All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #182 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
I am trying to __________ my appearance so as to seem more professional.
accompany
attach
attend
accommodate
alter
alter
The speaker of this sentence wants to seem more professional so it makes sense that they would want to change or "alter" their appearance. "Alter" means change, edit, adjust. Additionally, "attend" means be present at, go to; to "accompany" means to go with someone; "attach" means join, connect to; "accommodate" means help, assist, meet the needs of.
Example Question #183 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The cat __________ in the shadows, waiting to pounce on its prey.
murdered
advised
sheltered
lurked
trembled
lurked
You know that the cat is waiting to attack its prey so the verb you are looking for must relate to hiding or waiting in the shadows. The correct answer is therefore "lurked." To "lurk" means to hide and wait to attack something. Additionally, to "shelter" means to provide a home for; to "murder" means to kill; to "tremble" means to shake (usually with fear); to "advise" means to offer help or suggestions.
Example Question #184 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The captives are __________ a plan to escape.
permitting
vanishing
eroding
devising
wrecking
devising
To begin with "captives" are prisoners. Based on the context of this sentence you know that the verb you are looking for must mean something like coming up with, making. So, the correct answer is "devising." To "devise" means to come up with, to plan, to make. Additionally, to "erode" means to wear down over time; to "vanish" means to disappear; to "wreck" means to destroy; to "permit" means to allow.
Example Question #185 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The winning team finally __________ over their rivals when they scored in overtime.
prevailed
engorged
succumbed
jockeyed
implored
prevailed
The team is described as "winning" and you are told that they scored in overtime, so it makes sense that they triumphed, defeated, won. The correct answer is therefore "prevailed." To "prevail" means to triumph, to overcome, to win. Additionally, to "jockey" is to compete for position; to "implore" means to beg, to urge; to "succumb" means to give in to, to fail to resist any more; to "engorge" means to fill with liquid, often blood or water.
Example Question #186 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
We have run out of eggs, so I am running to the store to __________ our stock.
replenish
exterminate
rectify
harass
annihilate
replenish
The speaker notes that his family has run out of eggs, so it would make sense that he would go to the store to replace, restock, fill up their supply. The correct answer is therefore "replenish." Additionally, "exterminate" and "annihilate" both mean to kill or to completely destroy; "rectify" means fix; "harass" means irritate, bother, annoy.
Example Question #187 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The man was __________ by the sudden loud sound.
cherished
startled
commenced
chortled
submerged
startled
A sudden loud sound would probably be shocking, unsettling, disturbing. So, the correct answer is "startled." If you have been "startled" you have been shocked and surprised by something sudden. Additionally, "cherish" means love and adore; "chortle" means laugh at; "submerged" means under water; "commence" means begin, start.
Example Question #188 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
They took the turkey out of the freezer and left it to __________ so that they could cook it the next day.
cleanse
demolish
thaw
strive
bewilder
thaw
In this sentence the subjects take a turkey out of the freezer and leave it to become unfrozen. The correct answer is therefore "thaw." To "thaw" means to defrost, to become unfrozen. Additionally, "strive" means work hard for; "demolish" means tear down, destroy; "bewilder" means confuse; "cleanse" means clean, purify.
Example Question #189 : Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The hunters set a trap in order to __________ the animal.
enlarge
desert
sanctify
reprimand
snare
snare
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the verb you are looking for must mean something like to trap, to catch (an animal). The correct answer is therefore "snare." Additionally, "reprimand" means scold, yell at, punish; "desert" means leave, abandon; "sanctify" means make holy, make sacred; "enlarge" means make larger.
Example Question #190 : Verbs
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although it is not always the case, television commercials ____________ to be a bit ridiculous in order to shock viewers into watching them.
captivate
tend
appear
lie
emerge
tend
The sentence is discussing the general tendency for commercials to be a given way. When something "tends" to something, it generally or often does so. For instance, if you were to say, "I tend to go to bed at 10 PM," this would mean that you generally go to bed then. Of course, some times you go to bed earlier or later. This is all that the sentence is trying to say about the tendencies of television commercials.
Example Question #1561 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although she was not totally sure about her suspicion, Elizabeth ___________ that something bad had happened that morning.
declared
asserted
evaluated
agreed
sensed
sensed
The general idea is that Elizabeth can't exactly "put her finger" on her reason for thinking that something bad had happened. Nevertheless, she has a "sense" that there was something wrong. To "sense" something does not just mean that you see or smell it. It also can mean that you have some general idea that something is the case. If you think that someone doesn't like your answer to a question, you might say, "I sense that you don't like my answer." This does not mean that you are sure that they don't like it. It just means that you are picking up on something that they are doing or saying that makes you think that they do not like it.
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