ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Sentence Completions

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

I have great __________ for my two darling nieces.

Possible Answers:

recreation

commiseration

veracity

disgust

affection

Correct answer:

affection

Explanation:

It makes logical sense that the author of this sentence would feel fondly and care deeply for his two nieces. The answer choice that best reflects this definition is "affection." "Affection" is a feeling of fondness, liking and caring about someone. Additionally, "recreation" is fun, entertainment; "veracity" is truthfulness, honesty and accuracy; "disgust" means feeling something is gross and unpleasant; "commiseration" means feeling sorrow with someone, expressing that you feel bad for someone's pain, the action of sharing in someone's pain.

Example Question #102 : Sentence Completions

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

The protestors decided to __________ the product due to the inhumane practices of the company.

Possible Answers:

boycott

entreat

divulge

submerge

conceal

Correct answer:

boycott

Explanation:

To begin with "protestors" are people who act out or speak out against something, people who strongly disapprove of an official action and try to stop it. Also, "inhumane" means cruel, (of treatment) not appropriate for a human being. So, logically the protestors would refuse to buy, withdraw support for the company's product. The correct answer then is "boycott." To "boycott" means to refuse to support or buy a commercial product. Additionally, "submerge" means go under water, place under water; "entreat" means urge, beg, plead; "conceal" means hide; "divulge" means reveal.

Example Question #103 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ of warriors advanced menacingly towards the fortified city.

Possible Answers:

fatality

horde

gait

denizen

catastrophe

Correct answer:

horde

Explanation:

This sentence describes a group of warriors marching to attack a city. The correct answer must describe a large group and reflect the style and connotation of a menacing group of warriors. The correct answer is therefore "horde." A "horde" is a large group of people doing something, often a large armed force. Additionally, a "denizen" is an inhabitant, someone who lives somewhere; a "gait" is a style of walking; a "catastrophe" is a disaster, something that has gone horribly wrong; a "fatality" is a death, an incidence of death caused by war or disease

Example Question #104 : Sentence Completions

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

The athlete felt terribly __________ after running her first ever marathon.

Possible Answers:

common

fatigued

plausible

tawdry

hysterical

Correct answer:

fatigued

Explanation:

The athlete ran a marathon for the first time, it makes sense that she would feel very exhausted, lacking in physical energy. The correct answer is therefore "fatigued." To be "fatigued" means to be mentally or physically exhausted. Additionally, "hysterical" means very funny; "plausible" means believable, able to be believed, not absurd; "common" means usual, regular, occurring often; "tawdry" means flashy, cheap and of poor quality but meant to be noticeable.

Example Question #105 : Sentence Completions

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

The little girl sat comfortably atop the __________ horse.

Possible Answers:

tremendous

gargantuan

miniature

titanic

colossal

Correct answer:

miniature

Explanation:

In order for the little girl to be comfortable atop a horse it makes the most sense if the horse is also small. Of these answer choices only "miniature" means very small. The other four answers are all synonyms that mean very large.

Example Question #106 : Sentence Completions

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

A __________ of locusts descended on the rural community and destroyed most of the crops.

Possible Answers:

benchmark

reign

wordsmith

festival

swarm

Correct answer:

swarm

Explanation:

To begin with a "locust" is an insect that moves in large numbers and consumes crops and other plant life in destructive quantities. In this sentence you are told that the locusts destroyed most of the crops in the rural community so they must have moved in large numbers. The correct answer is therefore "swarm" which means a large group of animals, particularly insects. To "swarm" means to move in large numbers. Additionally, a "reign" is the rule of a King or Queen; a "wordsmith" is someone who has a way with words, someone who can use complicated words correctly; a "benchmark" is a point of reference, some record used as an indicator of progression; a "festival" is a fair, a day of celebration, a party

Example Question #107 : Sentence Completions

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

The battery on her laptop was __________, so she had to go buy a new one.

Possible Answers:

requested

obtained

depleted

mourned

brandished

Correct answer:

depleted

Explanation:

If the girl had to go buy a new laptop battery it makes sense that her old one was either broken or had run out of power. The correct answer must mean one of these definitions. Therefore the correct answer is "depleted" which means used up, exhausted, having no more energy or power. Additionally, to "obtain" means to get, to acquire; to "mourn" means to express sadness over the loss of; "request" means ask for; "brandish" means flourish, wave about

Example Question #108 : Sentence Completions

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

The family was __________ when their favorite team won the World Series.

Possible Answers:

dismayed

elated

penniless

indignant

perilous

Correct answer:

elated

Explanation:

One's favorite team winning the World Series is an event that would cause great joy and happiness. So, the correct answer is "elated." "Elation" is another word for joy, great happiness. Additionally, "perilous" means dangerous; "penniless" means very poor, having nothing; "dismayed" means disappointed, shocked, discouraged; "indignant" means feeling angered by unfair treatment, offended.

Example Question #109 : Sentence Completions

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

After several years of __________ work the team of researchers finally found the answer they were looking for.

Possible Answers:

rural

jittery

diligent

reckless

irksome

Correct answer:

diligent

Explanation:

The researchers carried out their work for several years before they found the answer they were looking for. Based on this intensity it makes sense to use the adjective "diligent" to describe their work. "Diligent" means having great care for one's work, showing great effort in one's work, industrious, painstaking. Additionally, "rural" means related to the countryside not towns and cities; "reckless" means careless, dangerous; "irksome" means annoying, irritating; "jittery" means nervous, shaky

Example Question #110 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ parents were reluctant to let their child play sports for fear that he might hurt himself.

Possible Answers:

chubby

wry

cautious

wretched

quaint

Correct answer:

cautious

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence the parents could probably best be described as careful, alert, mindful of possible dangers. So, the correct answer is "cautious." To be "cautious" means to not task risks, to be concerned with safety, to be very careful. Additionally, "chubby" means a little fat; "quaint" means old-fashioned and somewhat appealing; "wry" means ironic, witty, funny and sarcastic; "wretched" means in a very poor condition, miserable

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