All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #71 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
Because he __________, Mr. Walters avoided dining at restaurants that only served one type of cuisine.
owned and managed his own restaurant
disliked being confused by an array of options
preferred a spectrum of choices
preferred to cook at home
liked tacos better than steak or hamburgers
preferred a spectrum of choices
The first word in this sentence, "because," immediately tells us that we are looking for a cause or reason: why does Mr. Walters avoid eating at the restaurants that are described? The second key is that these restaurants only serve one type of food, or "cuisine." In other words, Mr. Walters dislikes eating at establishments where his options are limited. The best answer, then, is that Mr. Walters "prefer(s) a spectrum of choices," which explains why he doesn't like restaurants that do not offer this range. If he "disliked being confused by an array," or too many, choices, Mr. Walters would like the restaurants that the second part of the sentence mentions. Finally, both owning his own restaurant and preferring one type of food over another are irrelevant pieces of information.
Example Question #71 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although his voice was weary __________.
the singer kept going
the musician had to stop playing
the rockstar was rushed to the hospital
the man decided to rest
the artist could no longer perform
the singer kept going
The key to solving this sentence completion is to recognize the word "although." "Although" means in spite of this fact, even though this is true. So, for example "although I am tired, I am not going to sleep." So in this instance "although" the singer's voice was weary (tired) he keeps singing.
Example Question #72 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After our parents passed away I have a(n) __________ to look after my two little sisters.
proposal
obligation
permission
ambition
procedure
obligation
The speaker of this sentence has lost his parents, so it makes sense that he would feel responsible for the care of his two younger sisters. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a noun that means an action that someone feels they have to do, a duty, a moral responsibility. The correct answer is therefore "obligation." Additionally, "permission" means consent, the condition of being allowed to do something; a "procedure" is a course of action, a way of doing something; a "proposal" is a plan, a suggestion, a formal or written scheme; "ambition" means a strong desire to achieve something.
Example Question #73 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The view is supposed to be spectacular, but __________.
I came with my family
I can see for miles
at least I brought my sunglasses
everyone has time to properly enjoy it
today there are too many clouds
today there are too many clouds
To begin with "spectacular" means dazzling, something worth seeing, a beautiful sight. In this sentence you are told that the view is "supposed" to be something "but" it is not. The use of these two words tell you that the correct answer must be something negative that impacts the spectacular view. The correct answer is therefore ". . . today there are too many clouds."
Example Question #74 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The cheese was expired, but __________.
she threw it away
the milk was expired too
she ate it anyway
she went to the store
I have lots of work to do
she ate it anyway
Based on the use of the conjunction "but" you are looking for an action that would be unexpected. So, if the cheese is "expired" (out of date, no longer suitable for eating) then it would be surprising for her to eat it anyway.
Example Question #75 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
Despite his incredible professional success __________.
he is very wealthy
he has one child
he lives by the ocean
he is not happy
he lives in a mansion
he is not happy
The use of the word "despite" should help you solve this problem. "Despite" means not affected by something. So, "I am cold despite this blanket." Therefore the correct answer is " . . . he is not happy." The subject has achieved professional success but it has not affected his happiness.
Example Question #894 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
He worked tirelessly, but __________.
did not achieve success
was always tired at the end of the say
came up with the solution to the problem
regarded his dog with great affection
drew pictures for his children
did not achieve success
The conjunction "but" means that whatever happened must be surprising or opposite in meaning to the first half of the sentence. The correct answer is therefore " . . . did not achieve success." The man worked "tirelessly" (hard, putting in a lot of energy) "but" is hard work did bring him success. All the other answer choices are either nonsensical or would better involve the conjunction "and."
Example Question #76 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
I went to the market and came home with a profit; __________.
if only I had been less foolish
it was a terrible day
my mother is very happy
I am clearly not good at negotiating
they love to take advantage of me
my mother is very happy
In most sentences the use of a semi-colon (;) means that the sentence could be finished, but the author wants to continue the same idea. In this sentence the speaker made a profit (earned money) at the market and went home. It makes logical sense that the speaker earning money would make his mother happy, so this is the correct answer. The other answer choices suggest that the speaker had had bad luck or had lost money.
Example Question #896 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The peace treaty __________ the conflict between the two nations .
left behind
exacerbated
acknowledged and mocked
brought to an end
added to the intensity of
brought to an end
To solve this problem you have to determine what a peace treaty would be most likely to do to a conflict. A "conflict" is a fight, a war, an argument. A "peace treaty" is an agreement that restores peace. Additionally, "exacerbated" means made worse; "acknowledged" means noticed, recognized, accepted; "mocked" means made fun of.
Example Question #77 : Phrase And Clause Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The old man suffered a series of misfortunes and __________.
soon found himself penniless
experienced many lucky moments
managed to turn his life around
never got upset about it
felt that he was incredibly lucky
soon found himself penniless
To begin with "misfortune" is bad luck. So, the man experienced a lot of bad luck and then something happened. Of these answer choices four of them would make more sense with the conjunction "but." So the answer choice, " . . . soon found himself penniless" makes sense with the conjunction "and" because it continues the same point as the first half of the sentence. "Penniless" means very poor, having no money.
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