ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Verbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Verbs

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

They found termites in the basement so they called in a professional to __________ them. 

Possible Answers:

compress

astound

taunt

exterminate

transport

Correct answer:

exterminate

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these words means something like to kill or get rid of something completely. The correct answer is therefore "exterminate." Synonyms of "exterminate" include kill, get rid of. Additionally, "taunt" means mock and tease; "astound" means amaze, stun and shock; "transport" means move something from one place to another; "compress" means shrink to a smaller size.

Example Question #142 : Verbs

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

The fire fighters arrived just in time to __________ the flames. 

Possible Answers:

denounce

mute

cherish

douse

intensify

Correct answer:

douse

Explanation:

It is a fire fighters job to put out fires, often by pouring water on them. To solve this problem you need to determine which of these words means pour water on. The correct answer is "douse." "Douse" means drench, pour liquid on, make soaking wet. Additionally, "intensity" means make stronger, make more intense; "cherish" means love and adore, take pride in; "denounce" means disclaim, to publicly declare is wrong or evil; "mute" means make silent.

Example Question #143 : Verbs

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

The two young children are being told to share, so they will have to __________ use of the toy helicopter. 

Possible Answers:

swarm

gather

compose

deprive

alternate

Correct answer:

alternate

Explanation:

If the two young children are being told to share than they will have to each take a turn using the helicopter. To solve this problem you are looking for a verb that describes taking turns using something, so the correct answer is "alternate." To "alternate" means to take turns, to switch off. Additionally, "deprive" means take away, not allow to have; "gather" means collect; "compose" means to put together a whole from a series of parts; "swarm" means to move in large numbers.

Example Question #144 : Verbs

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

The primary responsibility of a police officer is to protect the public and __________ the laws.

Possible Answers:

amend

enforce

salvage

manipulate

create

Correct answer:

enforce

Explanation:

A police officer is tasked with making sure that the population respects and follows the law. The correct answer is therefore "enforce" which means to ensure obedience to, to make people follow, respect, and listen to a rule. Additionally, "amend" means edit something by adding to it; "create" means make, come up with; "salvage" means save from ruin; "manipulate" means change or influence to suit one's own desires.

Example Question #145 : Verbs

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

The army is attempting to __________ the city, but is meeting prolonged resistance from the inhabitants.

Possible Answers:

besiege

resist

rummage

enhance

manufacture

Correct answer:

besiege

Explanation:

To start with "prolonged" means long lasting and "inhabitants" means people who live somewhere. To solve this problem you are looking for a verb that means to attack or surround a city with an army, the correct answer is therefore "besiege." Additionally, "enhance" means add to, make better; "rummage" means look through, search through; "manufacture" means make, produce; "resist" means fight back against.

Example Question #146 : Verbs

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

The winds picked up after I left the shore and I had to __________ the side of the boat to prevent myself from being swept overboard. 

Possible Answers:

divert

trick

clench

inspire

sprint

Correct answer:

clench

Explanation:

The speaker of this sentence is talking about a time they were out at sea in bad weather. In such conditions it makes sense that a person would have to hold on tight, grasp, grip something to prevent from being swept away by the waves. So, the correct answer is "clench" which means to hold tightly. Additionally, "divert" means to cause something or someone to change direction; "sprint" means run fast; "inspire" means motivate, cause someone to want to do something; "trick" means lie to, mislead, fool, cheat

Example Question #147 : Verbs

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

His ideas were well reasoned and he was able to __________ me to go with him. 

Possible Answers:

confess

persuade 

zoom

disarm 

fret 

Correct answer:

persuade 

Explanation:

The speaker notes that the subject made a very reasonable and convincing argument that caused the speaker to go with him. The correct answer must therefore mean convince, so the correct answer is "persuade." Persuade" means to convince, to make someone agree with you using a good argument. Additionally, "confess" means admit to a wrongdoing; "disarm" means make safe, take weapons away from; "zoom" means to magnify or minimize, to move a lens closer or further away, "zoom" can also means to move very fast; "fret" means worry about

Example Question #148 : Verbs

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

The skydiver leapt from the plane and __________ towards the ground.

Possible Answers:

raised

razed

faded

plummeted

implored

Correct answer:

plummeted

Explanation:

In this sentence the subject is a skydiver who has just jumped out of a plane it therefore makes sense that he/she would be falling rapidly to the ground. So, the correct answer is "plummeted." Additionally, "raised" means lifted, elevated; "razed" means destroyed, demolished, torn down; "faded" means has become weaker, dwindled, died down; "implored" means begged, urged, pleaded with someone to do something.

Example Question #149 : Verbs

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

The mother and father birds worked tirelessly to ensure their eggs would __________ safely.

Possible Answers:

hatch

liken

pry

radiate

march

Correct answer:

hatch

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a verb that means to emerge from an egg, to come out of an egg. The correct answer is therefore "hatch." Additionally, "liken" means compare to; "pry" means inquire closely into another person's life, to be nosy and spy; "radiate" means give off, emit, send out; "march" means walk in an organized manner

Example Question #150 : Verbs

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

She lay on the ground clutching her stomach and __________ in pain.

Possible Answers:

quarreling 

writhing 

quashing 

abdicating 

jeering 

Correct answer:

writhing 

Explanation:

In this sentence the subject is "clutching" (holding tightly) her stomach and doing something in pain. Logically it makes sense that the verb you are looking for means something like squirming, thrashing, twisting and turning. So, the correct answer is "writhing." To be "writhing in pain" means to be in so much pain that you are twisting and turning your body to try and relieve some of the pain. Additionally, to "abdicate" means to give up a position of authority; to "jeer" means to mock, to boo; to "quarrel" means to argue, to fight; to "quash" means to eliminate, to cancel, to overrule.

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