TABE key terms

The most important point a passage makes about its topic. It is often stated in a topic sentence and is supported by the other details in the text.

A fact, example, or reason that explains or proves the main idea. Details answer questions such as who, what, when, where, and why within a passage.

A conclusion a reader draws by combining information in the text with what the reader already knows. The answer is suggested by the passage but not stated word for word.

A word, phrase, or sentence near an unfamiliar word that helps a reader guess its meaning. Common types include definitions, examples, opposites, and the general sense of the sentence.

A fact can be proven true with evidence, while an opinion is a belief, feeling, or judgment that cannot be proven. Readers tell them apart by asking whether a statement can be checked.

The reason an author writes a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. The purpose shapes the words, details, and organization the author chooses.

The underlying message or lesson about life that a story or poem conveys. It is broader than the topic and is usually shown through characters' actions and events.

A short restatement of a text's main points in the reader's own words. A good summary keeps the main idea and key details and leaves out minor information.

The order in which events or steps happen in a text. Signal words such as first, next, then, and finally help readers follow the order.

A relationship in which one event makes another event happen. The cause is why something happened; the effect is what happened as a result.

A text pattern that shows how two or more things are alike (compare) and how they are different (contrast). Signal words include both, similarly, however, and unlike.

The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject or the audience, such as serious, humorous, or critical. Word choice and details work together to create it.

The value of a digit based on its position in a number. In 4,703 the 7 means 700 because it sits in the hundreds place.

Replacing a number with a nearby, simpler number by looking at the digit to the right of the place being rounded. If that digit is 5 or more, round up.

A number that names part of a whole or part of a group. It is written with a numerator on top and a denominator on the bottom, as in three-fourths.

Fractions that name the same amount even though they use different numbers, such as one-half and two-fourths. Multiplying or dividing the top and bottom by the same number creates them.

A number written with a decimal point to show parts of a whole using place values of tenths, hundredths, and so on. For example, 0.25 means twenty-five hundredths.

A ratio that compares a number to 100. Fifty percent means 50 out of every 100, which is the same as one-half or 0.5.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written as 3 to 4, 3:4, or 3/4. Ratios describe how much of one thing there is compared with another.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, such as 2/3 = 4/6. Proportions are used to solve problems about scale, rates, and similar figures.

The average of a set of numbers, found by adding all the numbers and dividing by how many numbers there are. Very large or small values can pull it up or down.

The middle number in a set of values arranged from least to greatest. If the count is even, it is the average of the two middle numbers.

The distance around the outside of a flat shape. It is found by adding the lengths of all the sides and is measured in units such as inches or centimeters.

The amount of surface a flat shape covers, measured in square units. For a rectangle it is length times width.

The amount of space a solid figure takes up, measured in cubic units. For a rectangular box it is length times width times height.

The agreed rules for evaluating an expression: do parentheses first, then exponents, then multiply and divide from left to right, then add and subtract from left to right.

A small raised number that tells how many times a base number is used as a factor. In 2 to the fourth power, the exponent 4 means 2 x 2 x 2 x 2.

A letter or symbol that stands for an unknown or changing number. In the expression 3x + 5, the letter x is the variable.

A mathematical statement that two expressions are equal, shown with an equals sign. Solving it means finding the value of the variable that makes the statement true.

A rate that compares a quantity to one unit of another quantity, such as 60 miles per 1 hour. Unit rates make it easy to compare prices or speeds.

The part of a sentence that tells who or what the sentence is about. It is usually a noun or pronoun and controls the form of the verb.

The part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is. It always contains the verb and may include objects and other details.

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

A word that replaces a noun so the noun does not have to be repeated. Examples include he, she, it, they, and them.

The noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to. In the sentence 'Maria lost her keys,' Maria is the antecedent of her.

A word that describes a noun or pronoun by telling which one, what kind, or how many. Examples are tall, blue, and three.

A word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, often telling how, when, or where. Many adverbs end in -ly, such as quickly.

A punctuation mark used to separate items in a list, set off introductory words, or join parts of a sentence. It also separates a city from a state and parts of a date.

A punctuation mark used to show that letters have been left out of a contraction or that something belongs to someone, as in can't and Ana's book.

A group of words punctuated like a sentence that does not express a complete thought, often because it lacks a subject, a verb, or both.

Two or more complete sentences joined without correct punctuation or a connecting word. It can be fixed with a period, a semicolon, or a conjunction.

One of two or more words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings, such as their, there, and they're.