ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Context Clues in Word-Based Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

While Bob is very generous, his sister is, by contrast, extremely __________

Possible Answers:

independent

rude

friendly

selfish

gullible

Correct answer:

selfish

Explanation:

Here, the clue in this sentence is the key phrase "by contrast," which indicates that whatever follows the phrase is the opposite of what came before it. Given that Bob is "generous," and that his sister has a quality that contrasts with his generosity, the blank should be a word that is the opposite of "generous." "Selfish" means never sharing or caring about others, so it is the opposite of "generous" and therefore the correct answer.

Example Question #12 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

Andrea felt very __________, as she couldn't decide whether she wanted soup or a sandwich for lunch and kept going back and forth between her two options.

Possible Answers:

refined

mundane

indecisive

hungry

bored

Correct answer:

indecisive

Explanation:

Given that Andrea cannot make up her mind, the best word to fill this blank is "indecisive." A tempting wrong choice is "hungry." However, this is not correct, because the sentence doesn't indicate that Andrea has an appetite, only that she is unsure of what she wants to eat. "Mundane" means plain, and is not the correct answer either.

Example Question #13 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

I am so frustrated by my family; I just can’t stand spending time with my __________ around the holidays because everyone is so dishonest.

Possible Answers:

friends

classmates

kin

employees

parties

Correct answer:

kin

Explanation:

From the context you know that the correct answer must be something similar to the word “family,” this should lead you to the correct answer which is “kin.” “Kin” and “family” are synonyms of one another.

Example Question #14 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

Tom's __________ cost the company tens of millions of dollars and his boss warned him that if he made another mistake he would be fired.

Possible Answers:

mishap 

furlong 

rascal

malignant 

promotion

Correct answer:

mishap 

Explanation:

Something that Tom did cost his company lost of money. Additionally you are told that Tom is warned that if he makes another mistake he will be fired. You can therefore determine that the answer must mean something similar to "mistake." The correct answer is therefore "mishap" which means accident. To provide further help, a "rascal" is a troublemaker; "malignant" means dangerous or lethal; a "furlong" is a unit of measurement, one-eighth of a mile

Example Question #15 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

It is the night guard's __________ to protect the hospital and monitor the entrance. 

Possible Answers:

wait 

task 

disguise 

antidote 

scar

Correct answer:

task 

Explanation:

A night guard is someone whose job it is to watch over something and monitor it. So, the answer you are looking for must be similar in meaning to "job." The correct answer is therefore "task" because this means job, duty, responsibility. To provide further help, an "antidote" is a solution to a poison, medicine; a "disguise" is something you wear to hide yourself. 

Example Question #16 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The teacher deliberately gave her students __________ information so that they would be confused and have to think carefully about the work. 

Possible Answers:

misleading

considerable

depressing

illuminating

helpful

Correct answer:

misleading

Explanation:

The teacher wanted the students to be confused so it makes sense that the information given would be confusing. The correct answer is therefore "misleading." "Misleading" means confusing, intended to give someone the wrong idea. To provide further help, "considerable" means a large amount of; "illuminating" means shining a light on, revealing; "depressing" means sad, something that will make you feel sad

Example Question #17 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

They did not want to perish on their long journey, so they double-checked to make sure they had __________ supplies.

Possible Answers:

ample

imperfect

zany

taut

anonymous

Correct answer:

ample

Explanation:

To begin with "perish" means die. So, if the subjects did not want to die on their journey then it makes logical sense that they would want to have enough, sufficient supplies. The correct answer is therefore "ample," which means enough. Additionally, "anonymous" means unknown, not-named; "imperfect" means not perfect, flawed; "zany" means wacky, silly and crazy; "taut" means tight, as in a "taut" rope.

Example Question #18 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The great volcano had been __________ for thousands of years, until one day it suddenly erupted consuming everything within a hundred-mile radius.

Possible Answers:

intelligent

antagonized

addicted

profitable

dormant

Correct answer:

dormant

Explanation:

If the volcano one day erupted, but previously had not been erupting, then it must have been inactive for a period of time. The correct answer is therefore "dormant." Other synonyms of "dormant" include sleeping, resting, inactive. Additionally, "antagonized" means annoyed and provoked into a conflict; "profitable" means capable of making money, in the process of making money; "intelligent" means smart, clever; "addicted" means unable to stop doing something.

Example Question #19 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

He __________ his favorite football team to win, so he made a friendly wager with his friend.

Possible Answers:

inspected

expected

assisted

respected

suspected

Correct answer:

expected

Explanation:

You can immediately eliminate "suspected" because the sentence would be structured "He suspected his favorite football team would win . . . " The only other answer choice that makes sense is "expected" which means think will happen. Additionally, "suspected" means have an idea that something is true; "inspected" means analyzed, looked at, examined; "respected" means admired, widely believed to be impressive; "assisted" means helped.

Example Question #20 : Context Clues In Word Based Sentence Completions

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

The stairs were inaccessible, so the people trapped in the building had to __________ down a ladder attached to the side.

Possible Answers:

endanger

slither

descend

exclaim

ascend

Correct answer:

descend

Explanation:

To start with "inaccessible" means unable to be accessed, unable to be used. The fact that the people had to go down the ladder provides sufficient information to solve this problem. To "descend" means to go down something. Whereas, "ascend" means to go up something. Additionally, "exclaim" means cry out, shout, say loudly; "endanger" means put in danger; "slither" means slide over a surface.

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