1. Grammar & Sentence Structure 📝

The DOST-SEI English section tests your mastery of grammatical rules and sentence construction. This is essential for writing research papers and communicating scientific ideas clearly.

Grammar Topic	Rule	Example
Subject-Verb Agreement	Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs	"The data show (not shows) significant results."
Parallelism	Use same grammatical form in series	"She likes running, swimming, and biking" (all -ing forms)
Dangling Modifiers	Modifiers must clearly connect to the word they modify	Wrong: "Walking to school, the rain started." Correct: "Walking to school, I got caught in the rain."
Pronoun Reference	Pronouns must clearly refer to a specific noun	"When Maria met Ana, she smiled." (Who smiled? Unclear!)
Active vs Passive Voice	Active is direct; passive emphasizes the action	Active: "The scientist conducted the experiment." Passive: "The experiment was conducted."

💡 DOST Tip:

In scientific writing, passive voice is often preferred: "The solution was heated" rather than "I heated the solution." Know when to use each!

2. Vocabulary Enhancement 📚

A strong vocabulary helps you understand complex reading passages and express ideas precisely. Focus on academic and scientific vocabulary.

Word	Meaning	Academic Context
Analyze	Examine in detail by breaking into parts	"Analyze the data to find patterns."
Synthesize	Combine elements to form a whole	"Synthesize information from multiple sources."
Hypothesize	Propose an explanation based on limited evidence	"We hypothesize that temperature affects growth."
Corroborate	Confirm or support with evidence	"Additional studies corroborate these findings."
Mitigate	Make less severe or intense	"Measures to mitigate climate change effects."
Proliferate	Increase rapidly in number	"Cancer cells proliferate uncontrollably."

Common Word Roots:

Bio- (life)

biology, biodiversity, biography

-ology (study of)

ecology, psychology, sociology

Hyper- (excessive)

hypertension, hyperactive

Micro- (small)

microscope, microorganism

Trans- (across)

transport, transcription

Anti- (against)

antibiotic, antioxidant

3. Reading Comprehension 📖

The DOST-SEI includes passages that test your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from written material.

Reading Strategies:

Preview: Skim headings, first sentences, and conclusion first
Active Reading: Underline key points, note main ideas
Identify Structure: Cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution
Context Clues: Use surrounding words to understand unfamiliar terms
Question Types: Main idea, details, inference, vocabulary, author's purpose

Question Type	What It Asks	Strategy
Main Idea	"What is the passage mainly about?"	Look at first and last paragraphs; find recurring theme
Detail	"According to the passage, what/when/where..."	Scan for specific information; answer is stated directly
Inference	"It can be inferred that..." "The author suggests..."	Read between lines; combine information logically
Vocabulary	"The word X most nearly means..."	Use context clues; substitute choices to see which fits
Author's Purpose	"The author's primary purpose is to..."	Identify if informative, persuasive, or entertaining

4. Sentence Completion & Error Identification 🔍

These questions test your ability to identify correct usage and complete sentences logically.

Common Errors to Watch:

Run-on sentences (comma splices)
Sentence fragments
Wrong verb tense
Incorrect prepositions
Double negatives
Misused words (affect/effect, their/there)

Sentence Completion Tips:

Read entire sentence first
Look for signal words (however, therefore, although)
Check for positive/negative relationship
Ensure grammatical fit
Eliminate obviously wrong choices

🔑 Signal Words Guide:

Contrast: however, although, but, despite, nevertheless
Cause-Effect: therefore, consequently, because, since, thus
Addition: moreover, furthermore, also, in addition
Example: for instance, specifically, such as

5. Writing Skills 📄

While the DOST-SEI is mostly multiple choice, understanding good writing principles helps with all English questions.

Paragraph Organization:

Topic Sentence: States the main idea of the paragraph
Supporting Sentences: Provide evidence, examples, details
Transitions: Connect ideas smoothly
Concluding Sentence: Wraps up or leads to next paragraph

Scientific Writing Standards:

Clarity: Be precise and avoid ambiguity
Conciseness: Remove unnecessary words
Objectivity: Present facts without personal bias
Formal tone: Avoid slang and contractions
Citation: Credit sources properly

6. Practice Questions 📝

Question 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Choose the correct verb: "The committee (has/have) decided to postpone the meeting."

Answer: "has" - Committee is a collective noun treated as singular when acting as one unit.

Question 2: Vocabulary in Context

"The scientist's hypothesis was corroborated by subsequent experiments."

What does "corroborated" mean in this context?

Answer: Confirmed or supported - The experiments provided additional evidence supporting the hypothesis.

Question 3: Error Identification

Find the error: "Each of the students have submitted their assignments on time."

Answer: "have" should be "has" - "Each" is singular and requires a singular verb. Correct: "Each of the students has submitted their assignment on time."

Question 4: Sentence Completion

"_______ the heavy rain, the outdoor event proceeded as planned."

A) Because of B) Despite C) Since D) Due to

Answer: B) Despite - The sentence shows contrast (rain vs. event continuing). "Despite" indicates something happening contrary to expectations.

Question 5: Parallelism

Which sentence uses correct parallel structure?

A) The research involves collecting data, analysis of results, and to write reports.

B) The research involves collecting data, analyzing results, and writing reports.

Answer: B) All items use the same grammatical form (-ing verbs): collecting, analyzing, writing.

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