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 #221 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

After the death of his dog __________.

Possible Answers:

he took it for a walk 

he arrived in a new country 

he was optimistic about the future 

the dog was found 

he was very depressed  

Correct answer:

he was very depressed  

Explanation:

To solve this problem you simply need to figure out which of these answer choices is the most likely thing that would happen after someone had lost their dog. The correct answer is then " . . . he was very depressed." "Depressed" means very sad. The other answer choices do not make sense in the context of this sentence. Additionally, "optimistic" means feeling positive and hopeful.

Example Question #222 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

It was freezing in the house __________.

Possible Answers:

so they ate lots of ice-cream

so they lit a fire

and they decided never to leave

so they took off their clothes

before keeping their clothes on

Correct answer:

so they lit a fire

Explanation:

To begin with "freezing" means very cold. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is the most logical reaction to it being very cold in the house. The correct answer then is " . . . so they lit a fire."

Example Question #223 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ to have escaped the accident unhurt.

Possible Answers:

She felt fortunate

He felt unlucky

She spoke loudly about

However she felt was wrong

He spoke casually

Correct answer:

She felt fortunate

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to consider which of these answer choices makes sense given that you are told the subject of the sentence was not hurt in the accident. The correct answer then is "She felt fortunate . . . " "Fortunate" means lucky. The other answer choices either describe ways she would be unlikely to feel or else are completely nonsensical.

Example Question #224 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

He wore a mask so __________.

Possible Answers:

everyone can tell their relatives 

as to reveal the way he looks 

he went to the store for groceries 

people would not recognize him 

people would easily identify him 

Correct answer:

people would not recognize him 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a reason why someone might wear a mask. Masks disguise a person, so the correct answer then is " . . . people would not recognize him."

Example Question #225 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ was confusing for the readers. 

Possible Answers:

The speaker's style 

The pilot's flying 

The doctor's orders 

The author's writing 

The assistant's advice 

Correct answer:

The author's writing 

Explanation:

The key to solving this problem is the use of the word "readers." This should help you choose the correct answer, "The author's writing . . . " because "author," "writing," and "readers" go together better than any of the other answer choices. 

Example Question #226 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The game was very boring __________.

Possible Answers:

yet the players also seemed bored 

and we were interested in the outcome 

so we left at halftime 

and the players seemed excited 

so we were compelled to keep watching 

Correct answer:

so we left at halftime 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you simply need to determine which of these answer choices is the most likely reaction to a game that is boring. The correct answer then is " . . . so we left at halftime." Additionally, "compelled" means forced, pressured; "outcome" means result.

Example Question #227 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ it must have access to water.

Possible Answers:

The plant is likely to perish 

If this plant is going to die 

The tree is slowly dying 

The result has already been determined 

If you want this tree to grow 

Correct answer:

If you want this tree to grow 

Explanation:

You are told in the second part of the sentence that the subject of this sentence "must have access to water" this tells you that the first part of the sentence is likely about the ability of something to grow when given water. The correct answer is therefore "If you want this tree to grow . . . " The answer choices that read "The plant is likely to perish . . . " and "The tree is slowly dying . . . " could work if there was a semicolon in this sentence, but because there is not they do not fit the context. Additionally, "perish" means die.

Example Question #228 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The intolerant teacher _________

Possible Answers:

was very supportive of her students

had little patience for her students

was beloved by the community

always befriended her students

was well-paid in spite of her tolerance

Correct answer:

had little patience for her students

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that "intolerant" means not tolerant, not accepting or patient. So, if the teacher is "intolerant" it makes sense that she would have " . . . little patience for her students." The other answer choices would all make sense if the teacher was described in positive language, not the negative adjective "intolerant."

Example Question #229 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

He kept spending more money than he had __________.

Possible Answers:

yet he went into debt

and he is very frugal

so he could be called miserly

and his debts kept climbing

and he loves to save money

Correct answer:

and his debts kept climbing

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine what would likely happen if someone kept spending more money than they have. The correct answer is that their " . . . debts [would keep] climbing." The other answer choices either contain inappropriate conjunctions, such as "yet" or else contain words that could not be used to describe someone who spends more money than they have. "Miserly" means cheap, stingy, not generous with money; "frugal" means responsible with money, not likely to spend a lot of money.

Example Question #230 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

The children are jubilant because __________.

Possible Answers:

it is a snow day

they have too much homework

everyone hates them

there is nothing to do

their dog has gone missing

Correct answer:

it is a snow day

Explanation:

To solve this problem you obviously need to know the definition of the word "jubilant." "Jubilant" means very happy and overjoyed. So, which of these answers is a reason why children might most likely be very happy? The correct answer, of course, is because " . . . it is a snow day."

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