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 #731 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

In spite of the persistent efforts of his family to get him excited about Halloween, Jake still felt __________ about the holiday.

Possible Answers:

thrilled

indifferent

hopeful

passionate

enthusiastic

Correct answer:

indifferent

Explanation:

The key words "in spite of" tell us that Jake's family was not able to get him excited about Halloween. Since he isn't excited, he must either feel negatively about the holiday or not care one way or the other. Of the answer choices, all of them are positive feelings except for "neutral," which is our answer. "Neutral" means impartial; it means that Jake has no specific feelings of emotion about this day.

Example Question #732 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

When she painted the walls of the house bright pink, the change was very __________, and all of her guests noticed.

Possible Answers:

palpable

confusing

attentive

insignificant

secret

Correct answer:

palpable

Explanation:

When a change is "palpable," it is obvious or plainly seen. Painting the walls of a house bright pink would cause a noticeable change, so "palpable" is an adequate word to describe the change.

Example Question #733 : Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

After getting off of the roller coaster, Julia felt __________ and thought she might be sick.

Possible Answers:

excited

queasy

tired

happy

afraid

Correct answer:

queasy

Explanation:

The correct answer is "queasy." While all of the words could fit in the sentence and make it grammatically correct, "queasy" means nauseous or feeling physically ill due to a very upset stomach, and is the correct answer because you can infer that Julia might feel sick after "getting off of [a] roller coaster," and she also "thought she might be sick."

Example Question #734 : Sentence Completions

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

There was no one left in the restaurant, it was completely __________.

Possible Answers:

accompanied 

significant 

deserted

gigantic 

crucial 

Correct answer:

deserted

Explanation:

You are told that there is no one left in the restaurant. A place that is empty or abandoned is "deserted." To provide further help, "significant" means important and "crucial" means very important; "gigantic" means very big; "accompanied" means to have gone with

Example Question #735 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ man had been eating too much and ruined his health. 

Possible Answers:

tart

portly

absurd

pitiless

merciful

Correct answer:

portly

Explanation:

You are told that the man ate too much and made himself unhealthy, so he could probably best be described as fat, chubby, plump. The correct answer is therefore "portly." Additionally, "tart" means sharp tasting, acidic; "absurd" means ridiculous; "merciful" means forgiving, showing mercy; "pitiless" means showing no pity, mean and cruel, merciless.

Example Question #736 : Sentence Completions

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

At the hospital the doctor's determined that the tumor was __________ and the lady was going to make a complete recovery.

Possible Answers:

benign

special

enclosed

blatant

frigid

Correct answer:

benign

Explanation:

If the lady is going to make a complete recovery then the tumor must be harmless, not dangerous. So, the correct answer is "benign." A person can also be described as "benign" in which case it means kindly, good-natured. Additionally, "frigid" means very cold; "special" means unique, not common, individual; "enclosed" means surrounded by something else, trapped inside; "blatant" means obvious, not well-hidden.

Example Question #737 : Sentence Completions

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

The invention of the __________ music player allowed people to listen to music wherever they went.

Possible Answers:

improper

defective

portable

toxic

robust

Correct answer:

portable

Explanation:

Something that you can take with you wherever you go is called "portable." Other synonyms of "portable" include movable, mobile, able to be moved. Additionally, "robust" means strong and healthy; "improper" means not proper, not right, not correct; "toxic" means poisonous; "defective" means broken, not working as it should.

Example Question #738 : Sentence Completions

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

"If you get the chance," she said, "you simply have to go to the Grand Canyon, the views are __________."

Possible Answers:

mundane

spectacular

sufficient

flawed

obsolete

Correct answer:

spectacular

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an answer choice that means something like exciting to witness, incredible. So, the correct answer is "spectacular." Synonyms of "spectacular" include beautiful, breathtaking, incredible to look at. Additionally, "mundane" means ordinary, normal and boring; "obsolete" means no longer in use, no longer needed because something more useful has been invented; "flawed" means imperfect, containing errors or imperfections; "sufficient" means good enough

Example Question #739 : Sentence Completions

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

Rocks and sand are two examples of __________ objects.

Possible Answers:

depraved

cordial

inanimate

unappealing

imaginary

Correct answer:

inanimate

Explanation:

Rocks and sand are both non-living things, so to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices means non-living. The correct answer is "inanimate." Additionally, "unappealing" means not attractive; "cordial" means friendly and polite; "imaginary" means not real, invented in the mind; "depraved" means wicked or sleazy.

Example Question #740 : Sentence Completions

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

Their __________ relationship had lasted with barely a disagreement for almost three decades.

Possible Answers:

inferior

skeptical

exquisite

stable

hybrid

Correct answer:

stable

Explanation:

The relationship being described is obviously a very reliable and enduring relationship if it has lasted so long with hardly any fights. The correct answer is therefore "stable." "Stable" means secure, long lasting and unlikely to change, reliable. Additionally, "inferior" means worse than, not as good as; "exquisite" means beautiful, lovely, delightful; "hybrid" means mixed from two things, combined; "skeptical" means doubtful, not believing something is true.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors