ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #331 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

You need to __________ more effort if you are ever going to finish your essay.

Possible Answers:

imply

depict

suspend

harangue

exert

Correct answer:

exert

Explanation:

To exert means to make an effort or to try very hard. To further help you, imply means suggest; depict means show or represent; harangue means lecture or tell-off; suspend means pause.

Example Question #332 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 



I need a map to __________ these unknown roads.

Possible Answers:

protect

decline

navigate

imagine

exalt

Correct answer:

navigate

Explanation:

You use a map when you need to find the right route. Another term meaning to find the right route is to navigate. To further help you, protect means look after or defend; exalt means celebrate or praise; decline means refuse.

Example Question #333 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

I __________ dogs to cats; dogs are just friendlier and more likable. 

Possible Answers:

prepare

surprise

proceed

enjoy

prefer

Correct answer:

prefer

Explanation:

The context of the sentence tells us that the author likes dogs more than cats. When we are comparing two things and want to say we like one more than the other, we use the word “prefer.” If I "prefer" dogs to cats, I like dogs more than cats. To further help you, "prepare" means to make ready; "proceed" means to continue or to go on

Example Question #334 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

I wanted to __________ the size of my house, so I added an extra room above the garage.

Possible Answers:

increase

accelerate

assuage

decrease

decelerate

Correct answer:

increase

Explanation:

The author of this sentence added a room to his house making it bigger in size. When something grows in size or volume we say it has “increased.” To further help you, "decrease" means to make smaller; "accelerate" means to go faster; "decelerate" means to go slower; "assuage" means to calm down.

Example Question #331 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

Having not seen her for years, it was something of a miracle that I managed to ­­__________ my childhood friend on the street.

Possible Answers:

inspire

practice

recognize

host

mistrust

Correct answer:

recognize

Explanation:

The context of the sentence suggests that even though the author has not seen his friend for years, he was still able to tell who she was when he ran into her. When we see something or someone we used to know but haven't seen for a while, we say that we “recognize” that thing or person. To further help you, "mistrust" means you don’t trust someone; "host" means to have a guest; "inspire" means to motivate or to make someone want to do something

Example Question #332 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

“You need to __________ on your studies if you want to be accepted to a good school,” declared the girl’s grandmother.

Possible Answers:

distract

entertain

focus

urge

abandon

Correct answer:

focus

Explanation:

The context of the sentence suggests that the blank word must mean pay attention to, therefore the correct answer is “focus.” To further help you, "abandon" means throw away or leave behind; "entertain" means amuse; "distract" means to take someone’s focus away from what they are doing; "urge" means strongly advise. 

Example Question #333 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

Although artists may be successful during their lifetimes, the monetary worth of their paintings often __________ after their deaths, because their works are then deemed unique.

Possible Answers:

fluctuates

stagnates

decreases

increases

Correct answer:

increases

Explanation:

The word "although" at the beginning of the sentence indicates that a change in tone will occur after the comma. The sentence tells us that artists may be successful while alive, but the value of their paintings may change in some way after their deaths. Since being "unique" is a positive factor, we can assume that the monetary worth of paintings "increases" when they are deemed unique.

Example Question #334 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

John is an active environmentalist with a keen interest in __________ the Earth's rainforests.

Possible Answers:

preserving

curing

delineating

destroying

Correct answer:

preserving

Explanation:

Since John is an environmentalist, he would be most likely intersted in saving the Earth's rainforests. "Preserving," which means keeping in its original state, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #335 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

Since the students all did so well on the test, their teacher __________ them with a pizza party.

Possible Answers:

banned

rewarded

corrected

chastised

Correct answer:

rewarded

Explanation:

Because the students did well on the test, we expect the teacher gave them something positive for their efforts. The best answer choice is "rewarded," which is the only positive answer choice.

Example Question #336 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

Mitochondria are sometimes referred to as "cellular power plants" because they __________ most of cells' energy.

Possible Answers:

train

generate

destroy

change

Correct answer:

generate

Explanation:

We need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "create" or "produce" because the sentence tells us that the mitochondria serve as power suppliers for cells. So, "generate," a verb that means produce, is the correct answer choice because it best fits the sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "destroy" means annihilate or demolish; "change" means become different; and "train" means instruct someone in a particular skill.

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