All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #81 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The girl __________ her doll and takes it everywhere with her.
despises
cherishes
rectifies
forgets
relies
cherishes
Because the girl takes her doll everywhere with her you can reasonably conclude that the girl likes her doll very much, she loves it. The correct answer is therefore "cherishes." To "cherish" something means to love it very much. To provide further help, "rectify" means fix; "despise" means hate; "rely" means depend, need.
Example Question #82 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After a long day of driving across the state she felt very __________.
obstructed
abandoned
delayed
fatigued
hindered
fatigued
After a long drive it makes sense that the subject of the sentence would feel tired, so the correct answer is "fatigued." "Fatigued" means physically tired after a lot of work, exhausted. To provide further help, "abandoned" means left behind; "obstructed" and "hindered" both mean blocked, to have got in the way; "delayed" means made late.
Example Question #83 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ tree was all alone in the middle of the field.
unseemly
biased
docile
solitary
fragile
solitary
The only information we are given about the tree is that it is by itself. It therefore makes sense to describe the tree as "solitary" because this means alone. The prefix solo- means alone, one. To provide further help, "unseemly" means not polite, inappropriate; "docile" means calm; "fragile" means easily broken; "biased" means not fair.
Example Question #84 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I missed breakfast and lunch today and I am absolutely __________.
elated
cordial
abroad
energetic
famished
famished
If the speaker missed his first two meals of the day it makes sense that they would be very hungry. So, the correct answer is "famished" which means very hungry, starving, ravenous. Additionally, "elated" means very happy; "cordial" means friendly and polite; "abroad" means in a foreign country; "energetic" means lively, full of energy.
Example Question #81 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
__________ things had been happening recently in the little town and the residents were at a loss to explain what was going on.
Common
Dastardly
Peculiar
Feeble
Appealing
Peculiar
The people living in the town are unable to explain all the stuff that is happening. The things that are happening must be unusual and hard to explain. Only one of these answer choices matches with this situation and that is "peculiar." "Peculiar" means strange, weird, unusual. Additionally, "feeble" means weak; "common" means normal, happening frequently; "dastardly" means wicked, villainous; "appealing" means attractive, interesting and tempting.
Example Question #82 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ criminal was imprisoned for twenty years for a series of dreadful crimes.
selfless
earnest
oafish
nefarious
talkative
nefarious
The criminal was imprisoned for a very long time and you are told that he committed many "dreadful" (terrible, awful) crimes. So, the correct answer must reflect this intensity of wickedness. The correct answer is therefore "nefarious" which means evil, wicked, bad-natured. Additionally, "selfless" means not selfish, generous; "talkative" describes someone who talks a lot; "oafish" means foolish, clumsy and stupid; "earnest" means truthful, honest.
Example Question #83 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He realized that drinking too much was affecting his health so he decided to __________ alcohol completely.
excavate
gorge
rue
forsake
interject
forsake
The subject of this sentence has made himself sick through drinking too much so it makes sense that he would want to abandon, give up completely alcohol. The correct answer then is "forsake" which means abandon, leave, give up. Additionally, "excavate" means dig up; "gorge" means to over eat, to consume in large quantities; "interject" means interrupt, say something quickly to disrupt a conversation; "rue" means regret.
Example Question #84 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The government's __________ handling of the crisis made things much worse.
competent
shrewd
brisk
inept
adept
inept
If the government's handling of the situation made things much worse than it could probably best be described as incompetent, lacking skill. So, the correct answer is "inept," which means having little skill, demonstrating a lack of ability. Additionally, "adept" means skilled and is an antonym of "inept." Finally, "brisk" means quick, fast-paced; "competent" means capable of doing, good enough at something; "shrewd" means wise, crafty and smart.
Example Question #85 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She was __________ by the difficult puzzle in the newspaper.
baffled
beloved
dismissed
urged
severed
baffled
The puzzle is described as "difficult," so it makes sense that the subject would be confused by it. So, the correct answer is "baffled," which means confused. Something that is "baffling" is confusing and difficult to finish because it is so hard. Additionally, "severed" means cut; "urged" means encouraged; "dismissed" means sent away; "beloved" means cherished, widely loved and admired.
Example Question #86 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even though she was eighteen, her parents would not let her drive because they did not think she was __________ enough.
deluded
hopeless
nocturnal
mature
passionate
mature
The girl is legally old enough to drive, but her parents still will not let her. To solve this problem then you have to determine which of these answer choices is an adjective that describes a quality that would encourage someone's parents to let them do things. The correct answer is "mature," which means fully developed mentally and physically, grown-up, capable of taking care of oneself. Additionally, "nocturnal" means sleeping during the day, being awake at night; "passionate" means showing strong feelings; "deluded" means holding a mistaken belief, confused about the truth; "hopeless" means without hope.
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