ELTIS School Vocabulary and Expressions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student's schedule shows 'PE' in the third period. What class is PE?
- Physical Education (gym/sports class) (Correct answer)
- Physics and Engineering
- Personal Electronics
- Professional English
Correct answer: Physical Education (gym/sports class)
PE stands for Physical Education, which is the class where students participate in sports, exercise, and fitness activities.
PE (Physical Education) is one of the most common abbreviations in American schools. In PE class, students participate in various physical activities including sports, fitness exercises, and health education. Other common school abbreviations include ELA (English Language Arts), SS (Social Studies), and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
Question 2: The teacher says, 'Please take out your syllabus.' What is a syllabus?
- A document outlining the course plan, assignments, and expectations (Correct answer)
- A type of pencil case
- A math formula sheet
- A hall pass
Correct answer: A document outlining the course plan, assignments, and expectations
A syllabus is a document provided by a teacher at the beginning of a course that outlines topics, assignments, grading policies, and class expectations.
A syllabus (plural: syllabi or syllabuses) is an essential academic document. It typically includes: course objectives, a weekly schedule of topics, assignment due dates, grading criteria, classroom rules, the teacher's contact information, and required materials. Students are expected to keep their syllabus and refer to it throughout the course.
Question 3: A counselor tells a student, 'You need to earn at least 24 credits to graduate.' What are credits in a school context?
- Units earned by completing courses that count toward graduation (Correct answer)
- Money given to students for good grades
- Extra homework assignments
- Points deducted for bad behavior
Correct answer: Units earned by completing courses that count toward graduation
In American schools, credits are units earned for successfully completing courses. Students must accumulate a required number of credits to graduate.
Academic credits represent the successful completion of coursework. In most American high schools, each course is worth a certain number of credits (often 0.5 per semester or 1.0 per year). Students must earn a minimum total—varying by state and school district—to receive a diploma. Required credits typically include English, math, science, social studies, and electives.
Question 4: A notice says: 'Report cards will be distributed during homeroom on Friday.' What is a report card?
- A document showing a student's grades and academic performance (Correct answer)
- A card used to report emergencies
- A library borrowing card
- A student's bus pass
Correct answer: A document showing a student's grades and academic performance
A report card is an official document issued by a school that shows a student's grades, attendance, and teacher comments for each class during a grading period.
Report cards are issued at the end of each grading period (quarter, trimester, or semester). They include letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) or numerical scores for each class, often with teacher comments about behavior and effort. Many schools now also offer online grade portals where parents and students can check grades in real time.
Question 5: The principal's email says: 'Standardized testing will take place next week. Students should get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast.' What is standardized testing?
- Tests given to all students under the same conditions to measure achievement (Correct answer)
- A test only for new students
- A test that each teacher creates individually
- A physical fitness test
Correct answer: Tests given to all students under the same conditions to measure achievement
Standardized tests are assessments administered uniformly to all students, with the same questions and conditions, to measure academic achievement and compare results.
Standardized tests are a major part of American education. Examples include state assessments, the SAT, ACT, and the ELTIS itself. 'Standardized' means the test content, administration procedures, and scoring are consistent for all test-takers. Results are used to evaluate student progress, school performance, and for college admissions. The advice about rest and breakfast reflects their importance.
Question 6: A teacher says, 'Don't forget to cite your sources in your research paper.' What does 'cite your sources' mean?
- Give credit to the books, websites, or articles where you found information (Correct answer)
- Read your paper aloud to the class
- Write your name on every page
- Submit your paper by email
Correct answer: Give credit to the books, websites, or articles where you found information
'Cite your sources' means to formally acknowledge where you got your information by listing the authors, titles, and publication details of the materials you used.
Citing sources (also called referencing) is a critical academic skill. It means documenting where your information came from to give proper credit and allow readers to verify facts. Common citation formats include MLA, APA, and Chicago style. Failing to cite sources is considered plagiarism—a serious academic offense. Sources include books, journal articles, websites, and interviews.
ELTIS School Vocabulary and Expressions 2
A student's schedule shows 'PE' in the third period.
What class is PE?