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 #205 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ of the injury was unknown, and Sarah found it hard to recall when the pain began.

Possible Answers:

ending

intensity

severity

difficulty

source

Correct answer:

source

Explanation:

Since Sarah "found it hard to recall when the pain began," we can infer that she must not know what caused her injury. The context clue in this sentence is noting that Sarah does not know the origin or "source" of the pain and when it began. This is opposite of the answer choice "ending." Also, "intensity" is the relative degree of something; "difficulty" is complexity; and "severity" is the degree to which something is severe in comparison to other things.

Example Question #206 : Sentence Completions

The company hired an entirely new staff last year; the group evolved into a ______ through the process of learning and growing together. 

Possible Answers:

cluster

array

team

quartet

herd

Correct answer:

team

Explanation:

When people learn together, they often must cooperate. As a result, team is a good fit for this sentence because teams must work together and collaborate. 

Example Question #207 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

When the climbers finally reached the mountain's __________, they placed a flag on its highest point and took a picture to prove that they had made it all the way to the top.

Possible Answers:

summit

valley

cave

border

bottom

Correct answer:

summit

Explanation:

We can infer that because the sentence refers to "climbers" who "placed a flag on [the mountain's] highest point" after they "made it all the way to the top," we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "the top of a mountain." Neither "bottom" nor "valley" can be the correct answer, then, because each of those terms are antonyms of "top" and "mountain," respectively. "Summit," however, when used as a noun, means " the highest point of a hill or mountain," and because "summit" best fits the context of the sentence, "summit" is the correct answer.

Example Question #208 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

When the __________ for being a member the club grew much stricter than they had previously been, it lost several members who did not meet the new conditions.

Possible Answers:

tactics

requirements

emotions

mettles

histories

Correct answer:

requirements

Explanation:

We can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "conditions," because the club "lost several members who did not meet the new conditions." "Requirements" is a noun that means either "things that are needed or wanted" or "things that are compulsory; necessary conditions," and because "requirements" best fits the context of the sentence, "requirements" is the correct answer.

Example Question #209 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The author's __________ introduced the book and appeared before the first chapter.

Possible Answers:

proposition

finale

footnote

prologue

conclusion

Correct answer:

prologue

Explanation:

The key to the sentence is noting that the introduction being referred to came before the first chapter.  Therefore, it is a foreword or prologue.

Example Question #210 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

A dozen basketball teams competed in the __________, and after many rounds of games, one was declared the winner.

Possible Answers:

incentive

proponent

game

decision

tournament

Correct answer:

tournament

Explanation:

We can infer that we need to pick out a noun for the blank that means something like “a series of games.” So, while “game” may look like a potentially correct answer, “game” cannot be the correct answer because the sentence says that there were “many rounds of games.” “Tournament,” however, is a noun that can mean “a series of contests between many teams or players,” and because “tournament” best describes the series of basketball games that the sentence is discussing, “tournament” is the correct answer.

Example Question #211 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

While _____________ may ruin a picnic, it is essential because it helps grass grow.

Possible Answers:

drought

ants

sunlight

precipitation

wind

Correct answer:

precipitation

Explanation:

The correct answer is "precipitation," which means water that falls from the sky in a liquid or solid form. "Precipitation" is the only answer choice that can ruin a picnic but is also needed to help plants grow. "Wind" and "ants" can ruin a picnic, but they do not directly help plants grow. "Sunlight" helps plants grow, but it is not something that will ruin a picnic.

Example Question #212 : Sentence Completions

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

My grandmother turned one hundred yesterday; I cannot believe she has lived for a whole __________.

Possible Answers:

millenium 

dozen

month

decade

century

Correct answer:

century

Explanation:

The prefix "cent-" means one hundred, so a period of one hundred consecutive years is a “century.” To provide additional help, a “decade” is a period of ten consecutive years; a “millenium” a period of one thousand consecutive years, and a "dozen" twelve units of something taken as a group.

Example Question #213 : Sentence Completions

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

Lisa's father is very frustrated with her because despite being thirteen years old, she often acts immaturely, behaving like a(n) __________ when she doesn't get her way.

Possible Answers:

infant

rebel 

student

adult

teenager

Correct answer:

infant

Explanation:

In this sentence, we know that Lisa acts immaturely. This means that she acts younger than her age at time. Since she is thirteen years old, the blank should be filled with a word that means someone who is younger than thirteen. An "infant" is a very young child, much younger than thirteen. Therefore, "infant" is the correct answer.

Example Question #214 : Sentence Completions

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

The dog looked everywhere for his bone, but despite his efforts, his __________ was fruitless.

Possible Answers:

bowl

desire

hope

appetite

search

Correct answer:

search

Explanation:

Here, the sentence provides enough context for the reader to realize that the dog is searching for his bone and was not successful in finding it. Therefore, it is the dog's "search" that is "fruitless" (ineffective). It would not make sense for his "hope," "desire," "appetite," or "bowl" to be fruitless.

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