ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #281 : Sentence Completions

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

Some people thought that Wulfgang was a ____________, ruling over the people with a cruel and merciless will.

Possible Answers:

monarch

tyrant

noble

criminal

prince

Correct answer:

tyrant

Explanation:

Apparently Wulfgang was a rather horrible leader of the people. Now, the best option will be a word that describes such a leader. This is more than being a criminal, which is really too general of a term. (Also, we rarely use the word criminal to describe a kind of leader. It usually applies to individual citizens.) A tyrant is someone who rules cruelly, often for his or her own advantage. This is the only option that expresses both ruling and doing so in a bad and cruel manner.

Example Question #282 : Sentence Completions

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

Some people will not accept any testimony from others to prove a fact. Instead, such people want ___________ that immediately shows him or her that the fact is true.

Possible Answers:

experience

pictures

witnesses

inquiries

reflections

Correct answer:

experience

Explanation:

The point of this sentence is that some people want to directly experience things for themselves instead of just finding out about them from others. You might, however, be tricked to think that "pictures" is a fine answer. It is said that some people don't want to receive testimony from others. This could imply that they just don't want to "hear" about it, though pictures would be fine. The general point. however, is that such people do not want any kind of indirect evidence. They want direct experience and nothing else.

Example Question #283 : Sentence Completions

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank.

I cannot hear anything in this __________!

Possible Answers:

speech

din

glee

animosity

lukewarm

Correct answer:

din

Explanation:

The speaker is saying that he cannot hear anything so it makes sense that the correct answer must mean something like a loud and long-lasting noise. The correct answer is therefore "din." Additionally, "animosity" is dislike; "lukewarm" means neither hot nor cold, mild; "glee" means happiness.

Example Question #284 : Sentence Completions

Which of the following words best completes the sentence below?

Since I did not __________ to the directions on the package, the recipe did not turn out as expected.

Possible Answers:

recount

conserve

collide

adhere

appeal

Correct answer:

adhere

Explanation:

"Adhere" is defined as to stick to, or follow the practices of. In the context of this sentence, not sticking to or following the practices of a recipe could result in the recipe not turning out as expected.

Example Question #2 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Stranded in the desert with insufficient water, her plight was unfortunate; she _____ the thought of being in the safety of her home.

Possible Answers:

summoned

relished

discarded

endured

loathed

Correct answer:

relished

Explanation:

Due to her dire situation, she is probably wishing she was home safe and sound; thus, she relished the thought.

Example Question #285 : Sentence Completions

When Jake decorated his party hat, he cut out circles and zigzags cut from construction paper and used glue to make the paper shapes __________ to the hat and not fall off.

Possible Answers:

loosen

welcome

avoid

adhere

magnetic

Correct answer:

adhere

Explanation:

We know that Jake used glue to make the paper shapes not fall off of the hat, so we can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "stick." While "magnetic" shapes could stick to certain objects, construction paper is not magnetic, so "magnetic" cannot be the correct answer. "Adhere," however, is a verb that can mean "stick fast to a surface or substance." Because "adhere" is the answer choice which best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #281 : Sentence Completions

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

If an athlete---in training, they can improve their athletic ability.

Possible Answers:

retreats

persists

concludes

pauses

despairs

Correct answer:

persists

Explanation:

If an athlete is diligent or hard working in their training, they can improve their ability. Thus, the best answer choice is persists which indicates that athletes are determined in their training.

Example Question #3 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The---of shopping was too great and caused Elisa and Heather to spend the money they made at work on clothing.

Possible Answers:

displeasure

charm

distraction

appeal

guilt

Correct answer:

appeal

Explanation:

The best answer choice indicates that shopping was favorable to both girls; thus, appeal is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Over the years, Jen---medals from winning gymnastics competitions.

Possible Answers:

pursued

accumulated

increased

decreased

stashed

Correct answer:

accumulated

Explanation:

Since Jen won many medals over the years, it means that she has accumulated medals from her wins.

Example Question #287 : Sentence Completions

After __________ the results of their experiment by reviewing the data they gathered and interpreting the patterns it formed, the scientists determined that they had indeed discovered a new element.

Possible Answers:

losing

seeing

bringing

misunderstanding

analyzing

Correct answer:

analyzing

Explanation:

We can infer from the context of the sentence that we need to pick out a word that means something like "interpreting" or "reviewing," because we know that is what the scientists did to their data, and the missing word also described what they did to their data. "Seeing" may seem like a potentially correct answer because the scientists probably needed to see their data to interpret or review it, but "seeing" does not mean the same thing as "interpreting" or "reviewing," so "seeing" cannot be the correct answer. "Analyzing," however, means "examining methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of something, especially information, typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation." Because "analyzing" is the answer choice that makes the most sense in the sentence's context, "analyzing" is the correct answer.

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