ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Style, Intensity, and Connotation in Phrase-Based Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ when I saw his true generous nature. 

Possible Answers:

I fled 

I trembled with fear 

The animals suffered 

The people cheered 

My love for him deepened 

Correct answer:

My love for him deepened 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine what the speaker was most likely to do when she saw the man's true generous nature. "Generous" means kind, giving so it is a positive adjective. The correct answer then is "My love for him deepened . . . " To provide help, "deepened" means became deeper, became more intense. Additionally, "fled" means ran away from; "trembled" means shook (with fear); "suffered" means experienced pain. Finally, you might have thought that the people cheering would be a reasonable reaction, but the pronoun used in this answer choice does not match the pronoun used in the sentence completion problem. 

Example Question #22 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

She was already annoyed, but __________ when she realized I was lying. 

Possible Answers:

she forgave me

her mother called 

she became furious 

it did not matter to her 

she seemed cheerful 

Correct answer:

she became furious 

Explanation:

In this problem you are told that the subject was "already annoyed" and that something happened when she found out the speaker was lying. Based on the context it is probable that her feelings became more intense. So, to solve this problem you need to figure out which of these answer choices contains something that is like a more intense form of being annoyed. The correct answer is " . . . she became furious . . . " "Furious" means very angry, irate. Additionally, "cheerful" means happy, in a good mood

Example Question #23 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

She moves __________; sluggish and plodding. 

Possible Answers:

with speed and agility 

like a turtle 

without pain or suffering 

as if connected to the whole universe 

like a jungle cat 

Correct answer:

like a turtle 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to know what "sluggish" and "plodding" mean. "Sluggish" means slow and "plodding" means slow-moving or boring. So, which of these answer choices fits with something slow-moving? The correct answer is " . . . like a turtle . . . " Additionally, "agility" is balance; "suffering" is prolonged pain, lasting mental or physical pain

Example Question #24 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ he became lonely. 

Possible Answers:

When he fell in love 

After his best friend moved 

Despite being alone 

Although he was alone 

Having never been to a forest 

Correct answer:

After his best friend moved 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is an action that might lead to someone becoming lonely. "Lonely" means feeling sad that one is alone. So, the correct answer is "After his best friend moved . . . " The other answer choices all contain conjunctions that do not make sense within the context of the sentence. 

Example Question #25 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ she made a great ballerina. 

Possible Answers:

Because she was so flexible 

Despite being very flexible 

Because she was gigantic 

Although she loved to perform 

Hostile towards dancing 

Correct answer:

Because she was so flexible 

Explanation:

Obviously to solve this problem you need to know that a "ballerina" is a type of dancer, often female, who has great balance, body control, and flexibility. So which of these answer choices describes a reason why someone might become a ballerina? The correct answer is "Because she was so flexible . . . " "Flexible" means bendy, able to bend one's body. The other answer choices either use illogical conjunctions or are nonsensical. Additionally, "hostile" means aggressive, angry towards; "gigantic" means very large

Example Question #26 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ when she dropped out of college. 

Possible Answers:

She achieved academic success 

Her parents were very disappointed 

She felt she had succeeded 

She moved into her university dormitory 

She graduated top of her class 

Correct answer:

Her parents were very disappointed 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to figure out which of these answer choices most likely describes what would happen when someone drops out of college. The correct answer is therefore "Her parents were very disappointed . . . " as this is the only negative answer available. Additionally, "graduated" means moved on fromsuccessfully completed academic work; "academic" means related to school or college

Example Question #27 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

For him it was like __________; as close to God as he was ever going to get. 

Possible Answers:

a religious experience 

a perfect failure 

an extreme anxiety 

an unorthodox experience 

a flawed moment 

Correct answer:

a religious experience 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine which of these answer choices describes an event that relates to feeling close to God. The correct answer is therefore " . . . a religious experience." An "experience" is something that happens to you. Additionally, "unorthodox" means not usual, unconventional; "anxiety" means worry, fear about the future; "extreme" means intense; "flawed" means not perfect, containing errors

Example Question #28 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

__________ and imprisoned the local rulers. 

Possible Answers:

The people were oppressed 

The army occupied the country 

The war was over 

After reading about tyranny 

They completed their mild adventure 

Correct answer:

The army occupied the country 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices would most likely be related to the imprisonment of local rulers. This sounds like a violent action associated with war so the correct answer is "The army occupied the country . . . " To "occupy" means to take up space, to take over. The other answer choices are all either unrelated to the imprisonment of rulers or else contain illogical conjunctions and conjugation. For example a "mild adventure" would be unlikely to end in the imprisonment of a ruling class. Additionally, "tyranny" means cruel and absolute power; "oppressed" means under harsh and brutal treatment

Example Question #29 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

Her foot was hurting and then she aggravated it __________

Possible Answers:

when she fell 

, but never felt worse 

and made it feel better 

by taking it easy 

when she spent money on medicine 

Correct answer:

when she fell 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that to "aggravate" means to make worse. So, which of these answer choices best describes an action that might make someone's leg hurt even more? The correct answer is " . . . when she fell." All the other answer choices either describe the relief of pain or else are completely nonsensical. 

Example Question #30 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

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

His gloomy demeanor __________

Possible Answers:

made her think of darkness 

was intensified by his favorite meal 

allowed him to succeed in politics 

illuminated the world around him 

brightened his father's day 

Correct answer:

made her think of darkness 

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that "gloomy" means dark, depressing and "demeanor" means attitude, mood, way of carrying oneself. So, someone with a "gloomy demeanor" has a "dark and depressing attitude." It logically makes sense then that this would remind the girl of darkness. Additionally, "illuminated" means lit up, shined a light on; "intensified" means became more intense

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