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 #1991 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The cheese was expired, but __________

Possible Answers:

she threw it away 

the milk was expired too 

I have lots of work to do 

she went to the store 

she ate it anyway 

Correct answer:

she ate it anyway 

Explanation:

Based on the use of the conjunction "but" you are looking for an action that would be unexpected. So, if the cheese is "expired" (out of date, no longer suitable for eating) then it would be surprising for her to eat it anyway. 

Example Question #896 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

Despite his incredible professional success __________

Possible Answers:

he lives by the ocean 

he is very wealthy 

he is not happy 

he has one child 

he lives in a mansion 

Correct answer:

he is not happy 

Explanation:

The use of the word "despite" should help you solve this problem. "Despite" means not affected by something. So, "I am cold despite this blanket." Therefore the correct answer is " . . . he is not happy." The subject has achieved professional success but it has not affected his happiness. 

Example Question #1992 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

He worked tirelessly, but __________

Possible Answers:

drew pictures for his children 

did not achieve success 

was always tired at the end of the say 

came up with the solution to the problem 

regarded his dog with great affection 

Correct answer:

did not achieve success 

Explanation:

The conjunction "but" means that whatever happened must be surprising or opposite in meaning to the first half of the sentence. The correct answer is therefore " . . . did not achieve success." The man worked "tirelessly" (hard, putting in a lot of energy) "but" is hard work did bring him success. All the other answer choices are either nonsensical or would better involve the conjunction "and."

Example Question #1992 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

I went to the market and came home with a profit; __________

Possible Answers:

they love to take advantage of me 

my mother is very happy 

it was a terrible day 

if only I had been less foolish 

I am clearly not good at negotiating 

Correct answer:

my mother is very happy 

Explanation:

In most sentences the use of a semi-colon (;) means that the sentence could be finished, but the author wants to continue the same idea. In this sentence the speaker made a profit (earned money) at the market and went home. It makes logical sense that the speaker earning money would make his mother happy, so this is the correct answer. The other answer choices suggest that the speaker had had bad luck or had lost money. 

Example Question #899 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The peace treaty __________ the conflict between the two nations . 

Possible Answers:

left behind 

exacerbated 

acknowledged and mocked 

brought to an end

added to the intensity of 

Correct answer:

brought to an end

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine what a peace treaty would be most likely to do to a conflict. A "conflict" is a fight, a war, an argument. A "peace treaty" is an agreement that restores peace. Additionally, "exacerbated" means made worse; "acknowledged" means noticed, recognized, accepted; "mocked" means made fun of

Example Question #1993 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The old man suffered a series of misfortunes and __________

Possible Answers:

managed to turn his life around 

experienced many lucky moments 

never got upset about it 

soon found himself penniless 

felt that he was incredibly lucky 

Correct answer:

soon found himself penniless 

Explanation:

To begin with "misfortune" is bad luck. So, the man experienced a lot of bad luck and then something happened. Of these answer choices four of them would make more sense with the conjunction "but." So the answer choice, " . . . soon found himself penniless" makes sense with the conjunction "and" because it continues the same point as the first half of the sentence. "Penniless" means very poor, having no money

Example Question #1993 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The cat was alarmed by __________

Possible Answers:

a friendly owner 

the comfortable bed 

the promise of a meal 

a breezy day 

a passing car 

Correct answer:

a passing car 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that "alarmed" means frightened, made nervous. So, which of these answer choices makes sense as an action that would cause a cat to feel nervous or get scared? The correct answer is " . . . a passing car." Additionally, "breezy" means slightly windy

Example Question #1994 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

It looks like a tornado came through here; __________

Possible Answers:

the place is spotless 

the place is a mess 

I can find my guitar 

the weather is perfect 

my mother is shopping with her brother 

Correct answer:

the place is a mess 

Explanation:

If a tornado came through an area it would be likely to create destruction and ruin many houses. Someone might exclaim that a place looks like it has just been visited by a tornado if the place was messy. This is therefore the correct answer. Additionally, "spotless" means completely cleaned, not even a little dirty

Example Question #1995 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

__________ to end the fighting. 

Possible Answers:

He armed himself 

They offered to repose 

They stressed the urgency 

They made a pact 

He sought extension 

Correct answer:

They made a pact 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine which of these answer choices describes an action undertaken in order to end fighting. The correct answer is therefore "They made a pact . . . " A "pact" is an agreement, a treaty, a promise. Additionally, "urgency" means need. The answer choice that reads "They stressed the urgency . . . " might seem like the correct answer, but it would be written like "They stressed the urgent need to end the fighting" or "They stressed that it was urgent to end the fighting." Finally, "repose" means rest; "armed" means got weapons; "extension" means more of something, something that makes something longer

Example Question #1996 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

I got soaked __________

Possible Answers:

because I stayed inside 

by the burning sun 

when it started raining 

and stayed dry 

eating at a restaurant 

Correct answer:

when it started raining 

Explanation:

To answer this question you need to know that "soaked" means made wet, very wet. So, which of these answer choices is a reason why someone might get very wet? The correct answer is " . . . when it started raining." 

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