ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #807 : Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The new statue was quite __________, drawing the attention of almost everyone who walked through the park.

Possible Answers:

massive

expensive

determined

intriguing

profound

Correct answer:

intriguing

Explanation:

All that we know about the statue is that it is drawing people's attention. It might have been very "expensive," or it might have been very large ("massive"); however, we just don't know those details. All that we know is that the statue seems to be very interesting. When something is "intriguing," it draws attention and interest. Among the options provided, the word "intriguing" is the only one that expresses this general idea of being interesting.

Example Question #811 : Sentence Completions

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

Whenever someone has a(n) __________ personality, he or she is very unlikely to take any risks.

Possible Answers:

timid

excited

scholarly

religious

foolish

Correct answer:

timid

Explanation:

A person who does not take risks may well not have much confidence in him- or herself. Such a person is called "timid." Often, timid people are afraid. In a way, this sentence is speaking of a fear of taking risks. Among the options provided, none of the others expresses exactly the kind of character someone might have when he or she is afraid of taking risks. Therefore, "timid" is the best option provided. Yes, "scholarly" people and even "religious" people can be afraid of risks; however, this is not always the case (nor even necessarily the case most of the time). A "timid" person, however, is almost certainly afraid of taking risks.

Example Question #812 : Sentence Completions

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

Whenever George suggested that he could buy the city baseball team for five cents, his brothers were sure that he had gone insane before coming up with such a(n) __________ idea.

Possible Answers:

interesting

 profitable

disastrous

forsaken

deranged

Correct answer:

deranged

Explanation:

George's idea apparently made his brothers think that he was quite crazy. It must have been a crazy idea in itself—which is likely the case. When could someone ever buy a baseball team for five cents? Therefore, the idea could also be called "deranged." When we call something or someone "deranged," we are saying that he or she is insane or crazy.

Example Question #811 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ flower was made out of plastic and did not appear real at all.

Possible Answers:

miniature

plain

ugly

cheap

artificial

Correct answer:

artificial

Explanation:

All that we know about the flower is that it is plastic and fake-looking. We can't say anything about how expensive it looks ("cheap") or about its size ("miniature"). Therefore, the best option is "artificial." Something that is artificial is made upnot real,or not authentic. A plastic flower that is fake-looking can at least be called "artificial," if nothing else!

Example Question #812 : Sentence Completions

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

It is rare to find someone with a truly ___________ character, who always wants to do what is right and to be a truly good human person.

Possible Answers:

agreeable

virtuous

acceptable

regular

joyous

Correct answer:

virtuous

Explanation:

This sentence is describing someone who has very high moral standards for himself or herself. This means that he or she is not merely an agreeable personality. No! He or she has a virtuous character, one that is ready to do good at any time. This moral aspect is needed for the sentence to be completed correctly.

Example Question #813 : Sentence Completions

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

Peter was quite ___________ of his tendency to shout at others when angry, so he would regularly apologize for his bad temper.

Possible Answers:

mindful

aware

reflective

hateful

ashamed

Correct answer:

ashamed

Explanation:

Since Peter apologizes for his tendency to yell at others, we can rightly guess that he is not very proud of this character trait. It doesn't make sense to say that he is "hateful of it." We can say that he is embarrassed by it—or, is ashamed of it. 

Example Question #816 : Sentence Completions

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

Laura did not like her son's _____________ attitude, so she always told him that he should try to look for the best thing in every situation.

Possible Answers:

angry

outrageous

negative

impulsive

depressive

Correct answer:

negative

Explanation:

It seems that Laura is trying to encourage her son to be more positive. We don't know if he is being angry or impulsive (or really anything else). All that is indicated is that Laura wants him to look for the best in every situation. Therefore, his attitude must be rather negative. A negative person looks for the worst thing in every situation. It actually comes from roots that mean "no"—as though the negative person always says "no."

Example Question #817 : Sentence Completions

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

The _____________ thing needed for the meal was the turkey.  It really didn't matter what else was made for side dishes.

Possible Answers:

favorite

common

acceptable

essential

traditional

Correct answer:

essential

Explanation:

You might think that this sentence is saying that the turkey was the common or traditional thing for the meal. It doesn't really indicate that at all. Perhaps the person eating the meal can only eat turkey meat. In that case, it is not really because of tradition that it is needed. Instead, the point of this sentence is that although other things don't really matter, the turkey is "essential."  Another way of saying this is that it is something that you just can't go without.

Example Question #814 : Sentence Completions

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

After many losses on the battlefield, the army was finally _____________, winning an important battle in the swamp.

Possible Answers:

victorious

surprised

overjoyed

intrigued

dejected

Correct answer:

victorious

Explanation:

The most important clue in the sentence is the final clause. This means that there is a contrast being discussed here. The army went from losing to winning. Therefore, we can say that it was finally "victorious," at least in one very important battle.

Example Question #815 : Sentence Completions

Fill in the blank.

The __________ scheme of pestering their parents with endless questions, hiding in the house, and pretending to still do homework at night was a purposeful delay tactic the two children used so they wouldn't have to go to bed so early.

Possible Answers:

thoughtless 

elaborate

cautious 

thoughtless

straightforward

Correct answer:

elaborate

Explanation:

The scheme used to trick their parents every night was well thought out and detailed or elaborate. They needed to think up several ways to delay the process of going to bed early.

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