MEGA MOGEA flashcards

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

Main idea

The central point an author conveys about a topic; it is often stated in a topic sentence or thesis and is supported by details throughout the passage.

Inference

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text combined with prior knowledge rather than stated directly by the author.

Compare and contrast structure

A text structure that examines similarities and differences between two or more subjects, often signaled by words such as both, like, unlike, and however.

Author's purpose

The reason an author writes a text, whether to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain, which shapes the content, tone, and organization of the piece.

First-person point of view

Narration using I, me, and we, in which the narrator participates in the story and reveals only what that character knows.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using like or as, such as the phrase as bright as the sun.

Fact versus opinion

A fact can be verified with evidence, whereas an opinion expresses a personal belief, feeling, or judgment that cannot be proven true.

Context clues

Hints in surrounding sentences, such as definitions, examples, synonyms, or contrasts, that help a reader determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

Compound sentence

A sentence containing two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or so, or joined by a semicolon.

Subject-verb agreement

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Dangling modifier

A descriptive phrase that does not clearly attach to the word it is meant to modify, often because the intended subject is missing.

Thesis statement

A single sentence that states the main claim of an essay and previews the points the writer will develop in the body paragraphs.

Active voice

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action of the verb, as in the sentence the committee approved the plan.

Possessive apostrophe

A punctuation mark used to show ownership; singular nouns add an apostrophe plus s, while plural nouns ending in s add only an apostrophe.

Parallel structure

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison, such as hiking, swimming, and biking rather than mixing forms.

Transition words

Words or phrases such as however, therefore, and in addition that show relationships between ideas and guide readers through a text.

Order of operations

The sequence for evaluating expressions: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right.

Mean

The arithmetic average of a data set, found by adding all the values and dividing the sum by the number of values.

Pythagorean theorem

The relationship in a right triangle stating that the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the two other sides.

Slope formula

For a line through points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), slope equals the change in y divided by the change in x.

Area of a circle

The space enclosed by a circle, calculated as pi times the radius squared, where pi is approximately 3.14.

Probability

The likelihood that an event occurs, calculated as the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of equally likely outcomes.

Percent to decimal

To convert a percent to a decimal, divide by 100 or move the decimal point two places left, so 45 percent becomes 0.45.

Least common multiple

The smallest number that is a multiple of two or more given numbers, such as 12 for the numbers 4 and 6.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen inside chloroplasts.

Newton's third law

The principle that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, meaning forces in nature always occur in pairs.

Water cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection as it circulates between Earth's surface and the atmosphere.

Food chain

A sequence showing how energy passes from producers to consumers to decomposers in an ecosystem, usually beginning with plants.

Checks and balances

A system in which each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches, preventing any one branch from dominating.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which protect individual freedoms such as speech, religion, and due process of law.

Supply and demand

The economic principle that prices are set by the interaction of how much of a good producers offer and how much consumers are willing to buy.

Latitude and longitude

Imaginary lines that locate places on Earth; latitude measures distance north or south of the equator, and longitude measures east or west of the prime meridian.