SQU English Exit flashcards

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

Main idea

The central point that covers the whole passage, not a single detail; test it by asking whether every paragraph supports it.

Topic versus main idea

The topic is the subject named in a phrase; the main idea is the claim or point the writer makes about that subject in a full statement.

Supporting detail

A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or proves the main idea; it is narrower than the main idea and usually appears inside a paragraph.

Valid inference

A conclusion that follows necessarily from stated evidence plus common knowledge; it is not merely a plausible guess and must not contradict any sentence in the passage.

Author's purpose

The writer's primary aim, such as to inform, persuade, explain, entertain, or warn; purpose is usually revealed by verb choice, evidence type, and overall structure.

Tone

The writer's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and sentence style; tone words include critical, neutral, enthusiastic, skeptical, and sympathetic.

Transition signal

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, or in contrast that shows the logical relation between ideas; it predicts whether the next sentence supports, opposes, or concludes.

Thesis statement

A single sentence that states the essay's central claim and often lists the main supporting points; it should be specific, arguable when required, and placed near the introduction's end.

Topic sentence

A sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main point and connects it to the essay's thesis; the rest of the paragraph should support it.

Paragraph unity

The condition in which every sentence in a paragraph serves the topic sentence; remove or relocate any sentence whose idea does not directly support that point.

Coherence

The quality that makes ideas easy to follow through logical order, repetition of key terms, pronoun reference, and transitions; coherence is about connection, not just correctness.

Concision

Writing the same meaning with fewer unnecessary words; replace wordy phrases such as due to the fact that with because and remove redundant pairs.

Parallel structure

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison, such as reading, writing, and speaking; faulty parallelism mixes forms like reading, writing, and to speak.

Subject-verb agreement

The verb must match the subject in number; ignore prepositional phrases between them, and treat indefinite pronouns like everyone as singular unless the sentence clearly requires otherwise.

Comma splice

Two independent clauses joined only by a comma; repair it with a period, semicolon, coordinating conjunction, or by making one clause dependent.

Sentence fragment

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but lacking a subject, a finite verb, or a complete thought; attach it to a nearby sentence or add the missing element.

Dangling modifier

An introductory modifier whose implied subject does not match the main clause's subject; rewrite so the person or thing performing the action comes immediately after the comma.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and person; singular antecedents such as each student require singular pronouns, while plural antecedents require plural pronouns.

Restrictive clause

A relative clause that identifies which person or thing is meant and is not set off by commas; removing it changes the sentence's basic meaning.

Semicolon use

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction; it can also separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.

Context clue

Information in surrounding words, sentences, or logic that hints at an unfamiliar word's meaning; common types include definition, example, contrast, and cause-effect clues.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural association a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning; for example, slender is more positive than skinny though both describe low weight.

Collocation

A habitual word partnership that sounds natural to native speakers, such as make a decision or heavy rain; incorrect partners can be grammatically correct but unnatural.

Prefix

A meaningful unit attached before a root that changes meaning, such as un- in unhappy or re- in rewrite; it usually does not change the word's part of speech.

Suffix

A meaningful unit attached after a root that often changes the word's part of speech, such as -tion turning verbs into nouns or -ful turning nouns into adjectives.

Denotation

The direct, dictionary meaning of a word apart from emotional associations; denotation is the literal core that connotation shades with attitude or evaluation.

Signpost language

Spoken cues such as first, however, and to sum up that reveal a lecture's organization; note them because they mark shifts, contrasts, examples, and conclusions.

Listening for gist

Identifying the speaker's overall message before worrying about details; ask what the whole talk or conversation is mainly about and what the speaker wants listeners to remember.

Distractor

An answer option that repeats a spoken word but misstates the relationship, speaker, or time; correct options usually paraphrase the meaning rather than copy exact wording.

Note-taking abbreviation

A short symbol or shortened form, such as w/ for with or an arrow for leads to, used to record ideas quickly; define your own symbols before the exam and use them consistently.

Inference in listening

A conclusion based on tone, stress, and indirect wording rather than a stated fact; for example, a hesitant answer may imply disagreement even without the word no.

Number trap

A listening option that uses a number mentioned in the audio but attaches it to the wrong item, date, or person; verify what each number describes before choosing.