Ohio State Tests/EOC flashcards

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

Central idea

The main point a whole text develops, stated in a full sentence. It differs from a theme, which is a universal message about life rather than a summary of the text.

Textual evidence

A direct quotation or specific detail from a passage used to support a claim. Strong evidence is relevant to the claim and is followed by explanation connecting the two.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural shading a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as cheap versus affordable. Connotation shapes tone and influences how readers judge a subject.

Counterclaim

An opposing position a writer acknowledges and then refutes with evidence. Addressing it strengthens an argument by showing the writer considered alternatives rather than ignoring them.

Rhetorical appeals

Ethos establishes the speaker's credibility, pathos targets audience emotion, and logos relies on logic and data. Analyzing which appeal dominates a passage reveals the author's persuasive strategy.

Author's purpose

The reason a text was written, typically to inform, persuade, or entertain. Purpose is inferred from content, tone, structure, and the intended audience addressed.

Inference

A conclusion reached by combining explicit details in a text with background knowledge. A valid inference must be defensible from the passage, not merely plausible in general.

Theme

A universal insight about life or human nature conveyed through a text's characters and events. It is expressed as a complete sentence rather than a single topic word.

Slope formula

The slope between two points equals the change in y divided by the change in x: m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). Parallel lines share slopes; perpendicular slopes multiply to negative one.

Quadratic formula

The solutions of ax² + bx + c = 0 are x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac))/(2a). The discriminant b² - 4ac reveals whether there are two, one, or zero real roots.

Point-slope form

The equation y - y1 = m(x - x1) describes a line with slope m passing through the point (x1, y1). It is efficient when a point and the slope are already known.

Exponential growth model

The equation y = a(1 + r)^t models growth from initial amount a at rate r per period t. Decay uses (1 - r), producing a decreasing curve that never reaches zero.

Discriminant

The expression b² - 4ac from the quadratic formula. A positive value means two real roots, zero means one repeated root, and a negative value means no real roots.

Function notation

Writing f(3) means substituting 3 for x in the rule, not multiplying f by 3. The domain excludes values that make denominators zero or radicands negative.

Probability of independent events

For independent events, the probability both occur is the product of their individual probabilities: P(A and B) = P(A)·P(B). Dependence requires conditional probability instead.

Mean versus median

The mean is the sum divided by the count and shifts sharply with outliers. The median is the middle value of ordered data and resists extreme values.

Newton's second law

Net force equals mass times acceleration, F = ma. Acceleration points in the direction of net force, and doubling mass halves acceleration for a fixed force.

Conservation of energy

Within a closed system total energy stays constant while changing form among kinetic, potential, and thermal. Friction converts mechanical energy into thermal energy without destroying it.

Kinetic energy

Kinetic energy equals one-half mass times velocity squared, KE = ½mv². Because velocity is squared, doubling speed multiplies kinetic energy by four.

Newton's third law

For every action force there is an equal and opposite reaction force. The pair acts on different objects, which is why the forces do not cancel each other.

Balancing chemical equations

Coefficients placed before formulas adjust the number of each molecule so atoms balance on both sides. Subscripts within a formula cannot be altered to achieve balance.

Photosynthesis

Plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Cellular respiration largely reverses the process, releasing stored energy as ATP.

DNA base pairing

Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine in DNA. Transcription copies DNA into messenger RNA, which translation reads to assemble protein.

Natural selection

Heritable variation plus environmental pressure yields differential reproductive success, so favorable traits become more common. Populations evolve across generations; individual organisms do not evolve.

Plate boundary types

Divergent boundaries create new crust as plates separate, convergent boundaries cause subduction or mountain building, and transform boundaries produce strike-slip faulting where plates slide past.

Separation of powers

Legislative, executive, and judicial functions are assigned to distinct branches. Each branch can limit the others through checks such as veto power and judicial review.

Federalism

Authority is divided between national and state governments. The Supremacy Clause establishes that federal law prevails when national and state laws conflict.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution protect individual liberties, including speech, religion, press, assembly, petition, and rights of the accused.

Amendment process

Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. The demanding thresholds explain why amendments are relatively rare.

Primary source analysis

Historians examine a document's author, date, audience, and purpose before interpreting its meaning. This sourcing determines how reliable and representative the source is.

Push and pull factors

Push factors drive people away from a place, such as conflict or famine. Pull factors attract them toward a destination, such as jobs or political freedom.

Supply and demand

Price rises when demand exceeds supply and falls when supply exceeds demand. Equilibrium is the price where quantity supplied equals quantity demanded.

Market versus command economy

Market economies rely on private ownership and price signals to allocate resources. Command economies rely on state direction of production and distribution instead.