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 #85 : Sentence Completions

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

__________ things had been happening recently in the little town and the residents were at a loss to explain what was going on.

Possible Answers:

Common

Appealing

Peculiar

Feeble

Dastardly

Correct answer:

Peculiar

Explanation:

The people living in the town are unable to explain all the stuff that is happening. The things that are happening must be unusual and hard to explain. Only one of these answer choices matches with this situation and that is "peculiar." "Peculiar" means strange, weird, unusual. Additionally, "feeble" means weak; "common" means normal, happening frequently; "dastardly" means wicked, villainous; "appealing" means attractive, interesting and tempting.

Example Question #86 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ criminal was imprisoned for twenty years for a series of dreadful crimes.

Possible Answers:

selfless

earnest

oafish

nefarious

talkative

Correct answer:

nefarious

Explanation:

The criminal was imprisoned for a very long time and you are told that he committed many "dreadful" (terrible, awful) crimes. So, the correct answer must reflect this intensity of wickedness. The correct answer is therefore "nefarious" which means evil, wicked, bad-natured. Additionally, "selfless" means not selfish, generous; "talkative" describes someone who talks a lot; "oafish" means foolish, clumsy and stupid; "earnest" means truthful, honest.

Example Question #87 : Sentence Completions

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

He realized that drinking too much was affecting his health so he decided to __________ alcohol completely. 

Possible Answers:

gorge

excavate

rue

interject

forsake

Correct answer:

forsake

Explanation:

The subject of this sentence has made himself sick through drinking too much so it makes sense that he would want to abandon, give up completely alcohol. The correct answer then is "forsake" which means abandon, leave, give up. Additionally, "excavate" means dig up; "gorge" means to over eat, to consume in large quantities; "interject" means interrupt, say something quickly to disrupt a conversation; "rue" means regret.

Example Question #88 : Sentence Completions

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

The government's __________ handling of the crisis made things much worse. 

Possible Answers:

competent

shrewd

brisk

inept

adept

Correct answer:

inept

Explanation:

If the government's handling of the situation made things much worse than it could probably best be described as incompetent, lacking skill. So, the correct answer is "inept," which means having little skill, demonstrating a lack of ability. Additionally, "adept" means skilled and is an antonym of "inept." Finally, "brisk" means quick, fast-paced; "competent" means capable of doing, good enough at something; "shrewd" means wise, crafty and smart

Example Question #31 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

She was __________ by the difficult puzzle in the newspaper.

Possible Answers:

severed

baffled

urged

dismissed

beloved

Correct answer:

baffled

Explanation:

The puzzle is described as "difficult," so it makes sense that the subject would be confused by it. So, the correct answer is "baffled," which means confused. Something that is "baffling" is confusing and difficult to finish because it is so hard. Additionally, "severed" means cut; "urged" means encouraged; "dismissed" means sent away; "beloved" means cherished, widely loved and admired.

Example Question #32 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

Even though she was eighteen, her parents would not let her drive because they did not think she was __________ enough. 

Possible Answers:

mature

nocturnal

hopeless

deluded

passionate

Correct answer:

mature

Explanation:

The girl is legally old enough to drive, but her parents still will not let her. To solve this problem then you have to determine which of these answer choices is an adjective that describes a quality that would encourage someone's parents to let them do things. The correct answer is "mature," which means fully developed mentally and physically, grown-up, capable of taking care of oneself. Additionally, "nocturnal" means sleeping during the day, being awake at night; "passionate" means showing strong feelings; "deluded" means holding a mistaken belief, confused about the truth; "hopeless" means without hope.

Example Question #81 : Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The rescuers searched desperately through the __________ to find any survivors.

Possible Answers:

banquet

harbor

migrant

prey

debris

Correct answer:

debris

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine which of these is an answer that describes something that rescuers might search through to find people after a disaster. The correct answer is "debris" which means the remains of something that has collapsed or been destroyed. Additionally, a "banquet" is a feast; a "harbor" is a place where ships are docked; a "migrant" is a person who moves from one place to another; "prey" is something that is being hunted by something else.

Example Question #82 : Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The angry man had to be __________ by his friends to prevent him from attacking someone else at the party.

Possible Answers:

contradicted

restrained

compelled

infested

ransacked

Correct answer:

restrained

Explanation:

If the man was thinking of doing something foolish and aggressive like attacking someone else, it makes sense that his friends would try to prevent him and hold him back. The correct answer is therefore "restrained" which means to be prevented from doing something, to be held back from causing trouble. Additionally, "infested" means made sick with; "ransacked" means searched and plundered recklessly; "compelled" means forced to do; "contradicted" means argued against.

Example Question #83 : Word Based Sentence Completions

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

After the eruption of the volcano the whole surrounding area was __________ in dust.

Possible Answers:

rotated

intercepted

illuminated

spurred

shrouded

Correct answer:

shrouded

Explanation:

After a volcanic eruption it makes sense that the surrounding area would be completely covered in dust. So, the correct answer is "shrouded." Other synonyms of "shrouded" include veiled, concealed, hidden, covered by. Additionally, "intercepted" means stopped, prevented from continuing; "illuminated" means lit up; "spurred" means encouraged, urged; "rotated" means turned.

Example Question #84 : Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The mouse __________ with fear as the cat loomed over, ready for the kill.

Possible Answers:

jostled

demonstrated

taunted

quivered

soothed

Correct answer:

quivered

Explanation:

An animal that is about to be eaten by another animal would presumably be shaking with complete fear. So, the answer is "quivered." To "quiver" means to tremble, to shake with fear. Additionally, "taunted" means mocked, teased, made fun of; "soothed" means calmed, helped to feel better; "jostled" means bumped into, fought lightly with; "demonstrated" means showed.

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