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 #901 : Sentence Completions

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

The cat was alarmed by __________

Possible Answers:

a friendly owner 

a breezy day 

a passing car 

the comfortable bed 

the promise of a meal 

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 #902 : Sentence Completions

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 weather is perfect 

I can find my guitar 

my mother is shopping with her brother 

the place is a mess 

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 #81 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ to end the fighting. 

Possible Answers:

They offered to repose 

He sought extension 

They stressed the urgency 

He armed himself 

They made a pact 

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 #904 : Sentence Completions

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

I got soaked __________

Possible Answers:

eating at a restaurant 

by the burning sun 

and stayed dry 

because I stayed inside 

when it started raining 

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." 

Example Question #82 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

Her parents are entrepreneurs; __________

Possible Answers:

they teach at community college 

they own a business in Sacramento 

they have been separated for three years 

they are often incapable of feeing themselves 

they recognize the importance of physical education 

Correct answer:

they own a business in Sacramento 

Explanation:

To answer this problem it is pretty important to know the definition of "entrepreneur." An "entrepreneur" is a businessperson who runs their own business or takes risky business ventures. From here the correct answer is merely determining which answer choices relates to something that "entrepreneurs" might do. So, the correct answer is " . . . they own a business in Sacramento."

Example Question #83 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

I became popular because __________

Possible Answers:

friendships are important 

no-one at school likes me 

school is very serious 

I like to spend time by myself 

people think I'm cool 

Correct answer:

people think I'm cool 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that "popular" means well-liked or favored and in demand. So, which of these is a quality that might make someone become well liked? The correct answer is " . . . people think I'm cool." The other answer choices are either nonsensical or describe reasons why someone might not be popular. 

Example Question #84 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ and was confronted by his angry father. 

Possible Answers:

He got home 

He was acclaimed by his teachers 

He achieved success 

He helped his father fix the car 

He underwent dramatic improvement 

Correct answer:

He got home 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that to "confront" means to meet someone in person and express anger or disagreement. So, which of these answer choices could have come directly before the boy was confronted by his angry father? The correct answer is simply "He got home . . . " All the other answer choices suggest things that would not make someone confront someone else. Additionally, "dramatic" means extreme, very large; "acclaimed" means widely praised; "underwent" means went through, experienced

Example Question #85 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

He made a wild prediction and somehow __________

Possible Answers:

he was completely wrong 

he miscalculated 

he experienced pain 

he was right 

he made no new friends 

Correct answer:

he was right 

Explanation:

The use of the word "wild" means the prediction he made must have been crazy. The use of the word "somehow" means that however unlikely the thing the subject did he was still successful. So, the only logical answer here is that the subject " . . . was right." Additionally, "miscalculated" means made an error in figuring out; "completely" means totally, utterly, without exception

Example Question #86 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

I have never seen something so strange; __________.

Possible Answers:

it is uninteresting

it is scarce

it is unique

it is quite common

it is abundant

Correct answer:

it is unique

Explanation:

The use of the semi-colon tells you that the information contained in the second part of the sentence must support or continue the idea contained in the first part of the sentence. Also, "strange" means weird, unusual. So, the correct answer is " . . . it is unique." "Unique" means one of a kind, unmatched. Additionally, "uninteresting" means not interesting, boring; "common" means normal, happening regularly; "scarce" means rare; "abundant" means found in large quantities.

Example Question #87 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions

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

He is cunning and sneaky, __________.

Possible Answers:

like a fox

although quite secretive

but often escapes

yet never gets caught

and totally clumsy

Correct answer:

like a fox

Explanation:

To begin with it is important to know that "cunning" means crafty, sly, capable of doing something through trickery. Foxes are commonly described as "cunning" and "sneaky" so this is the correct answer. The other answer choices are either illogical, as in, "totally clumsy" or else contain conjunctions that do not make sense in context.

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