ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Adjectives and Adverbs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Lower Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #221 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

When she painted the walls of the house bright pink, the change was very __________, and all of her guests noticed.

Possible Answers:

palpable

attentive

confusing

secret

insignificant

Correct answer:

palpable

Explanation:

When a change is "palpable," it is obvious or plainly seen. Painting the walls of a house bright pink would cause a noticeable change, so "palpable" is an adequate word to describe the change.

Example Question #222 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

After getting off of the roller coaster, Julia felt __________ and thought she might be sick.

Possible Answers:

queasy

excited

afraid

happy

tired

Correct answer:

queasy

Explanation:

The correct answer is "queasy." While all of the words could fit in the sentence and make it grammatically correct, "queasy" means nauseous or feeling physically ill due to a very upset stomach, and is the correct answer because you can infer that Julia might feel sick after "getting off of [a] roller coaster," and she also "thought she might be sick."

Example Question #223 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

There was no one left in the restaurant, it was completely __________.

Possible Answers:

gigantic 

significant 

deserted

crucial 

accompanied 

Correct answer:

deserted

Explanation:

You are told that there is no one left in the restaurant. A place that is empty or abandoned is "deserted." To provide further help, "significant" means important and "crucial" means very important; "gigantic" means very big; "accompanied" means to have gone with

Example Question #224 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The __________ man had been eating too much and ruined his health. 

Possible Answers:

pitiless

portly

absurd

tart

merciful

Correct answer:

portly

Explanation:

You are told that the man ate too much and made himself unhealthy, so he could probably best be described as fat, chubby, plump. The correct answer is therefore "portly." Additionally, "tart" means sharp tasting, acidic; "absurd" means ridiculous; "merciful" means forgiving, showing mercy; "pitiless" means showing no pity, mean and cruel, merciless.

Example Question #225 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

At the hospital the doctor's determined that the tumor was __________ and the lady was going to make a complete recovery.

Possible Answers:

blatant

special

frigid

benign

enclosed

Correct answer:

benign

Explanation:

If the lady is going to make a complete recovery then the tumor must be harmless, not dangerous. So, the correct answer is "benign." A person can also be described as "benign" in which case it means kindly, good-natured. Additionally, "frigid" means very cold; "special" means unique, not common, individual; "enclosed" means surrounded by something else, trapped inside; "blatant" means obvious, not well-hidden.

Example Question #226 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The invention of the __________ music player allowed people to listen to music wherever they went.

Possible Answers:

improper

toxic

portable

defective

robust

Correct answer:

portable

Explanation:

Something that you can take with you wherever you go is called "portable." Other synonyms of "portable" include movable, mobile, able to be moved. Additionally, "robust" means strong and healthy; "improper" means not proper, not right, not correct; "toxic" means poisonous; "defective" means broken, not working as it should.

Example Question #227 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

"If you get the chance," she said, "you simply have to go to the Grand Canyon, the views are __________."

Possible Answers:

obsolete

spectacular

flawed

mundane

sufficient

Correct answer:

spectacular

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an answer choice that means something like exciting to witness, incredible. So, the correct answer is "spectacular." Synonyms of "spectacular" include beautiful, breathtaking, incredible to look at. Additionally, "mundane" means ordinary, normal and boring; "obsolete" means no longer in use, no longer needed because something more useful has been invented; "flawed" means imperfect, containing errors or imperfections; "sufficient" means good enough

Example Question #228 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Rocks and sand are two examples of __________ objects.

Possible Answers:

unappealing

cordial

inanimate

imaginary

depraved

Correct answer:

inanimate

Explanation:

Rocks and sand are both non-living things, so to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices means non-living. The correct answer is "inanimate." Additionally, "unappealing" means not attractive; "cordial" means friendly and polite; "imaginary" means not real, invented in the mind; "depraved" means wicked or sleazy.

Example Question #229 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Their __________ relationship had lasted with barely a disagreement for almost three decades.

Possible Answers:

skeptical

stable

inferior

exquisite

hybrid

Correct answer:

stable

Explanation:

The relationship being described is obviously a very reliable and enduring relationship if it has lasted so long with hardly any fights. The correct answer is therefore "stable." "Stable" means secure, long lasting and unlikely to change, reliable. Additionally, "inferior" means worse than, not as good as; "exquisite" means beautiful, lovely, delightful; "hybrid" means mixed from two things, combined; "skeptical" means doubtful, not believing something is true.

Example Question #230 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The pool was too __________ and the children were prohibited from jumping in.

Possible Answers:

prickly 

spacious 

dapper

shallow 

drenched 

Correct answer:

shallow 

Explanation:

First of all "prohibited" means forbidden, not allowed. So, the children were not allowed to jump in the pool. The correct answer is therefore "shallow" which means not deep, an area of water where the level of water is not deep. Additionally, "spacious" means roomy, containing lots of space; "dapper" means well dressed, sophisticated; "prickly" means easily offended, quick to get irritated; "drenched" means soaking wet, covered in water.

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