SQU English Exit cheat sheet

Main idea = topic + the writer's claim about it; details support it but do not replace it.

A valid inference must be forced by textual evidence; reject options that require outside assumptions beyond common knowledge.

Distinguish fact from opinion: facts can be verified, while opinions contain evaluation, judgment, or probability.

Author's purpose is signaled by overall structure: problem-solution and cause-effect often indicate explanation; claim-plus-reasons indicates persuasion.

Tone is determined by diction and syntax, not by subject alone; a passage about war can be neutral, critical, or mournful.

Reference questions: a pronoun refers to the nearest grammatically compatible noun phrase, then logic confirms the choice.

Transition words encode relationships: however = contrast, therefore = result, for example = illustration, moreover = addition.

In vocabulary-in-context items, substitute each option into the sentence and keep only the one that preserves the sentence's logic and tone.

True-but-not-answer trap: an option may be accurate yet fail to answer the stem; reread the stem's exact question word.

A thesis should be a complete declarative sentence, not a question or an announcement such as 'This essay will discuss...'.

Paragraph order should follow a plan: chronological for narrative, general-to-specific for explanation, problem-cause-solution for persuasive analysis.

A paragraph needs one controlling idea; if a sentence introduces a new controlling idea, move it to a new paragraph.

Cohesion improves when key nouns are repeated or replaced by clear pronouns; an ambiguous 'this' weakens coherence.

Revise wordy constructions: 'due to the fact that' to 'because'; 'in spite of the fact that' to 'although'; 'at this point in time' to 'now'.

Use active voice when the doer matters or is known; use passive when the receiver is the topic or the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

A conclusion should synthesize the thesis and main points, not introduce a new major argument or new evidence.

When summarizing, retain the source's main claim and essential support, omit examples, and use your own wording.

Subject-verb agreement: find the finite verb, then its subject; phrases beginning with of, along with, and as well as do not change the subject's number.

Indefinite pronouns: each, either, neither, everyone, nobody, and something are singular; both, few, many, and several are plural.

Comma splice repair options: period, semicolon, comma plus coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS), or subordination.

A colon must follow an independent clause; it can introduce a list, explanation, or quotation, but not follow 'such as' or 'including'.

A semicolon separates independent clauses or complex list items; do not use it between a clause and a phrase.

Modifier placement: an introductory participial phrase modifies the subject of the main clause, so place the intended subject immediately after the comma.

Parallelism: items joined by and, or, but, not only...but also, and both...and must share grammatical form.

Restrictive clauses take no commas and are essential; nonrestrictive clauses take commas and can be removed without changing the main identification.

Tense consistency: use past for completed past events, present for general truths, and present perfect for past actions with present relevance.

Context clues: definition (is, means), example (such as), contrast (but, unlike), cause-effect (because, therefore).

Connotation decides tone: 'cheap' versus 'affordable', 'stubborn' versus 'persistent', 'childish' versus 'childlike'.

Collocations are learned as chunks: make a decision, take responsibility, pay attention, heavy rain, strong argument.

Affixes: un-, in-, and dis- often negate; re- means again; -tion and -ment form nouns; -able and -ive form adjectives; -ly forms adverbs.

Word-form questions: determine the needed part of speech from sentence position before choosing among related forms.

False synonym trap: words with similar denotation may differ in transitivity, register, or collocation; substitute and check the whole sentence.

Transition meaning: nevertheless = contrast; consequently = result; similarly = comparison; namely = specification.

Listen for the speaker's purpose first: lecture, instruction, complaint, recommendation, or request; purpose predicts which detail matters.

Signpost words mark structure: first, next, however, on the other hand, in conclusion.

In multiple-choice listening, the correct option usually paraphrases the audio; an option that repeats a word may be a distractor.

Numbers: record the number and its referent (date, price, quantity, percentage); options often swap the referent.

Tone and stress carry meaning: rising intonation can signal uncertainty; emphasis can signal correction or contrast.

Note-taking: use abbreviations, arrows, and indentation to show relationships; do not transcribe full sentences.

When a speaker self-corrects with actually, I mean, or rather, the later statement usually replaces the earlier one.

Inference items: choose the conclusion supported by what was said and how it was said, not by real-world assumption alone.