ISEE Lower Level Verbal : ISEE Lower Level (grades 5-6) Verbal Reasoning

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Sentence Completions

Jennifer realized that she was __________ when of the five cats she was supposed to be looking after, she could only find four; luckily the fifth turned out to be hiding under the comforter.

Possible Answers:

swerving

wary

in a pickle

reflective

in the clear

Correct answer:

in a pickle

Explanation:

We can infer that if Jennifer could only find four of the five cats she was supposed to be looking after, she must have been in trouble. So, we need to pick out a word or phrase that means something like "trouble." "In the clear" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "in the clear" means "no longer in danger or suspected of something," making it the opposite of the word or phrase that we're looking for. "In a pickle," however, is a phrase that means "in a difficult or messy situation," and because this best describes Jennifer's situation when she could only find four of the five cats she was supposed to be looking after, "in a pickle" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Sentence Completions

Which pair of words best completes the sentence?

I love to read, to sing, to jump rope __________

Possible Answers:

but to be dancing.

and dancing.

or to have danced.

, and to dance.

and I dance.

Correct answer:

, and to dance.

Explanation:

In this question, the trick is to find the most appropriate grammatical structure that will keep the sentence consistent. Since the sentence is phrased as a list of verbs in their present infinitive tense, "and to dance" makes the most sense and keeps the phrasing consistent.

Example Question #1 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

Even though she originally wanted to run for the office of class president, Jessica decided to __________ from the election due to her doubts about whether she could handle the position if elected to it.

Possible Answers:

shift

emerge

continue

resume

withdraw

Correct answer:

withdraw

Explanation:

Her doubts presumably made Jessica "withdraw," or take herself out of the race and not run for office anymore. "Shift" means change; "emerge" means appear; and "resume" means start up again or continue after a break.

Example Question #2 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The students didn't have __________ to the teachers' room in the school building.

Possible Answers:

refusal

access

approval

agreement

tolerance

Correct answer:

access

Explanation:

It would be reasonable for students to not be allowed in the teachers' room; therefore, they would not have "access" to it, or the ability to enter it. This is different than an "agreement" or accord; "tolerance" or the ability to deal with something; "approval" or support of something; and "refusal" or the act of denying or saying no to something.

Example Question #1 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

COMPRESS

Possible Answers:

Purify

Reduce

Expand

Maintain

Exchange

Correct answer:

Reduce

Explanation:

To "compress" something is to "reduce" it in size. This is different than "purify," which means cleanse; "exchange," which means trade; "expand," which means increase; and "maintain," which means to keep in present form.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

NOTIFY

Possible Answers:

Howl

Define

Respond

Liberate

Inform

Correct answer:

Inform

Explanation:

To "notify" is to tell, or to "inform." "Liberate" is a verb that means free; "respond" is a verb that means answer; "define" means give the definition of, and "howl" means make a crying sound.

Example Question #3 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ADVISE

Possible Answers:

Vacate

Guide

Enlighten

Encourage

Submit

Correct answer:

Guide

Explanation:

"Advise" means to give advice to, or "guide." "Enlighten" means help gain understanding; "encourage" is a verb that means support; "vacate" is a verb that means leave or empty; and "submit" means hand in or yield.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

SWIFT

Possible Answers:

Sensitive

Persistent

Steady

Loud

Quick

Correct answer:

Quick

Explanation:

Something that is "swift" is speedy or "quick." As for the other answer choices, "steady" means consistent or stable; "loud" means of great volume; "sensitive" means able to feel minute changes in something or tactful, and "persistent" means not giving up easily or stubborn.

Example Question #1 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

IMITATE

Possible Answers:

Stray

Reveal

Converse

Copy

Differ

Correct answer:

Copy

Explanation:

If you "imitate" someone or something, you mimic or "copy" it. As for the other answer choices, "reveal" means show something that was hidden; "converse," when used as a verb, means talk; and "stray," when used as a verb, means deviate or drift from.

Example Question #1 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

EXCEL

Possible Answers:

Extend

Radiate

Overpower

Attempt

Shine

Correct answer:

Shine

Explanation:

When you "excel" at something, such as mathematics or sports, it means that you are good at that thing and "shine" at doing that activity. As for the other answer choices, "overpower" means to defeat due to being stronger than; "radiate" means branch outward; "extend" means lengthen; and "attempt" means try.

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