drew on Islamic ideology in seeking a separate homeland.

The idea that Muslims and Hindus of the subcontinent were two distinct nations with separate cultures and identities, and therefore needed separate political arrangements.

The 1940 Lahore resolution of the All-India Muslim League demanding independent states for Muslim-majority regions. It is regarded as a landmark step toward the creation of Pakistan.