USSS SAEE flashcards

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

Denotation

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, independent of the feelings or associations it may carry. Questions ask for denotation when they want the neutral, factual sense of a term.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural association a word carries beyond its literal meaning. 'Thrifty' suggests approval while 'stingy' suggests disapproval, although both describe careful spending.

Context Clue

Surrounding words or sentences that reveal the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Common types are definition, restatement, contrast, example, and cause-and-effect clues.

Prefix Bene-

A Latin prefix meaning good or well, seen in benefit, benevolent, benefactor, and benediction. It is the direct opposite of the prefix mal-, which means bad.

Root Cred-

A Latin root meaning to believe or trust, appearing in credible, credit, credence, incredulous, and credentials. Words with this root generally concern belief, trust, or proof.

Homophone

One of two or more words that sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning, such as their/there/they're or principal/principle. The correct choice depends on the sentence's meaning.

Analogy Bridge Sentence

A short sentence stating the relationship between two stem words, such as 'a fin is part of a fish.' Applying the same sentence to each answer choice tests whether the relationship matches.

Main Idea

The central point an author makes about a topic, formed by combining the topic with the author's claim. It is broader than any single detail and is supported by the whole passage.

Inference

A conclusion drawn from evidence in a passage rather than stated directly. A valid inference must be supported by the text and must not depend on outside assumptions.

Author's Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice and selection of detail. Tone is labeled with adjectives such as objective, critical, sympathetic, sarcastic, or admiring.

Author's Purpose

The reason a text was written: to inform, explain, persuade, entertain, or describe. Identifying the purpose helps separate essential content from supporting detail.

Passage Structure

The organizational pattern of a text, such as chronological, cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution, or description. Recognizing the pattern helps locate key information quickly.

Pronoun Referent

The noun phrase that a pronoun replaces. To identify it, look to the nearest preceding noun that agrees in number and gender and makes logical sense in context.

Subject-Verb Agreement

A verb must match its subject in number. Ignore prepositional phrases in between: in 'the box of pens is heavy,' the singular subject 'box' takes 'is.'

Comma Splice

Two independent clauses joined by only a comma. Repair it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or so.

Dangling Modifier

An introductory phrase that does not logically describe the subject of the main clause. In 'Running late, the bus was missed,' the modifier wrongly describes the bus.

Parallel Structure

Items in a list or comparison must share the same grammatical form, such as all infinitives or all nouns. Mixed forms create faulty parallelism and unclear sentences.

Semicolon Use

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses that are not already joined by a conjunction. It can also separate list items that contain internal commas.

Who versus Whom

Use 'who' for the subject of a clause and 'whom' for the object of a verb or preposition. Substitute he/she for who and him/her for whom to check.

Its versus It's

'It's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.' 'Its' is the possessive form of 'it' and never takes an apostrophe. Test by substituting 'it is.'

Percent Change

Divide the amount of change by the original amount, then multiply by 100. An increase from 40 to 50 is 10 divided by 40, which equals 25 percent.

Average Formula

Average equals the sum of the values divided by the number of values. Rearranged, the sum equals the average multiplied by the count, which solves missing-value problems.

Distance Formula

Distance equals rate multiplied by time, written d = rt. Rearranged, rate equals distance divided by time and time equals distance divided by rate.

Simple Interest

Interest equals principal times annual rate times time in years, written I = Prt. The total amount earned or owed equals the principal plus the interest.

Combined Work Rate

If one worker finishes a job in a hours and another in b hours, together they work at 1/a + 1/b jobs per hour. Total time is the reciprocal of that sum.

Cross Multiplication

In a proportion a/b = c/d, multiply diagonally to get ad = bc, then solve for the unknown. Equal ratios always have equal cross products.

Slope Formula

Slope equals change in y divided by change in x between two points: m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). A horizontal line has slope zero; a vertical line has undefined slope.

Quadratic Formula

For ax^2 + bx + c = 0 with a not equal to zero, x = [-b +/- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac)]/(2a). The discriminant b^2 - 4ac indicates how many real solutions exist.

Pythagorean Theorem

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs: a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Common triples are 3-4-5 and 5-12-13.

Circle Area and Circumference

Area equals pi times the radius squared (A = pi r^2); circumference equals 2 pi r, or pi times the diameter. The radius is half the diameter.

Compound Interest Formula

A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt), where P is principal, r the annual rate as a decimal, n the compounding periods per year, and t the number of years.

Triangle Angle Sum

The three interior angles of any triangle add to 180 degrees. In an equilateral triangle each angle is 60 degrees, and an exterior angle equals the sum of the two remote interior angles.