GCE O/L English Language flashcards

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

Skimming versus scanning

Skimming reads quickly for general topic and purpose; scanning searches the text for one specific fact such as a date or name. Choose according to the question asked.

Inference in comprehension

A conclusion drawn from clues in the text rather than a directly stated fact. A valid inference must be supported by wording in the passage, not by general knowledge.

Pronoun reference question

A question asking what a pronoun such as it, they, or this refers to. Trace back to the nearest preceding noun that agrees in number and fits the meaning.

Effect-on-reader question

A question asking how a word or phrase makes the reader feel or react. Answer by naming the technique and the feeling it creates, with brief textual support.

Summary in own words

A continuous-prose restatement of the main points, expressed in the candidate's own vocabulary. Copied sentences and note form are not acceptable and lose credit.

Selective deletion

A summary technique of removing examples, adjectives, repetition, and background detail while keeping the key points, so the summary stays within the word limit.

Word-limit penalty

In summary tasks, exceeding the stated word limit can void the whole answer. Count every word, including articles and connectives, before finishing.

Information transfer grid

A table in which answers must be copied exactly from the source text. Names, figures, and dates must be spelled precisely as they appear.

Narrative arc

The structure of a story: orientation, complication, climax, and resolution. A narrative without a turning point reads as flat description and scores poorly.

Show, don't tell

A descriptive technique replacing direct statements of feeling with physical evidence: instead of 'he was afraid', write 'his hands shook and his mouth went dry'.

Thesis statement

A single sentence in an argumentative introduction stating the position the essay will defend. Every body paragraph must support it with evidence.

Counter-argument paragraph

A paragraph that states the opposing view fairly and then refutes it. Including one strengthens an argumentative essay and earns marks for balance.

Paragraph unity

The rule that every sentence in a paragraph relates to its topic sentence. A new idea requires a new paragraph, or the writing loses coherence.

Formal letter closing

'Yours faithfully' is used when the recipient's name is unknown (Dear Sir or Madam); 'Yours sincerely' is used when the name is known (Dear Mr Tan).

Report structure

A report contains a title, recipient, terms of reference, procedure, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and a signature with date. Each heading earns format marks.

Notice format

A short public announcement with the word NOTICE centred at the top, answering who, what, where, when, and why, plus a signature or contact line.

Speech opening

A greeting that directly addresses the audience, often followed by a rhetorical question or anecdote, establishing rapport and purpose in the first two sentences.

Present perfect tense

Formed with have or has plus the past participle. It links a past action to the present and is never used with a finished time marker such as 'yesterday'.

Subject-verb agreement

The verb agrees with the head noun of the subject, not the nearest noun. In 'the box of pens is heavy', the verb agrees with 'box'.

Third conditional

Formed with if plus past perfect and would have plus past participle. It describes an unreal past situation, as in 'If I had studied, I would have passed'.

Reported speech shift

When direct speech becomes reported, tense moves back one step, pronouns change to match the reporter, and time words shift, so 'today' becomes 'that day'.

Collocation

A habitual word partnership that native users expect, such as 'make a decision', 'heavy rain', or 'strong tea'. Substituting a synonym breaks the collocation.

Register

The level of formality in language: formal, neutral, or informal. A single text must keep one consistent register, avoiding slang in formal writing.

Affect versus effect

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result. Confusing them is a common accuracy error.

Phrasal verb meaning shift

The particle changes the meaning of the verb: 'put off' means postpone, 'put up with' means tolerate, and 'put out' means extinguish.

Technique-quotation-effect

The standard response pattern for literary questions: name the device, quote a few words as evidence, then explain the effect it creates on the reader.

Personification

A figure of speech giving human qualities to non-human things, as in 'the wind whispered'. It creates atmosphere and can suggest mood or threat.

Loaded language

Emotive word choice carrying strong positive or negative connotation, common in advertisements and newspaper headlines to sway the reader's attitude.

Narrative viewpoint

Whether a story is told in first person (I, we) or third person (he, she, they). Viewpoint controls how much the reader knows and how close they feel.

Comma splice

Two independent clauses joined by a comma alone. Correct it with a full stop, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction such as 'but'.

Apostrophe uses

An apostrophe marks possession (the girl's book) or contraction (it's means it is). The possessive 'its' takes no apostrophe, and plural nouns place it after the s.

Parallel structure

Items in a list or series must share grammatical form. 'Reading, writing and listening' is parallel; 'reading, writing and to listen' is not.