ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Parts of Speech in Word-Based Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #593 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

Be careful not to drop that glass vase; it is very __________!

Possible Answers:

robust

fragile

sturdy

tall

miniscule

Correct answer:

fragile

Explanation:

The context of the sentence suggests that the correct answer means easily broken. Something that is easily broken is described as “fragile.” To further help you, "robust" and "sturdy" are antonyms of "fragile" and both mean firm and strong; "miniscule" means very small.

Example Question #594 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

The wealthy man was beloved in his home town because he always gave __________ of his time and money.

Possible Answers:

begrudgingly

miserly

generously

smoothly

jaggedly

Correct answer:

generously

Explanation:

The sentence suggests that the wealthy man was loved because of his willingness to share his time and money. To be "generous" means to be giving; "generously" means kindly or liberally. To further help you, when you give something "begrudgingly" you give it without wanting to; "miserly" means not charitable; "smoothly" means not bumpy, without imperfections; "jaggedly" means sharply. "Smoothly" and "jaggedly" are antonyms. 

Example Question #595 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Hercules is a mythical character known for many __________ deeds, but did you know he was a talented singer as well?

Possible Answers:

wanton

malicious

normal

vengeful

heroic

Correct answer:

heroic

Explanation:

Hercules is a mythical hero. Someone who does things that a hero would do is called "heroic," so "heroic" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices make sense in the sentence: "malicious" means evil; "vengeful" means seeking revenge; and "wanton" means random.

Example Question #596 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

My friend just got my favorite type of car; I feel very __________.

Possible Answers:

happy

despondent

envious

jubilant

sad

Correct answer:

envious

Explanation:

We call the feeling of desiring something that someone has and that you want "envy" or "jealousy," so when my friend purchased my favorite car I felt "envious."  As for the other answer choices, "despondent" means feeling sad and hopeless, and "jubilant" means happy.

Example Question #597 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

It is quite __________ how whales are able to communicate with one another over thousands of miles of ocean; nothing like it is found anywhere else in the animal kingdom.

Possible Answers:

irate

mundane

angry

banal

extraordinary

Correct answer:

extraordinary

Explanation:

The second clause of the sentence tells us that the ability of whales to communicate over thousands of miles of oceans is not common, or beyond ordinary. This means that the correct answer is "extraordinary," which means amazing or out of the ordinary. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: "mundane" and "banal" are synonyms of one another and both mean boring; "mundane" and "banal" are also antonyms of extraordinary. Also, "irate" means angry.

Example Question #598 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

I compared my autographed photo of that movie star to images on the internet and they were all completely different; obviously mine is __________.

Possible Answers:

genuine

sanctimonious

authentic

bogus

ceremonial

Correct answer:

bogus

Explanation:

The author’s autograph is totally different from all other copies; this suggests it is fake or not real. The answer choice that matches this definition is “bogus.” To provide further help, “authentic” and “genuine” both mean real and are antonyms of “fake” or “bogus.” “Ceremonial” means done for purposes of tradition or ceremony, and “sanctimonious” means self-righteous

Example Question #599 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Jimmy’s mother was worried that her son was not eating enough because his clothes were too big for him and he looked terribly __________

Possible Answers:

corpulent

nostalgic

lilliputian

gaunt

comely

Correct answer:

gaunt

Explanation:

Jimmy’s mother is worried that her son is not eating; this suggests he looks terribly skinny. The answer choice that describes the physical appearance of someone who is skinny and not eating enough is “gaunt.” To provide further help, “comely” means cute, “nostalgic” means having a fond memory of the past, “corpulent” means fat and is an antonym of “gaunt”, and “lilliputian” means very tiny.

Example Question #601 : Sentence Completions

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Gary was bitten by a spider and knew he had to take immediate and __________ action. 

Possible Answers:

frivolous

measured

unhurried

sluggish

drastic

Correct answer:

drastic

Explanation:

From the context of the sentence, you know that Gary needs to take “immediate” and something like “immediate” action. The correct answer is “drastic,” which means quick and desperate. To provide further help, “sluggish” means lacking energy, “measured” means deliberate or calculated, “unhurried” means not in a rush and is an antonym of “drastic," and “frivolous” means wasted or pointless.

Example Question #602 : Sentence Completions

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

While the kids were on a hike, they unearthed a buried artifact—a highly __________ necklace, covered with colorful feathers and beads.

Possible Answers:

modern

plain

embellished

archival

Correct answer:

embellished

Explanation:

The necklace that the kids found is described as being adorned with many different decorations that make it interesting to look at. We are looking for an answer choice that describes how decorated the necklace is. The best answer choice is "embellished," which means having many decorative features.

Example Question #603 : Sentence Completions

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

We live in a digital age, where new technologies are created at a __________ pace and today's innovations may be obsolete in just few years.

Possible Answers:

laborious

irregular

easy

rapid

Correct answer:

rapid

Explanation:

The passage conveys that new technologies are created at a very fast and constant pace. The best answer choice is "rapid," because it fits with the passage's message that modern technology changes constantly due to new innovations.

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