TACHS flashcards
TACHS · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Main idea
- The central point a passage supports throughout. It is broader than any single detail and is often stated in the first or last sentence of the passage.
- Inference
- A conclusion drawn from evidence in the passage plus common knowledge. A valid inference must be provable from the text, not merely plausible in real life.
- Context clue
- Surrounding words that reveal an unfamiliar word's meaning, through definition, example, contrast, or cause-effect. Substitute each choice back into the sentence to test it.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a passage was written, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain a process. The purpose is signaled by whether the text reports or argues.
- Tone
- The author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice. It is usually positive, negative, or neutral, and extreme labels rarely fit factual passages.
- Sequence of events
- The order in which actions occur. Signal words such as first, then, after, meanwhile, and finally mark the order and help build a timeline.
- Supporting detail
- A fact, example, or reason that backs up the main idea. A true detail that does not support the main point is still a wrong answer.
- Paired passages
- Two short texts on one topic. Answer questions about each passage alone first, then identify the exact point where the authors agree or disagree.
- Sentence fragment
- A group of words missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, or a dependent clause standing alone. Test by asking who or what performs the action.
- Comma splice
- Two independent clauses joined only by a comma. Fix it with a semicolon, a comma plus coordinating conjunction, or by splitting into two sentences.
- Subject-verb agreement
- The verb must match its true subject in number. Ignore prepositional phrases in between, and treat indefinite pronouns like everyone and each as singular.
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- A pronoun must match the noun it replaces in number and gender, and refer to exactly one clear noun. Ambiguous reference is an error.
- Parallel structure
- Items in a list or comparison must share grammatical form, such as all nouns, all -ing forms, or all infinitives. Mixed forms break the sentence's balance.
- Dangling modifier
- An introductory descriptive phrase must sit next to the noun it describes. If the main clause's subject is wrong, the phrase dangles.
- Apostrophe use
- Apostrophes mark possession or contraction, never simple plurals. Singular possessive adds 's; plural possessive adds s' after the final s.
- Fewer versus less
- Use fewer with countable nouns (fewer chairs) and less with mass nouns (less water). Between applies to two items; among applies to three or more.
- Verb tense consistency
- Keep one tense unless a time signal such as before, after, since, or by the time requires a shift. Had marks the earlier of two past events.
- Percent change
- Percent change equals the difference divided by the original amount, times 100. Increasing by p percent means multiplying by one plus p over 100.
- Dividing fractions
- To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal: a over b divided by c over d equals a over b times d over c. Simplify before multiplying.
- Proportion
- An equation stating two ratios are equal, solved by cross-multiplying. Scale drawings keep both sides in the same unit before solving.
- Area formulas
- Rectangle: length times width. Triangle: one-half base times height. Circle: pi times radius squared. Add areas to find composite figures.
- Mean, median, mode
- Mean is the sum divided by the count. Median is the middle value of an ordered list. Mode is the most frequent value. Range is highest minus lowest.
- Distance, rate, time
- Distance equals rate times time. Rearrange to rate equals distance divided by time, or time equals distance divided by rate. Keep units consistent.
- Order of operations
- Evaluate parentheses first, then exponents, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right.
- Triangle angle sum
- The three interior angles of any triangle add to 180 degrees. Angles on a straight line also total 180, and vertical angles are equal.
- Simple probability
- Probability of one event equals favorable outcomes divided by total outcomes, always between 0 and 1. The chance an event does not occur is 1 minus its probability.
- Analogy
- A pair of words with a specific relationship, such as part to whole or tool to user. State the relationship as a sentence, then apply it to each choice.
- Number series
- A sequence following a rule. Check differences first, then ratios, then alternating patterns, then squares, cubes, or plus-one offsets.
- Letter series
- A sequence of letters converted to positions A equals 1 through Z equals 26. Letter jumps usually mirror a number series rule.
- Odd one out
- A classification task where all but one item share a category or function. Name the shared property first, then find the item that lacks it.
- Syllogism
- A deduction from two premises. All A are B does not imply all B are A, and a valid conclusion cannot add information beyond the premises.
- Ordering puzzle
- A reasoning item with before, after, taller, or shorter clues. Convert each clue into a ranked line and place the most constrained item first.