ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Phrase- and Clause-Based Sentence Completions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Lower Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Before I leave for school __________.

Possible Answers:

she has to get dressed 

her mother helped her with her homework 

I have to get ready 

they drive together 

I talk to my teacher 

Correct answer:

I have to get ready 

Explanation:

The primary clue to solving this problem is the use of the word "before." This tells you that the correct answer must relate to something that the speaker would do in the morning in preparation for school. The correct answer is therefore " . . . I have to get ready." Notice that most of the incorrect answers use the wrong pronoun. Pronouns are words like "he," "she," or "they." Pay careful attention to pronoun continuation in all phrase-based sentence completion questions. 

Example Question #122 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Despite feeling lonely __________

Possible Answers:

she did not want to see anyone 

she went for a quiet walk 

she cooked herself a small dinner 

she was very sad 

her family had left her 

Correct answer:

she did not want to see anyone 

Explanation:

The key to solving this problem is the conjunction "despite" that begins this sentence. The word "despite" is hard to explain, but it means something like even though this thing is true, this opposite thing is also true. So even though the girl felt lonely, she still did not want to see anyone. Because this word is so hard to define let us look at a couple more examples: "Despite being very sick, she still went to work"; "Despite it being winter, it was very hot outside." 

Example Question #123 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ because he robbed the local bank.

Possible Answers:

He has left himself alone 

He was on the run from the police 

He went out to the shops 

He was very poor 

He was living quietly in his home 

Correct answer:

He was on the run from the police 

Explanation:

The use of the word "because" tells you that to solve this problem you need to consider which one of these answer choices best represents a consequence of someone robbing a bank. The correct answer then is "He was on the run from the police . . . " The answer choice "He was very poor . . . " would work better if the conjunction was "so" rather than "because." 

Example Question #124 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The wedding was supposed to be a joyous occasion, __________.

Possible Answers:

but she felt sad and alone 

although everyone felt celebratory 

but everyone felt happy 

but they danced the night away 

however no-one felt sad 

Correct answer:

but she felt sad and alone 

Explanation:

The key to solving this problem is understanding the use of the word "supposed." The word suggests that something was meant to happen, but in fact something else or opposite has happened. As in, "it was supposed to rain, but the sun is shining." Also, you need to understand that the word "joyous" means happy. So, the correct answer must relate to someone not feeling happy about the wedding even though they were "meant" to. The correct answer is therefore " . . . but she felt sad and alone." 

Example Question #125 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________, so I wrapped it in a blanket. 

Possible Answers:

I left my wallet at home 

I was very hot and tired 

My brother was wet from the rain 

I felt cold after a long day in the snow 

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 #126 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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 car was cheap 

The lawyer was expensive 

The treatment was praiseworthy 

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 #127 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

After I lost my keys __________

Possible Answers:

I entered my house 

I had already found them 

I went to the dentist 

I had to replace them 

I ordered a pizza 

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 #128 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ her whole family celebrated. 

Possible Answers:

She was found guilty and 

Even though she was found innocent 

Despite being proved innocent 

Before she was proved innocent 

After she was proved innocent 

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 #129 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________, despite the bad weather. 

Possible Answers:

The plane landed safely 

The wind picked up 

The rain kept falling 

I read my book 

The clock stopped working 

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 #130 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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 

The food is going to spoil 

I love to eat fruits 

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.

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