JCE English key terms

The central point a passage is built around, stated or implied. Every other sentence supports, explains, or illustrates it, so identifying it helps you answer summary and purpose questions.

A fact, example, statistic, or reason that backs up the main idea. Detail questions ask you to locate or distinguish these from statements the passage never makes.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text rather than stated outright. A valid inference must be logically required or strongly supported by what the passage says.

The reason a writer produces a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct. Purpose questions ask what the writer is trying to achieve, not merely what the text is about.

The writer's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and sentence style, for example critical, neutral, amused, or urgent. Tone differs from mood, which is the feeling created in the reader.

Restating a passage's meaning in different words while keeping the original sense. Correct answer choices often paraphrase the text, so recognizing restatement is a core reading skill.

Information in surrounding words, sentences, or the overall passage that helps you work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, such as a definition, example, contrast, or cause-effect relationship.

A word with a meaning close to another word's, though rarely identical in every context. Vocabulary questions often ask you to pick the closest synonym for a word as used in a sentence.

A word whose meaning is opposite to another's, such as scarce and abundant. Recognizing opposites helps in contrast clues and in questions asking which word means the reverse.

The emotional or evaluative association a word carries beyond its literal meaning. Thin and slim share a denotation but differ in connotation, which affects tone and word-choice questions.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from any emotional shading. Distinguishing denotation from connotation is essential when choosing the most precise word for a sentence.

A habitual pairing of words that native speakers use together, such as make a decision or heavy rain. Wrong collocations make a sentence sound unnatural even when the grammar is correct.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as break the ice or under the weather. Idioms must be learned as whole units.

A verb combined with a particle or preposition that creates a new meaning, such as give up, look into, or put off. The particle often changes the meaning entirely.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. Intervening phrases, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns like each or none frequently cause errors here.

Keeping verb tenses logically consistent within a sentence or passage, shifting only when the time frame genuinely changes. Unmotivated shifts between past and present are a common error type.

The clarity of the relationship between a pronoun and the noun it stands for. Ambiguous or missing antecedents, as in unclear uses of it or they, create confusion.

Presenting items in a series or comparison in the same grammatical form, such as all gerunds or all infinitives. Faulty parallelism is a frequent target in grammar questions.

Positioning descriptive words or phrases next to the element they describe. A misplaced or dangling modifier attaches to the wrong word and produces illogical or comic meaning.

Marks such as commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes that organize sentences and clarify relationships. Questions often test comma splices, run-ons, and correct use of semicolons between clauses.

A group of words containing a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent clause cannot and must attach to a main clause.

An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or an independent clause. Fragments often appear as dependent clauses punctuated as if they were complete sentences.

Two or more independent clauses joined without adequate punctuation or a conjunction. A comma splice is a specific run-on that uses only a comma between clauses.

A sentence, usually near the start of an essay, that states the central claim and often previews the structure of the argument. It guides both writing and reading for structure.

A sentence that introduces the main point of a paragraph and controls its content. Later sentences in the paragraph should support or develop it.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, or in addition that signals the logical relationship between ideas. Good transitions show contrast, cause, sequence, or emphasis.

The quality of a text whose ideas are logically connected and easy to follow, achieved through clear organization, transitions, and consistent reference. Coherence concerns the flow of meaning, not just grammatical correctness.

Concentrating on a speaker's meaning, including emphasis and intonation, rather than passively hearing words. It supports answering questions about intent, attitude, and implied meaning.

The overall sense or main point of a spoken passage, even when some words are missed. Gist questions ask what the conversation or announcement is mainly about.

The rise and fall of the voice in speech, which can signal a question, emphasis, or emotion. Intonation sometimes carries meaning that the words alone do not.

A spoken cue such as first, however, or to sum up that tells listeners how ideas are organized. Noticing these markers helps you follow lectures and predict what comes next.

An answer choice that looks plausible but is wrong because it misstates, overgeneralizes, or adds information not in the passage or recording. Recognizing distractors improves accuracy under time pressure.