reading and comprehension

Independent Clause

A group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Comma Splice

A common punctuation error where two independent clauses are joined with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction.

Semicolon (;)

A punctuation mark placed between two related independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Colon (:)

A punctuation mark that must follow a full independent clause to introduce a list, an explanation, or a quotation.

FANBOYS

An acronym for the seven coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So), which require a comma before them when connecting two complete sentences.

Non-Essential Element

Descriptive information that can be removed without changing the sentence core meaning, punctuated with matching pairs of commas, dashes, or parentheses.

Single Dash (—)

A punctuation mark placed after a complete independent clause to add emphasis, an explanation, or a sudden conclusion.

Its vs. It's

The form without an apostrophe indicates possession (belonging to it), whereas the form with an apostrophe is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has'.

Rhetorical Synthesis

A question type that provides bulleted notes about a topic and tests the ability to integrate relevant information to satisfy a specifically stated rhetorical goal.

Contrast Transitions

Linking words such as however, nevertheless, and conversely that establish an opposition, contradiction, or unexpected shift between ideas.

Cause-and-Effect Transitions

Connectors like consequently, therefore, and thus that establish that the second statement occurs as a direct result or conclusion of the first.

Addition Transitions

Signal words such as furthermore, moreover, and in addition that present supplementary, reinforcing, or parallel details without changing direction.

Exemplification Transitions

Directional markers such as for instance, specifically, and to illustrate that signal the arrival of a concrete example or evidence for a previous claim.

Redundancy

The needless repetition of meaning using different words in the same sentence, which must be eliminated to achieve clarity and conciseness.

Goal-Oriented Reading Strategy

The technique for rhetorical synthesis questions where the prompt's explicit objective is read first, allowing rapid elimination of choices that do not satisfy the exact request.

Independent Clause

A group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Comma Splice

A common punctuation error where two independent clauses are joined with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction.

Semicolon (;)

A punctuation mark placed between two related independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Colon (:)

A punctuation mark that must follow a full independent clause to introduce a list, an explanation, or a quotation.

FANBOYS

An acronym for the seven coordinating conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So), which require a comma before them when connecting two complete sentences.

Non-Essential Element

Descriptive information that can be removed without changing the sentence core meaning, punctuated with matching pairs of commas, dashes, or parentheses.

Single Dash (—)

A punctuation mark placed after a complete independent clause to add emphasis, an explanation, or a sudden conclusion.

Its vs. It's

The form without an apostrophe indicates possession (belonging to it), whereas the form with an apostrophe is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has'.

Chronological Transitions

Connectors such as subsequently, meanwhile, previously, and ultimately that establish time relationships or a step-by-step sequence of events.

Restatement Transitions

Signaling phrases such as in other words, that is, and namely that simplify, clarify, or rephrase a preceding statement.

Comparison Transitions

Linking words such as likewise, similarly, and by the same token that draw a direct parallel between two separate concepts or scenarios.

Concession Transitions

Markers such as admittedly, granted, and to be sure that acknowledge a valid counterpoint or limitation before reaffirming the central claim.

Two-Step Transition Strategy

A test-taking approach where you read both sentences and identify their logical relationship before looking at the answer choices to prevent being misled by distracting options.

Distractor Information in Rhetorical Synthesis

Accurate details lifted straight from the bulleted notes that must be eliminated because they do not fulfill the specific objective stated in the prompt.

Transition Deletion Test

A verification technique where the transition word is temporarily removed to evaluate the raw, unfiltered relationship between two consecutive sentences.

Conciseness Principle

The standard of selecting the most direct, economical phrasing that maintains complete grammatical correctness and conveys the full intended meaning.

Central Idea

The overarching main argument, thesis, or primary takeaway of an entire passage, distinguished from localized supporting details.

Command of Evidence: Textual

A question type requiring the test-taker to identify a quote or passage detail that directly supports, illustrates, or undermines a specific hypothesis.

Command of Evidence: Quantitative

A question type requiring the integration of data from tables, graphs, or charts to verify a factual claim or complete an argument.

Inference Question

A prompt asking the reader to determine an unstated logical conclusion or complete a text based strictly on explicitly provided premises.

Passage-Bound Constraint

The rule that any valid conclusion must rely strictly on evidence stated in the text without introducing outside assumptions or broad speculation.

'Too Extreme' Answer Trap

An incorrect option containing absolute language such as always, never, or impossible that exaggerates a text's nuanced claim.

Hypothesis-Testing Strategy

A method where the researcher's specific claim or prediction is isolated first to evaluate whether data points genuinely support or weaken it.

Misleading Data Distractor

An incorrect choice that accurately cites a true data point from a graph or table but fails to address the specific claim made in the passage.