ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Word-Based Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #25 : Sentence Completions

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

The old man's opinion was quite __________ within his community and people always listened to what he had to say.

Possible Answers:

jarred

jaunty

infirm

weighty

foolhardy

Correct answer:

weighty

Explanation:

If people always listened to what the old man had to say it makes sense that his opinion was considered important, of great meaning and significance. So, the correct answer is "weighty." "Weighty" can also mean heavy when used to describe an object. Additionally, "jaunty" means happy and cheerful; "jarred" means disturbed, shocked; "infirm" means sick; "foolhardy" means foolish, stupid, silly.

Example Question #26 : Sentence Completions

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

He has a __________ personality and is always making decisions without thinking about the consequences.

Possible Answers:

cheerful

brash

adhesive

wealthy

impartial

Correct answer:

brash

Explanation:

You are told that the subject is always making decisions without thinking about the consequences. The adjective used to describe him must reflect this aspect of his personality. The correct answer is therefore "brash," which means arrogant, cocksure, bold, not modest. Additionally, "cheerful" means happy; "impartial" means not biased, able to judge fairly; "adhesive" means sticky; "wealthy" means rich.

Example Question #27 : Sentence Completions

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

Young people tend to think of themselves as __________, but no one can live forever. 

Possible Answers:

precise 

independent 

profitable

immortal 

momentous 

Correct answer:

immortal 

Explanation:

Based on the context and structure of this sentence the correct answer must mean something like incapable of dying, living forever. So, the correct answer is "immortal" which means not mortal, not capable of dying. Additionally, "profitable" means making money, making a profit; "precise" means exact, accurate; "momentous" means of great importance, very significant; "independent" means free, not tied down by responsibilities, not controlled by others

Example Question #28 : Sentence Completions

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

He had been an arrogant and energetic man in his youth, but by the time she met him again, in their early 50s, he was a much more __________ individual.

Possible Answers:

uncouth

derelict

frantic

mellow

toxic

Correct answer:

mellow

Explanation:

The context of this sentence, and the use of the conjunction "but," suggests that this man changed over the course of his lifetime. Once he had been arrogant and full of energy, so the correct answer must mean something like the opposite of these two words. The correct answer is therefore "mellow" which means relaxed, good-natured, and calm. Additionally, "frantic" means rushed, anxious, and stressed; "toxic" means poisonous; "uncouth" means vulgar, rude; "derelict" means in a very bad condition, falling apart

Example Question #29 : Sentence Completions

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

The pleasant __________ coming from the kitchen made the children feel excited for dinner.

Possible Answers:

omen

discord

outlier

aroma

melody

Correct answer:

aroma

Explanation:

The children felt excited for dinner so the thing coming from the kitchen was most likely the smell of dinner. The correct answer is therefore "aroma" which means smell, scent. Additionally, "melody" means tune, song; "discord" is disagreement, argument; an "outlier" is a piece of data that is unique within a set of data, something strange and separate from the usual; an "omen" is a warning about the future.

Example Question #30 : Sentence Completions

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

The best man's speech was surprisingly __________ given how little time he had spent preparing.

Possible Answers:

spiritual

feigned

eloquent

rabid

incompetent

Correct answer:

eloquent

Explanation:

You are told that the best man did not really prepare for the speech and that whatever quality it had was therefore surprising. If the best man had not prepared one might expect his speech to be disorganized and poorly spoken. So, the adjective used to describe his speech must be positive and reflect how he surprised the audience. The correct answer is therefore "eloquent" which means well spoken. Additionally, "feigned" means faked, pretended; "incompetent" means not able to do something, not good enough, not capable; "rabid" means extreme, overly passionate; "spiritual" means relating to religion, or relating to the human soul

Example Question #31 : Sentence Completions

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

You should never play with fire near a gas station because petroleum is __________.

Possible Answers:

irredeemable

inflammable

inflexible

implacable

irresponsible

Correct answer:

inflammable

Explanation:

Based on the structure of this sentence you are looking for the answer choice that means easily lit on fire. The correct answer is therefore "inflammable." Due to a strange quirk of the English language both "flammable" and "inflammable" mean easily set on fire. Based on normal rules you would expect "inflammable" to mean "not flammable," but this is not the case. Additionally, "inflexible" means not flexible, not bendy; "irresponsible" means not responsible; "implacable" means unable to be placated, unable to be soothed, unforgiving; "irredeemable" means not able to be redeemed, not able to be saved or forgiven

Example Question #32 : Sentence Completions

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

He decided to __________ his appearance so that he would fit in better at his new school.

Possible Answers:

deviate

modify

reconcile

contradict

ransack

Correct answer:

modify

Explanation:

The subject of this sentence wants to change how well he fits in at school, so it makes sense that he would feel the need to change his appearance. You are therefore looking for the answer choice that means change, alter. So, the correct answer is "modify." Additionally, "ransack" means to search through carelessly and quickly; "reconcile" means make peace with; "deviate" means turn away from, diverge from; "contradict" means argue against.

Example Question #32 : Sentence Completions

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

Ronald was generally a warm person, so when the temperature began to drop in the house, he didn't __________ that others might be cold.

Possible Answers:

discuss

realize

babble

desire

utter

Correct answer:

realize

Explanation:

Based on the context clues in this sentence, we can guess that Ronald didn't realize that the temperature was dropping. As someone who is naturally warm, he probably thought the house was just about the same. Therefore, the implication is that he didn't even think that others might be cold. That means that he likely did not realize it. He was not aware of it.

Example Question #33 : Sentence Completions

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

Usually she is very __________, but today she is running twenty minutes late.

Possible Answers:

miserable

delayed

prompt

dogged

perilous

Correct answer:

prompt

Explanation:

The use of the word "but" is crucial to solving this problem. "But" is used to change the direction of a sentence, to cause it to mean the opposite, so in this instance if the girl is twenty minutes late she must usually not be late. The correct answer is therefore "prompt" which means on time, quick, not delayed or late. Additionally, "dogged" means determined and hard-working; "delayed" means late, halted, paused; "miserable" means very sad; "perilous" means dangerous.

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