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 #2041 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

__________, so I wrapped it in a blanket. 

Possible Answers:

I was very hot and tired 

I felt cold after a long day in the snow 

I left my wallet at home 

My brother was wet from the rain 

My dog was very cold 

Correct answer:

My dog was very cold 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to think of a reason why the speaker would wrap something in a blanket. The correct answer is therefore "My dog was very cold . . . " You know that it must be a "something" rather than a "someone" because of the use of the pronoun "it." People are "he," "she," or "they." Animals and things are "it." 

Example Question #2042 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

__________ because it was very old. 

Possible Answers:

The man was freed from prison 

The treatment was praiseworthy 

The car was cheap 

The lawyer was expensive 

The woman was put into a nursing home 

Correct answer:

The car was cheap 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to consider which of these answer choices most likely relates to something being very old. You also have to consider that the pronoun used is "it." This means the answer choice cannot relate to a man, a woman, or a lawyer. Otherwise the pronoun used would be "he," "she," or "they." The correct answer is therefore "The car was very cheap . . . " Additionally, "expensive" means costing a lot of money, not cheap; "praiseworthy" means deserving of praise, laudable

Example Question #2043 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

After I lost my keys __________

Possible Answers:

I ordered a pizza 

I had to replace them 

I went to the dentist 

I entered my house 

I had already found them 

Correct answer:

I had to replace them 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices best represents an action the speaker might take in reaction to losing their keys. The correct answer is therefore " . . . I had to replace them." The answer choice " . . . I had already found them" does not make sense contextually. 

Example Question #2044 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

__________ her whole family celebrated. 

Possible Answers:

Even though she was found innocent 

Despite being proved innocent 

After she was proved innocent 

Before she was proved innocent 

She was found guilty and 

Correct answer:

After she was proved innocent 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices best represents a reason why someone's family might celebrate. The correct answer then is "After she was found innocent . . . " The other answer choices are either less logical or else contain inappropriate conjunctions like "even though" and "despite." 

Example Question #2045 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

__________, despite the bad weather. 

Possible Answers:

The clock stopped working 

The plane landed safely 

The rain kept falling 

I read my book 

The wind picked up 

Correct answer:

The plane landed safely 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to consider the meaning of the conjunction "despite." "Despite" is a difficult word to define, but it means something like not being affected by. So, in the context of this sentence something was able to happen without being affected by the bad weather. Of these answer choices, only the landing of a plane could possibly be affected by bad weather so this is the correct answer. Because "despite" is such a difficult word to understand let us look at a couple more examples: "Despite feeling sick, he went to school"; "I stayed up all night, despite being exhausted." 

Example Question #2046 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

__________, but I cannot enjoy them too often because they are unhealthy.

Possible Answers:

I feel energetic 

I wandered for days 

I love to eat fruits 

The food is going to spoil 

I love cheeseburgers 

Correct answer:

I love cheeseburgers 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to consider the use of the word "but." Also you are told that whatever it is that the speaker enjoys is unhealthy. The word "but" is used to change the meaning of a sentence to reveal an opposite idea. The correct answer is therefore "I love cheeseburgers . . . " The speaker loves to eat cheeseburgers, but cannot enjoy them too often. Additionally, "spoil" means ruin, go off; "energetic" means full of energy; "wandered" means walked without purpose, walked slowly or casually.

Example Question #2047 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Before leaving for a trip __________.

Possible Answers:

he came back from his holiday

he understands what she meant

he arrived at the hotel

he packed his suitcase

he enjoyed his vacation

Correct answer:

he packed his suitcase

Explanation:

The key to solving this problem is the word "before." The correct answer must reflect something that someone would logically do before going on a trip. "Before" means something like earlier than, prior, in preparation for. So, the correct answer is " . . . he packed his suitcase." The other answer choices are either nonsensical or reflect something someone might do "after" a trip.

Example Question #2048 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

I have no great affection for him, __________

Possible Answers:

although I don't want to spend time with him 

however I don't want to spend time with him 

or do I want to spend time with him 

yet I don't want to spend time with him 

nor do I want to spend time with him 

Correct answer:

nor do I want to spend time with him 

Explanation:

You will notice that the answer choices here are all very similar. They differ in the conjunction used and whether or not they are positive. The conjunctions "yet," "however," and "although" are all incorrect because they are used to change the meaning of a sentence, not continue the meaning of the sentence. The correct answer is the one that contains the word "nor." "Nor" is used in place of "or" when you want to continue a negative statement. So,  for example, "I do not like chips, nor do I like french fries." 

Example Question #2049 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

It is possible to achieve anything __________.

Possible Answers:

despite working hard enough

if you work hard enough

even if you work hard enough

in spite of working hard enough

however you work hard enough

Correct answer:

if you work hard enough

Explanation:

You will notice again here that the answer choices are all very similar. They only really differ in the conjunction used. You can eliminate "even if" because it does not make sense in this context. If the correct answer was "even if" the sentence would have to read "It is possible to achieve anything even if you do not work hard enough." "Despite," "however," and "in spite of" can be eliminated for the same reason. So, the correct answer is " . . . if you work hard enough."

Example Question #2050 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

Although I have three dogs __________.

Possible Answers:

my dogs are well trained

I have always owned dogs

I really love dogs

my cats eat lots of food

I actually prefer cats

Correct answer:

I actually prefer cats

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to consider the meaning of the word "although." It is a hard word to define, but it means something like even though this first thing is true, this second and opposite thing is also true. So, even though the author has three dogs they " . . . actually prefer cats." The other answer choices are illogical or would only make sense without the word "although."

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