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

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

She hurt herself when she jumped into the pool because it was much too __________.

Possible Answers:

supreme

shallow

broad

convenient

opaque

Correct answer:

shallow

Explanation:

You would hurt yourself if you jumped into a pool and there was not much water there. When water is not deep, it's called “shallow.” “Supreme” means the best.

Example Question #12 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The hot air balloon __________, and its passengers were lifted into the sky.

Possible Answers:

reported

wavered

reconsidered

ascended

dismissed

Correct answer:

ascended

Explanation:

Because the hot air balloon went up into the sky, we can pick out “ascended” as the correct answer. The word “dismissed” means ignored an idea or sent away; “reported” means spoke, wrote, or told about.

Example Question #62 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

Gina appeared very __________, wearing a long black dress and a serious expression.

Possible Answers:

neutral

angry

smart

approachable

somber

Correct answer:

somber

Explanation:

Gina is described as wearing "a long black dress," which is very formal, as well as "a serious expression." These circumstances indicate a distinct lack of playfulness. "Somber" means serious and lacking in humor. It fits the context of the sentence well, and is therefore the correct answer.

Example Question #14 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The princess lives a life of __________; she spends her mornings doing as she pleases and her afternoons being pampered. 

Possible Answers:

leisure

destitution

hope

challenges

fantasy

Correct answer:

leisure

Explanation:

Here, the sentence describes a princess who is pampered and is able to do as she pleases. "Leisure" refers to the ability to do whatever one wants with one's time, so a "life of leisure" would be one where one has no commitments such as a job. So, "leisure" is the answer choice that best fits the sentence's context.

Example Question #15 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

Math wasn't Matt's best subject, so when his science class began to focus on mathematical __________ like graphs and averages, he had to work hard to understand them.

Possible Answers:

plans

concepts

objects

procedures

ambitions

Correct answer:

concepts

Explanation:

Classes usually focus on ideas or "concepts." This differs from "ambitions" (goals or things people want to achieve); "procedures," (systematic ways of doing things); "objects" (aims of plans or things); and "plans" (definite, often multi-step ideas about how to deal with or accomplish something).

Example Question #63 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

I am __________ to spend many of my days sitting in the sun and reading; for me there is nothing more pleasurable in the world.

Possible Answers:

willful

miserable

combative

considerate

content

Correct answer:

content

Explanation:

“Content” is the correct answer because it means satisfied with the way things are.

Example Question #17 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The mayor has been __________ for ignoring the lack of educational opportunities available in the town.

Possible Answers:

praised

questioned

helped

bothered

criticized

Correct answer:

criticized

Explanation:

Given that ignoring a lack of educational opportunities is a negative quality, the blank should be filled with a negative word. The two negative words are "criticized" and "bothered." ("Questioned" may seem like a potentially correct answer too, but people would question the mayor "about" something, not "for" something.) It is more likely that the mayor would be criticized (critiqued) for his practices, as opposed to bothered (annoyed). Therefore, "criticized" is the best answer.

Example Question #18 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The squirrel __________ up the tree when it heard the dog bark, and moved from the ground to a branch in a few seconds.

Possible Answers:

meandered

scurried

walked

ambled

listened

Correct answer:

scurried

Explanation:

Because we know that the squirrel "moved from the ground to a branch in a few seconds," we can infer that we need to pick out a word for the blank that describes movement, and more specifically, speedy movement. While "ambled," "walked," "meandered," and "scurried" all describe movement, only "scurried," which means "moved hurriedly with short quick steps" and is used of a person or a small animal, refers to quick movement. So, "scurried" is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.

Example Question #19 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

His mother warned him not to be so careless and __________, but he never listened.

Possible Answers:

industrious 

reckless 

studious 

affable 

considerate 

Correct answer:

reckless 

Explanation:

From context it is clear that the answer choice must mean something similar to "careless." Whatever the correct answer is it is some behavior that the mother wants to stop her son from doing. This should lead you to the correct answer "reckless." If you are "reckless" you are not careful. To provide further help, "studious" means studying hard; "industrious" means hard working; "considerate" means kind and thoughtful; "affable" means friendly

Example Question #20 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

Through a series of __________ investments he was able to make a great deal of money in a short space of time. 

Possible Answers:

loyal

vocal 

boring 

mobile 

shrewd 

Correct answer:

shrewd 

Explanation:

You are told that the subject of the sentence was able to make a lot of money in a short space of time. This suggests that he made good and wise investments. The correct answer is therefore "shrewd" because "shrewd" means wise, crafty, smart. To provide further help, "mobile" means moving, can be moved; "vocal" means loud, outspoken

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