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 #241 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

__________ and I could not hear what she was saying.

Possible Answers:

He left me alone

The place was almost empty

I'll never hear the end of it

The music was very loud

He went off with me

Correct answer:

The music was very loud

Explanation:

You are told that the speaker of this sentence could not hear what someone was saying so it stands to reason that "The music was too loud . . . " The other answer choices are mostly nonsensical.

Example Question #242 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

My stomach hurts so __________.

Possible Answers:

I'll never eat again

I am going to the doctor

he left the hospital

I am discarding my medicine

she went to see a nurse

Correct answer:

I am going to the doctor

Explanation:

If the speaker's stomach hurts it makes sense for them to " . . . [go] to the doctor." However, to solve this problem you needed to be mindful of pronoun continuation. The answer choices that contain the words "he" and "she" might have made sense if the pronouns were not different from the pronoun in the sentence.

Example Question #243 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

__________ has to deal with problems on their own.

Possible Answers:

Outside of his house

The isolated community

She was absent too many times to

Depending on the climate

The learned university

Correct answer:

The isolated community

Explanation:

You are told that whoever or whatever is the subject of this sentence has to deal with problems without outside assistance. It therefore makes sense that the correct answer would be "The isolated community . . . " "Isolated" means alone, far away from other places and "community" means a group of people who work together or live together. Additionally, "learned" means well-educated.

Example Question #244 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

__________ because it is day time.

Possible Answers:

He went to sleep late

She had to turn the light on

Outside of the fair it is dark

He cannot see any stars

He will never be able to rest again

Correct answer:

He cannot see any stars

Explanation:

To solve this problem you simply need to figure out which of these answer is most likely to be true because of the fact that it is daytime. The correct answer then is "He cannot see any stars . . . "

Example Question #245 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

__________ is surprisingly reliable.

Possible Answers:

My old computer

The consistent boyfriend

His favorite baseball bat

The honest teacher

Her new car

Correct answer:

My old computer

Explanation:

You are told that whatever is being discussed is "surprisingly reliable." This suggests that it might be old or used and would be expected not to work very well. To solve this problem then you need to determine which of these answers would be expected to be unreliable. To provide some extra help "reliable" means able to be relied upon, able to be trusted, consistent, responsible. The correct answer is therefore "My old computer . . . "

Example Question #246 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

He felt ashamed __________.

Possible Answers:

that so many people loved him

at being given an award

in his future actions

that he cheated on his test

of his many accomplishments

Correct answer:

that he cheated on his test

Explanation:

To begin with "ashamed" means feeling guilty or embarrassed by something one has said or done. So, if the boy feels ashamed it makes sense that he has done something wrong. The correct answer is therefore " . . . that he cheated on his test." The other answer choices all reflect reasons why someone would feel proud or else don't make sense within the context and structure of this sentence. Additionally, "accomplishments" are things one achieves, successes.

Example Question #247 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

"I don't want this," he said, "__________."

Possible Answers:

he is too perfect

it is essential for my work

she is just not that cool

it is useless to me

it is just superb

Correct answer:

it is useless to me

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to be careful about pronoun continuation. The pronoun used in the first part of the sentence is "it," so the correct answer cannot contain "he" or "she." From there it is simply a matter of continuing the idea. If he does not want something it makes sense that he would say " . . . 'it is useless to me.'" Additionally, "essential" means needed, necessary, or basic; "superb" means excellent, near-perfect.

Example Question #248 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

She went to bed later than usual because __________

Possible Answers:

she had to get up early in the morning 

she was tranquil 

she had been home early from work 

she was feeling energetic 

she was exhausted 

Correct answer:

she was feeling energetic 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you simply need to figure out why the subject of this sentence would be most likely to go to sleep later than usual. The correct answer is because " . . . she was feeling energetic." "Energetic" means full of energy. Additionally, "exhausted" means very tired; "tranquil" means peaceful. As you can see the other answer choices all describe reasons why someone might go to sleep earlier than usual. 

Example Question #249 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________, so I had to buy some more.

Possible Answers:

It is a winning cause 

Monkeys stole all my fruit 

I was sitting calmly on the beach 

Sometimes I can be forgetful, not today however 

I have a plentiful supply 

Correct answer:

Monkeys stole all my fruit 

Explanation:

The speaker of this sentence says they need to buy more of something. Which of these answer choices best matches with a reason why someone might need to buy more of something? The correct answer is "Monkeys stole all my fruit . . . " Additionally, "plentiful" means to have plenty of something, more than enough

Example Question #250 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

He hates spicy food __________.

Possible Answers:

and refused to eat the curry

yet lied about his weight

and thoroughly enjoys curry

and is a pleasure to cook for

although shows up early for dinner

Correct answer:

and refused to eat the curry

Explanation:

To solve this problem you simply need to figure out which of these answer choices is related to the subject of someone who hates spicy food. The correct answer is "  . . . and he refused to eat the curry." The other answer choices are all either nonsensical, use the wrong conjunction or else imply that infact the subject likes spicy food.

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