ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Conjunctions and Sentence Logic in Phrase-Based Sentence Completions

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The dog was eager to get inside the house, __________ and barking in excitement.

Possible Answers:

chasing a squirrel

eating its breakfast

scratching at the door

taking a nap

licking its paws

Correct answer:

scratching at the door

Explanation:

Here, the sentence describes a dog that is eager to get inside. Behaviors that demonstrate eagerness include barking and scratching at the door. Thus, "scratching at the door" is the correct answer. The other answer choices (such as "licking its paws") do not demonstrate excitement and there are not correct answer choices.

Example Question #42 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

That athlete isn't focusing on winning games, but instead, improving her individual technique; therefore, she most values __________.

Possible Answers:

confidence-boosting cheers

the sense of being part of a team

valuable feedback that helps her improve

traveling to other schools to compete

inspiration for the upcoming games

Correct answer:

valuable feedback that helps her improve

Explanation:

Since the athlete is only focusing on "improving her individual technique," the only phrase that makes sense is that she most values "valuable feedback that helps her improve."

Example Question #43 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The day was bright and sunny, and __________; Sarah was excited to go to the park for a picnic lunch.

Possible Answers:

the sky was full of fluffy clouds

a storm was appearing on the horizon

a tornado warning flashed across the television

the park was closed due to storm damage

all of the smog made it hard to breathe outside

Correct answer:

the sky was full of fluffy clouds

Explanation:

Given that the day was bright and sunny and Sarah is excited to go on a picnic, it would make sense that the description that goes in the blank would be similarly cheery. The only description of the day that matches this is the phrase "the sky was full of fluffy clouds," which is therefore the correct answer. 

Example Question #44 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The treasurer’s idea to start building a new library _________, as the company he contracted to begin construction actually belonged to him.

Possible Answers:

would give the local book club a better place to meet 

was very beneficial to the community

was stolen from another person

stemmed from greed

was a bittersweet idea

Correct answer:

stemmed from greed

Explanation:

Since building the library would actually serve the treasurer's own interest, the phrase that should fill the blank would be one that indicates the fact that he is serving his own interests. Thus, "stemmed from greed" is the best answer choice.

Example Question #45 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

It was unfortunate to learn that the young athlete __________ that prevented him from competing in college and earning a scholarship.

Possible Answers:

failed a driving test

lost his dog

suffered a serious injury

had an annoying younger brother

developed a cranky attitude

Correct answer:

suffered a serious injury

Explanation:

The phrase that makes most sense is that the athlete suffered "a serious injury," as this is the only possibility that would have interfered with his ability to compete in college. While the other phrases present small obstacles that could have affected the athlete, only a serious injury out of these options would have actually prevented him from competing.

Example Question #46 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Her mother’s instructions were barely audible, so Cathy __________.

Possible Answers:

asked her mother to repeat her instructions louder

turned the stereo volume up

covered her ears and hummed loudly

left the room quickly

went outside to play with her brother

Correct answer:

asked her mother to repeat her instructions louder

Explanation:

To select the correct answer in this sentence completion, you need to understand the definition of the word “audible.” When something is “audible,” it is able to be heard. Therefore, we learn in the first sentence that her mother’s instructions were “barely audible,” meaning that they were difficult to hear. If Cathy could not hear the instructions, she would not “leave the room quickly,” “turn the stereo volume up,” or “cover her ears and hum loudly.” We would hope that she would not simply go outside to play with her brother; instead she would “ask her mother to repeat her instructions louder.”

Example Question #47 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The vehicle kept beeping because the door was left ajar, so James __________.

Possible Answers:

repainted the door

unlocked the door

got out and closed the door

got out and walked

kicked opened the other doors of the car

Correct answer:

got out and closed the door

Explanation:

In order to complete this sentence, we need to know the definition of “ajar,” which means slightly open. If the vehicle is beeping because a door was left slightly open, the correct answer would be that James "got out and closed the door." He would not kick the other doors open, as he is already dealing with the problem of the vehicle beeping. Repainting the door and unlocking the door would also not solve the beeping problem. It might make sense for James to get out and walk, but this is not as good a solution to the problem as the correct answer.

Example Question #48 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Brandy loves that __________, because he can help her fix lighting problems at her home.

Possible Answers:

her mother is a baker

she used to race horses with her uncle

her house has been cleaned recently

her brother is an electrician

her neighbor is a mailman

Correct answer:

her brother is an electrician

Explanation:

To complete this sentence, look for context clues in the second part of the sentence. The pronoun “he” is used; therefore, the subject of the missing clause must be male. We can thus cross out “her mother is a baker” and “her house has been cleaned out recently.” Then we see in the second part of the sentence the words “fix lighting problems.” Neither mailmen or horse racing are related to fixing lighting problems, but electricians certainly are, so the correct answer is “her brother is an electrician.”

Example Question #49 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Even though Bethany was not happy about attending the meeting, she __________.

Possible Answers:

arrived on time and well prepared

did not bother to show up

decided to quit her job

contacted her boss to say she would not make it

asked her co-workers to make coffee beforehand

Correct answer:

arrived on time and well prepared

Explanation:

Here we see that the first part of the sentence begins with “even though,” which will lead to a contrasting clause in the second part of the sentence. Since Bethany is “not happy” to be attending this meeting, the second part of the sentence should explain something she does in contrast to these feelings. If Bethany “did not bother to show up," “contacted her boss to say she would not make it,” or “decided to quit her job,” there is no contrast. Asking her co-workers to make coffee beforehand is not a statement about what she will do despite her unhappiness to attend the meeting. Therefore, Bethany “arrived on time and well prepared,” despite being unhappy to be at the meeting. That is the correct answer.

Example Question #50 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Jesse did not want to play the antagonist in the play, but __________.

Possible Answers:

he enjoyed speaking with the director

he arrived to dress rehearsal on time

he auditioned for the part of the villain anyway

he auditioned to be the hero anyway

he was too afraid to audition for a part

Correct answer:

he auditioned for the part of the villain anyway

Explanation:

The keys to understanding this sentence completion exercise is noting the use of the conjunction “but” and knowing the definition of the term “antagonist.” An “antagonist” is a villain. The use of the word “anyway” suggests that whatever Jesse did what he had initially not want to do anyway. The conjunction “but” suggests the even though Jesse did not want to play the role of the villain, he did so anyway.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors