ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #14 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

They did not want to perish on their long journey, so they double-checked to make sure they had __________ supplies.

Possible Answers:

ample

imperfect

zany

anonymous

taut

Correct answer:

ample

Explanation:

To begin with "perish" means die. So, if the subjects did not want to die on their journey then it makes logical sense that they would want to have enough, sufficient supplies. The correct answer is therefore "ample," which means enough. Additionally, "anonymous" means unknown, not-named; "imperfect" means not perfect, flawed; "zany" means wacky, silly and crazy; "taut" means tight, as in a "taut" rope.

Example Question #15 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The great volcano had been __________ for thousands of years, until one day it suddenly erupted consuming everything within a hundred-mile radius.

Possible Answers:

profitable

intelligent

addicted

dormant

antagonized

Correct answer:

dormant

Explanation:

If the volcano one day erupted, but previously had not been erupting, then it must have been inactive for a period of time. The correct answer is therefore "dormant." Other synonyms of "dormant" include sleeping, resting, inactive. Additionally, "antagonized" means annoyed and provoked into a conflict; "profitable" means capable of making money, in the process of making money; "intelligent" means smart, clever; "addicted" means unable to stop doing something.

Example Question #16 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

He __________ his favorite football team to win, so he made a friendly wager with his friend.

Possible Answers:

expected

assisted

respected

suspected

inspected

Correct answer:

expected

Explanation:

You can immediately eliminate "suspected" because the sentence would be structured "He suspected his favorite football team would win . . . " The only other answer choice that makes sense is "expected" which means think will happen. Additionally, "suspected" means have an idea that something is true; "inspected" means analyzed, looked at, examined; "respected" means admired, widely believed to be impressive; "assisted" means helped.

Example Question #24 : Sentence Completions

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

The stairs were inaccessible, so the people trapped in the building had to __________ down a ladder attached to the side.

Possible Answers:

ascend

exclaim

slither

descend

endanger

Correct answer:

descend

Explanation:

To start with "inaccessible" means unable to be accessed, unable to be used. The fact that the people had to go down the ladder provides sufficient information to solve this problem. To "descend" means to go down something. Whereas, "ascend" means to go up something. Additionally, "exclaim" means cry out, shout, say loudly; "endanger" means put in danger; "slither" means slide over a surface.

Example Question #21 : Word Based 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:

weighty

jarred

infirm

foolhardy

jaunty

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 #22 : Word Based 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

impartial

adhesive

wealthy

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 #23 : Word Based 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:

immortal 

profitable

precise 

momentous 

independent 

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 #24 : Word Based 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:

mellow

toxic

frantic

uncouth

derelict

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 #25 : Word Based 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:

outlier

melody

aroma

omen

discord

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 #26 : Word Based 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:

feigned

eloquent

incompetent

spiritual

rabid

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

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors