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 #1751 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

The jewelry store owner accused his rival of stealing a diamond necklace, but the __________ criminal was proven innocent when the necklace was found to have been misplaced, not stolen.

Possible Answers:

alleged

decent

kinetic

actual

exposed

Correct answer:

alleged

Explanation:

We can infer that because the accused rival was eventually proven to be innocent, that he was only thought to be a criminal, but wasn't actually. So, we need to pick out an adjective for the blank that means something like "supposed." "Actual," then, cannot be the correct answer because "actual" is an antonym of "supposed." "Alleged," however, is an adjective that refers to incidents or people and means "said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality." Because "alleged" is the answer choice that best described the supposed thief and best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #1752 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Those CDs are arranged in __________ order, beginning with the artist's earliest works and concluding with his most recent albums.

Possible Answers:

chronological

sensory

kinetic

spatial

timely

Correct answer:

chronological

Explanation:

We can infer that because the CDs are arranged "beginning with the artist's earliest works and concluding with his most recent albums," they are arranged according to the time at which they were released. So, we need to pick out an adjective for the blank that means "having to do with time." While "timely" might look like a potentially correct answer, "timely" actually means "done or occurring at a favorable or useful time; opportune," not "having to do with time." So, "timely" cannot be the correct answer. "Chronological," however, can mean "starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred" when referring to a record or events; one can tell that the meaning of "chronological" has to do with time because of the root "chrono-", which means "relating to time." Because "chronological" is the answer choice that best describes the order of the CDs and best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #1753 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Francine received a __________ art set for her birthday which came in a case that stored all the supplies and could be taken with on trips.

Possible Answers:

portable

funny

probable

quiet

stationary

Correct answer:

portable

Explanation:

We can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "mobile" because we know that Francine's art set "came in a case that stored all the supplies and could be taken with on trips." So, "stationary" cannot be the correct answer because "stationary" means "not moving" and we know that Francine's art set is able to be moved. "Portable," an adjective that means "able to be easily carried or moved, especially because of being a lighter and smaller version than usual," best fits the sentence's context, so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #1754 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

The __________ dog tried to bite and scratch everyone, including its owner.

Possible Answers:

malicious

friendly

intelligent

welcome

bored

Correct answer:

malicious

Explanation:

We can infer that because the dog "tried to bite and scratch everyone, including its owner," it must not have been very friendly and was trying to hurt other people. So, we need to pick out an adjective to describe the dog that means something like "unfriendly" or "intending to hurt others." So, we know that "friendly" cannot be the correct answer because the dog is clearly not "friendly," and "friendly" is an antonym of "unfriendly," the word similar in meaning to the word we're looking for. "Malicious," however, is an adjective that means "characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm." Because "malicious" is the answer choice that best describes the dog in the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #1755 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

The __________ child constantly complained about whatever plans the group suggested, even when they planned to go get ice cream.

Possible Answers:

excitable

sleepy

querulous

apologetic

patient

Correct answer:

querulous

Explanation:

We can infer that because the child "constantly complained about whatever plans the suggested," we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "complaining." So, "patient" cannot be the correct answer, because if one is patient, one doesn't complain much. "Querulous," however, is an adjective that means "complaining in a petulant or whining manner," and because "querulous" best describes the complaining child in the sentence, "querulous" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1756 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Ralph's goldfish almost died because he was __________ and forgot to feed it for almost a week.

Possible Answers:

negligent

satiated

free

dependable

rigged

Correct answer:

negligent

Explanation:

We can infer that because Ralph "forgot to feed [his goldfish] for almost a week" that he wasn't very responsible. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "irresponsible." So, "dependable" cannot be the correct answer, because "dependable" means "trustworthy and reliable," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "irresponsible." "Negligent," however, is an adjective that means "failing to take proper care in doing something," and because "negligent" best describes how Ralph failed to feed his goldfish for nearly a week, "negligent" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1757 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Laws have to be __________, because if no one can make people obey them, they won't make any difference to a state or country.

Possible Answers:

selfish

contradictory

enforceable

tasty

conniving

Correct answer:

enforceable

Explanation:

We can infer that we need to pick out a verb that means something like "make people obey," because "if no one can make people obey them, they won't make any difference to a state or country." "Contradictory" may look like a potentially correct answer, but "contradictory" means "containing elements which are inconsistent or in conflict," so it would not make sense to claim that "laws have to be contradictory." "Enforceable," however, is an adjective that means "able to have someone compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation)," and because "enforceable" best describes a necessary quality of laws, "enforceable" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1758 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Many reptiles living in the deserts of the southwest United States have developed specific water-retention adaptations that allow them to survive in the __________ heat.

Possible Answers:

understated

unpopular

brisk

sweltering

quiet

Correct answer:

sweltering

Explanation:

We can infer that because the sentence is specifically discussing reptiles that "liv[e] in the deserts of the southwest United States," that the "heat" in that environment is extreme. So, we need to pick out an adjective to describe the intense heat one experiences in the desert. "Brisk" may look like a potentially correct answer because it can be used to describe weather, but "brisk" actually means "cold but fresh and enlivening" when it is used to describe the weather or wind. So, "brisk" cannot be the correct answer because we need a word to describe the desert's intense heat. "Sweltering," however, is an adjective that means "uncomfortably hot," and because "sweltering" is the answer choice that best describes the intense heat one experiences in the deserts in the southwest United States," "sweltering" is the correct answer."

Example Question #1759 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Jenna worked __________ on her project, not stopping for any distractions or taking any unnecessary breaks; as a result, she finished it two days before it was due.

Possible Answers:

industriously

distractedly

wearily

preparedly

lazily

Correct answer:

industriously

Explanation:

Because we know that Jenna "[did] not [stop] for any distractions or tak[e] any unnecessary breaks" while working on her project, we can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "with dedication, effort, and attention" to describe the way she worked. "Distractedly" cannot be the correct answer because we know that Jenna did not stop "for any distractions," and neither "lazily" nor "wearily" can be correct either because neither of those words mean "with dedication, effort, and attention." "Industriously," however, means "diligently" or "characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking," so "industriously" is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.

Example Question #1760 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

The student was __________ and refused to complete his writing assignment during class.

Possible Answers:

defiant

compliant

tired

studious

compassionate

Correct answer:

defiant

Explanation:

If the student refused to complete their classwork, it means that they were defiant or resistant.

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