OLSAT Level D key terms

A word that means the same thing, or nearly the same thing, as another word. Synonym questions ask you to pick the answer choice closest in meaning to a given word.

A word that means the opposite of another word. Antonym questions reward the choice that contrasts most directly with the given word, not merely one that is unrelated.

The small difference in strength or feeling between words that are close in meaning, such as 'warm' versus 'hot'. Questions often ask for the closest match, so near-synonyms must be compared carefully.

A hint inside a sentence that helps you work out an unfamiliar word's meaning, such as a definition, an example, or a contrast word like 'but' or 'unlike'.

A task where one or two words are missing from a sentence and you choose the answer pair that makes the whole sentence logical and grammatically smooth.

The feeling or attitude a word carries beyond its literal meaning. 'Thrifty' and 'stingy' describe similar behavior, but one sounds approving and the other critical.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from any emotional tone it may carry. Questions may test whether you can separate a word's plain meaning from its connotation.

A word part attached to the front of a root that changes its meaning, such as 'un-' in 'unfair' or 'pre-' in 'preview'. Knowing common prefixes helps you decode unfamiliar words.

A word part attached to the end of a root that changes its meaning or its grammatical role, such as '-less' in 'careless' or '-tion' in 'creation'.

The base part of a word that carries its core meaning and to which prefixes and suffixes are added. Recognizing roots lets you infer the meaning of a whole word family.

A comparison stating that one pair of words relates in the same way as another pair. You must name the relationship in the given pair, then find the choice with the same relationship.

The specific link between two words in an analogy, such as part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, worker-to-tool, or category-to-member. Naming the type is the key step before choosing an answer.

A short sentence you build to state the link between the first pair, for example 'A hammer is a tool used by a carpenter.' You then test each answer choice in the same sentence.

A question that gives several items belonging to one group plus one that does not, and asks you to identify the outsider. The shared feature of the majority defines the group.

The item in a set that fails to share the feature common to all the others. Finding it requires testing a possible rule against every item, not just the first two.

A group whose members share a defining feature, such as 'vehicles with engines' or 'words that are verbs.' Classification questions depend on spotting which category the majority fits.

Reaching a conclusion that must be true if the given statements are true. Only the information stated may be used; outside knowledge and assumptions are not allowed.

A stated fact or condition in a reasoning problem that you accept as true and reason from. The correct answer follows from the premises alone, even if they seem unrealistic.

A conclusion drawn from evidence that is likely but not guaranteed. Unlike a deduction, an inference goes beyond what is strictly stated and could in principle be wrong.

A conditional sentence in which one condition guarantees a result, as in 'If it rains, the field is wet.' Only the direction stated is guaranteed; the reverse is not automatically true.

The valid flipped form of an if-then statement, made by negating both parts and reversing them. From 'If it rains, the field is wet' you may correctly conclude 'If the field is not wet, it did not rain.'

The mistake of reversing an if-then statement without justification. 'If it rains, the field is wet' does not allow you to conclude that the field is wet only because it rained.

A reasoning problem built from two or more statements about groups, where you decide what must follow. Drawing a simple diagram of the groups often makes the valid conclusion clear.

A series of numbers, letters, or shapes arranged by a rule. Your job is to discover the rule, such as adding 3 each time or alternating two patterns, and supply the next item.

The consistent operation that generates each item in a series from the one before it. Rules may involve adding, multiplying, skipping, or alternating between two separate operations.

A series that switches between two or more separate rules, such as odd positions increasing by 2 while even positions decrease by 1. Checking every other term often reveals it.

A grid of figures arranged in rows and columns, where one cell is missing. The pattern usually runs across rows, down columns, or both, and the missing figure must satisfy all of them.

Turning a figure around a fixed point by a set number of degrees, such as a quarter turn clockwise. The shape itself is unchanged; only its orientation differs.

Flipping a figure over a line so it appears as a mirror image. The shape keeps its size but its left and right, or top and bottom, are exchanged.

Sliding a figure to a new position without turning or flipping it. Size, shape, and orientation all stay exactly the same; only the location changes.

A pictorial task in which a row of figures changes step by step and you choose the figure that continues the progression. Tracking one feature at a time keeps the change clear.

A steady change in one or more features of a figure across a series, such as a shape gaining a side each step or a dot moving one corner further each time.

Two figures related by a rule, followed by a third figure for which you must pick a partner sharing the same rule. The rule might be adding a line, shading, or rotating.

A pictorial task in which all but one figure share a visual feature, such as symmetry, number of sides, or closed versus open lines, and you identify the exception.

A task where two or more separate figures are merged, overlapped, or subtracted to form one result. You must predict which lines or regions survive the operation.

Placing one figure directly on top of another so their lines combine. The answer usually shows all lines from both figures, or only the lines they share, depending on the stated rule.

Removing the lines or regions of one figure from another. The result contains only the parts of the first figure that the second figure does not cover.

A spatial task in which a sheet is folded, holes are punched, and you decide how the holes appear when the paper is unfolded. Each fold doubles the number of hole copies.

The step in a paper-folding problem where holes are made through the folded layers. Unfolding mirrors each hole across every fold line, so the pattern is symmetric.

The quality of a figure that looks the same after a flip over a line or a turn. Symmetry lines explain why unfolded hole patterns repeat in mirrored positions.

Imagining how a flat pattern bends into a three-dimensional object, or how a folded shape looks when opened. It is tested with nets of cubes and folded-paper questions.

A flat arrangement of connected squares or faces that can be folded into a solid such as a cube. Questions ask which faces end up opposite or adjacent once folded.

The ability to picture objects in your mind and mentally move, turn, or assemble them. It underlies folding, rotation, and cube-assembly questions in figural reasoning.

A simple shape hidden inside a more complex drawing. The task is to locate it among overlapping lines, ignoring lines that are not part of the target shape.