HEC LAT key terms

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same language, such as 'begin' and 'start' or 'rapid' and 'swift'.

A word that expresses the opposite meaning of another word, such as 'hot' and 'cold' or 'expand' and 'contract'.

A comparison that shows how two pairs of things relate in the same way, often written as A is to B as C is to D and tested in verbal reasoning questions.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as 'to let the cat out of the bag' meaning to reveal a secret.

A short word such as in, on, at, under or between that links a noun or pronoun to another word and shows place, time or direction.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

The marks used in writing, such as commas, full stops, semicolons and apostrophes, to separate ideas, show possession and make meaning clear.

Information in the words or sentences around an unfamiliar word that helps a reader guess its meaning without using a dictionary.

A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning rather than stated directly, often required when a passage implies something without saying it outright.

A group of connected sentences that develops one main idea, usually beginning with a topic sentence and supported by details.

The central point that a passage or paragraph is built around, which the other sentences explain, support or illustrate.

A pairing of words that native speakers naturally use together, such as 'make a decision' rather than 'do a decision'.

A form of deductive reasoning with two premises and a conclusion, for example: all humans are mortal; all Pakistanis are humans; therefore all Pakistanis are mortal.

Reasoning that moves from general statements to a specific conclusion, where the conclusion must be true if the premises are true.

Reasoning that moves from specific observations to a general rule, where the conclusion is probable rather than certain.

An unstated belief that must be true for an argument to work, even though the speaker does not say it aloud.

A statement offered as evidence or a reason in an argument, on which the conclusion is built.

The claim that an argument tries to establish, supported by the premises that come before it.

The property of an argument whose structure guarantees that true premises lead to a true conclusion, regardless of what the premises actually say.

An ordered series of numbers, letters or shapes that follow a rule, where the task is to identify the pattern and predict the next item.

A reasoning problem that describes family links in words and asks the solver to work out how two named people are related.

A reasoning problem involving movement on a compass, where turns and distances must be tracked to find the final position or facing direction.

A reasoning relationship in which one event or condition produces another, tested by asking which came first and whether one actually led to the other.

A necessary condition must hold for something to happen; a sufficient condition is enough on its own to make it happen. The two are not the same.

The supreme set of rules that establishes a state's institutions, distributes powers and limits government authority. Pakistan's current Constitution was adopted in 1973.

The national legislature that makes laws. Pakistan's Parliament has two houses: the National Assembly and the Senate.

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent units, such as the centre and the provinces in Pakistan.

The idea that Muslims and Hindus of the subcontinent were two distinct nations with separate identities, cultures and interests, forming the ideological basis of the Pakistan Movement.

The 1940 Lahore resolution of the All-India Muslim League, moved by A. K. Fazlul Huq, demanding independent states for Muslim-majority regions of the subcontinent.

The 1947 division of British India into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan, accompanied by mass migration and widespread communal violence.

A 1949 resolution passed by Pakistan's first Constituent Assembly, moved by Liaquat Ali Khan, setting out the ideological principles later incorporated into the Constitution.

A 1960 agreement between Pakistan and India, brokered by the World Bank, dividing the rivers of the Indus basin between the two countries.

The five core acts of worship in Islam: the declaration of faith (shahadah), prayer (salah), charity (zakah), fasting in Ramadan (sawm) and pilgrimage to Makkah (hajj).

Faith or belief in Islam, classically summarised as belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree.

The Islamic doctrine of the absolute oneness of Allah, holding that He is unique, without partner, and alone worthy of worship.

Associating partners with Allah in worship or divine attributes, which Islam regards as the gravest theological error.

The obligatory annual charity in Islam, paid on qualifying wealth above a set threshold (nisab) at a fixed rate, mainly to support specified categories of needy people.

Fasting in Islam, most importantly the daylight fast throughout the month of Ramadan, which involves abstaining from food, drink and other permitted acts.

The migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, an event that marks the start of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The practice, sayings and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad, recorded in hadith literature and treated as a major source of Islamic guidance after the Quran.