Free TEAS Exam Flashcards

The central point or message of a passage. Usually found in the topic sentence (first or last sentence of paragraph). Ask yourself: 'What is this passage mostly about?' Supporting details explain or prove the main idea.

The author's main reason for writing. Common purposes: To inform (present facts), To persuade (convince reader), To entertain (tell a story), To describe (paint a picture). Look for clues in tone, word choice, and structure.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text + prior knowledge. Not directly stated—you 'read between the lines.' Valid inferences are supported by textual evidence, not personal opinion. Look for clues in context.

The author's attitude toward the subject. Identified by word choice (diction), imagery, and details. Examples: Objective (neutral, factual), Critical (disapproving), Optimistic (hopeful), Sarcastic (mocking).

Fact: Can be proven true or false with evidence. Opinion: A personal belief or judgment—cannot be proven. Watch for opinion words: 'should,' 'best,' 'probably,' 'I believe.' Scientific studies present facts; editorials present opinions.

How information is organized. Types: Chronological (time order), Compare/Contrast, Cause/Effect, Problem/Solution, Sequence, Description. Signal words help identify: 'first,' 'because,' 'however,' 'as a result.'

Information surrounding an unknown word that helps reveal its meaning. Types: Definition (word is defined), Synonym (similar word used), Antonym (opposite given), Example (instances provided), General context (overall meaning).

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right). Example: 3 + 4 × 2 = 3 + 8 = 11 (multiply before adding). Memory: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

Divide the numerator by the denominator. Example: 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75. Common conversions: 1/2 = 0.5, 1/4 = 0.25, 1/3 = 0.333..., 1/5 = 0.2, 3/4 = 0.75.

Multiply by 100 (move decimal point 2 places right). Example: 0.45 = 45%. To convert percentage to decimal, divide by 100 (move decimal 2 places left). Example: 75% = 0.75.

Ratio: Comparison of two quantities (3:4 or 3/4). Proportion: Two equal ratios. Cross-multiply to solve: If 2/3 = x/12, then 2 × 12 = 3 × x, so 24 = 3x, x = 8.

(New Value - Original Value) / Original Value × 100. Positive result = increase, Negative = decrease. Example: Price went from $50 to $60. Change = (60-50)/50 × 100 = 20% increase.

Isolate the variable by performing inverse operations on both sides. Example: 3x + 5 = 14 → 3x = 9 → x = 3. Check: 3(3) + 5 = 14 ✓. Keep equation balanced—what you do to one side, do to the other.

The distance from zero on a number line—always positive. |−5| = 5 and |5| = 5. Used in equations: |x| = 3 means x = 3 OR x = −3.

Sum of all values divided by number of values. Example: For 4, 8, 6, 10, 2: Sum = 30, Count = 5, Mean = 30/5 = 6. Affected by outliers (extreme values).

Middle value when data is arranged in order. For odd count: middle number. For even count: average of two middle numbers. Example: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 → Median = 6. Not affected by outliers.

Most frequently occurring value(s) in a data set. A set can have no mode, one mode (unimodal), or multiple modes (bimodal/multimodal). Example: 2, 3, 3, 5, 7 → Mode = 3.

Difference between highest and lowest values. Range = Maximum − Minimum. Example: For data set 3, 7, 2, 9, 5: Range = 9 − 2 = 7. Measures spread of data.

King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk: Kilo (1000), Hecto (100), Deka (10), Base unit, Deci (0.1), Centi (0.01), Milli (0.001). Move decimal left when converting to larger units, right for smaller units.

Rectangle: A = length × width. Triangle: A = ½ × base × height. Circle: A = πr². Parallelogram: A = base × height. Trapezoid: A = ½(b₁ + b₂) × height.

Perimeter = sum of all sides (rectangle: P = 2l + 2w). Circumference (circle perimeter) = 2πr or πd. Remember: π ≈ 3.14.

Transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body. Heart pumps blood through vessels. Systemic circulation: body tissues. Pulmonary circulation: lungs for gas exchange.

Right atrium → Right ventricle → Pulmonary artery → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Left ventricle → Aorta → Body. Right side = deoxygenated blood; Left side = oxygenated blood.

Gas exchange: Brings oxygen into body, removes carbon dioxide. Path: Nose/mouth → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli (gas exchange). Diaphragm contracts for inhalation.

Mouth → Esophagus → Stomach → Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) → Large intestine (colon) → Rectum → Anus. Most nutrient absorption occurs in small intestine. Accessory organs: Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder.

Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): All other nerves. PNS divides into Somatic (voluntary) and Autonomic (involuntary—sympathetic 'fight or flight,' parasympathetic 'rest and digest').

Dendrites: Receive signals. Cell body (soma): Contains nucleus. Axon: Carries signal away from cell body. Myelin sheath: Insulates axon, speeds transmission. Synapse: Gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

Support, Protection (organs), Movement (with muscles), Mineral storage (calcium, phosphorus), Blood cell production (red marrow). Adult humans have 206 bones. Types: Long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid.

Skeletal: Voluntary, striated, attached to bones. Cardiac: Involuntary, striated, only in heart. Smooth: Involuntary, non-striated, in organs and blood vessels. Muscles contract to produce movement.

Glands that secrete hormones directly into bloodstream. Major glands: Pituitary ('master gland'), Thyroid (metabolism), Adrenal (stress response), Pancreas (blood sugar), Ovaries/Testes (reproduction). Hormones regulate body functions.

Filters blood, removes waste, regulates fluid and electrolyte balance. Kidneys → Ureters → Bladder → Urethra. Nephron is functional unit of kidney. Produces urine (approximately 1-2 liters/day).

Innate immunity: Immediate, non-specific (skin, mucous membranes, inflammation). Adaptive immunity: Specific, develops over time (B cells produce antibodies, T cells attack infected cells). Lymphatic system: Lymph nodes, spleen, thymus.

Cell membrane: Controls entry/exit. Nucleus: Contains DNA, controls cell. Mitochondria: 'Powerhouse'—produces ATP. Ribosomes: Protein synthesis. Endoplasmic reticulum: Transport. Golgi apparatus: Package and ship proteins.

Cell division producing 2 identical diploid cells. Phases: Prophase (chromosomes condense), Metaphase (align at middle), Anaphase (separate to poles), Telophase (nuclear envelopes form), Cytokinesis (cell divides). PMAT.

Cell division producing 4 haploid gametes (sex cells). Two divisions: Meiosis I (homologous pairs separate) and Meiosis II (sister chromatids separate). Creates genetic diversity through crossing over and independent assortment.

Double helix made of nucleotides. Each nucleotide: Sugar (deoxyribose), Phosphate, Nitrogenous base. Base pairs: Adenine-Thymine (A-T), Guanine-Cytosine (G-C). DNA → RNA → Protein (central dogma).

Dominant: Expressed when one or two copies present (represented by capital letter, e.g., B). Recessive: Only expressed when two copies present (lowercase, e.g., b). Genotypes: BB (homozygous dominant), Bb (heterozygous), bb (homozygous recessive).

Tool to predict offspring genotypes and phenotypes. Cross parent alleles. Example: Bb × Bb yields 25% BB, 50% Bb, 25% bb. Phenotype ratio: 3 dominant : 1 recessive for monohybrid cross of heterozygous parents.

Atom: Smallest unit of an element. Protons: Positive charge, in nucleus, determine element. Neutrons: No charge, in nucleus. Electrons: Negative charge, orbit nucleus. Atomic number = protons. Mass number = protons + neutrons.

Ionic: Transfer of electrons between atoms (metal + nonmetal, e.g., NaCl). Covalent: Sharing of electrons (nonmetals, e.g., H₂O). Hydrogen bonds: Weak attraction between H and O/N/F (important in DNA, water).

Measures acidity/basicity. Scale: 0-14. pH 7 = neutral. pH < 7 = acidic (more H⁺ ions). pH > 7 = basic/alkaline (more OH⁻ ions). Each pH unit = 10× difference. Blood pH: 7.35-7.45.

Solid: Fixed shape and volume, particles vibrate in place. Liquid: Fixed volume, takes container shape, particles slide past each other. Gas: No fixed shape or volume, particles move freely. Plasma: Ionized gas.

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed. Highly specific—lock and key model. Affected by temperature, pH, substrate concentration. Suffix '-ase' (e.g., lactase breaks down lactose).

1) Observation/Question, 2) Research, 3) Hypothesis (testable prediction), 4) Experiment, 5) Analyze data, 6) Conclusion, 7) Communicate results. Hypothesis supported or rejected—never 'proven.'

Independent variable: What researcher changes/manipulates (the 'cause'). Dependent variable: What is measured as outcome (the 'effect'). Example: Testing drug effect—Drug dose is independent, symptom relief is dependent.

Group that doesn't receive the treatment/intervention—used for comparison. Allows researchers to determine if changes are due to the treatment or other factors. Placebo may be given to control group.

Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. 'The dog runs' (singular). 'The dogs run' (plural). Watch for tricky subjects: 'Everyone IS here' (everyone is singular). Collective nouns usually singular.

Use after introductory elements, between items in a series, before coordinating conjunctions joining independent clauses (FANBOYS), to set off nonessential information. Example: 'After dinner, we went home.'

Words that sound alike but have different meanings/spellings. Common: their/there/they're, your/you're, its/it's, affect/effect, than/then, to/too/two. Context determines correct choice.

Active: Subject performs action ('The nurse administered the medication'). Passive: Subject receives action ('The medication was administered by the nurse'). Active voice is generally clearer and more direct—preferred in most writing.