ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

While _____________ may ruin a picnic, it is essential because it helps grass grow.

Possible Answers:

precipitation

sunlight

drought

wind

ants

Correct answer:

precipitation

Explanation:

The correct answer is "precipitation," which means water that falls from the sky in a liquid or solid form. "Precipitation" is the only answer choice that can ruin a picnic but is also needed to help plants grow. "Wind" and "ants" can ruin a picnic, but they do not directly help plants grow. "Sunlight" helps plants grow, but it is not something that will ruin a picnic.

Example Question #212 : Sentence Completions

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

My grandmother turned one hundred yesterday; I cannot believe she has lived for a whole __________.

Possible Answers:

month

millenium 

century

dozen

decade

Correct answer:

century

Explanation:

The prefix "cent-" means one hundred, so a period of one hundred consecutive years is a “century.” To provide additional help, a “decade” is a period of ten consecutive years; a “millenium” a period of one thousand consecutive years, and a "dozen" twelve units of something taken as a group.

Example Question #213 : Sentence Completions

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

Lisa's father is very frustrated with her because despite being thirteen years old, she often acts immaturely, behaving like a(n) __________ when she doesn't get her way.

Possible Answers:

student

rebel 

teenager

adult

infant

Correct answer:

infant

Explanation:

In this sentence, we know that Lisa acts immaturely. This means that she acts younger than her age at time. Since she is thirteen years old, the blank should be filled with a word that means someone who is younger than thirteen. An "infant" is a very young child, much younger than thirteen. Therefore, "infant" is the correct answer.

Example Question #214 : Sentence Completions

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

The dog looked everywhere for his bone, but despite his efforts, his __________ was fruitless.

Possible Answers:

hope

bowl

appetite

desire

search

Correct answer:

search

Explanation:

Here, the sentence provides enough context for the reader to realize that the dog is searching for his bone and was not successful in finding it. Therefore, it is the dog's "search" that is "fruitless" (ineffective). It would not make sense for his "hope," "desire," "appetite," or "bowl" to be fruitless.

Example Question #215 : Sentence Completions

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

Your legal __________ is the person who is responsible for looking after you.

Possible Answers:

champion

guardian

actor

competitor

professor

Correct answer:

guardian

Explanation:

Someone who is responsible for looking after someone else is called a “guardian.” A “champion” is someone who wins or has won something; a “competitor” is someone who takes part in a competition or someone who takes part in a game; an “actor” is someone who plays a role, like a movie star; and a “professor” is a teacher of college or university students.

Example Question #216 : Sentence Completions

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

The running of the bulls is an old __________ in Spain; people have been doing it for hundreds of years.

Possible Answers:

conflict

removal

tradition

legend

supposition

Correct answer:

tradition

Explanation:

Something that people have been doing for a long time is called a “tradition.” The word “supposition” is something you believe in but that there is no proof of; a “legend” is something from history that probably is not true but that people admire or like to talk about; a “conflict” is a fight; and “removal” means the act of taking something away.

Example Question #211 : Sentence Completions

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

Most people have two arms and two legs; this means they have four __________.

Possible Answers:

notions

hovels

expressions

habitats

limbs

Correct answer:

limbs

Explanation:

The name given to arms and legs is "limbs." So, an arm is a “limb” and a leg is also a “limb.” To provide further help, a “notion” is an idea; “expressions” are sayings; a “hovel” is a shack or a small and messy house; and a “habitat” is an environment where something is meant to live, so a dolphin’s “habitat” is the ocean.

Example Question #217 : Sentence Completions

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

His mother looked very tired after running the marathon, and he was worried about her apparent __________.

Possible Answers:

mockery

fervor

fatigue

imitation

adventure

Correct answer:

fatigue

Explanation:

The condition of being very tired and exhausted is called “fatigue."

Example Question #212 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ was packed with supporters ready to watch the big game.

Possible Answers:

narrator

triumph

commentator

arena

champion

Correct answer:

arena

Explanation:

The context suggests that the correct answer is a place where “supporters,” or fans, go to watch a game. This means that the correct answer is “arena.” An “arena” is usually where a sports team plays. A “champion” is someone who has won a competition; a “triumph” is a great win; a “commentator” is someone who talks about what is going on during a sports game; and a “narrator” is someone in a story who is telling that story.

Example Question #75 : Parts Of Speech In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The __________ between the two students began when one of them called the other one an idiot; they've since been getting into arguments with each other all week.

Possible Answers:

companionship

conversation

feud

agreement

mystery

Correct answer:

feud

Explanation:

Because one of the students was rude to the other one, it makes sense that what began between them was some sort of fight or argument. This means the correct answer is “feud.” A “feud” is a long period of disagreement or dislike between two or more people. An “agreement” is a contract or shared plan. “Companionship” is the state of being around someone or friendship.

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