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 #604 : Sentence Completions

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

The aquarium contained various fish, all __________ in their own way; one fish had a spot under its eye while another had blue fins.

Possible Answers:

disgusting

unique

essential

drab

Correct answer:

unique

Explanation:

The fish in the aquarium sound very different from one another, with one fish having a gold spot under its eye and another having blue fins. We are looking for an answer choice that demonstrates how different each fish is from the others. The best answer choice is "unique," defined as being one of a kind.

Example Question #605 : Sentence Completions

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

This disease was known to be infectious, so doctors were extremely __________ when dealing with the patient to lower the risk of spreading the disease further.

Possible Answers:

malevolent

disoriented

careful

worried

Correct answer:

careful

Explanation:

We are told that a patient has an infectious disease that can be spread to other people. We need to choose an answer choice that details how the doctors would act to avoid spreading the disease further. The answer choice that best fits with the passage is "careful," because taking extra precautions would likely stop the disease from spreading. The doctors may be "worried" or "disoriented," but that is unrelated to the meaning of the passage and is never explicitly mentioned.

Example Question #606 : Sentence Completions

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

The fastest animals can run over 70 miles per hour, but humans are substantially __________—the fastest man is only able to run 27 miles per hour.

Possible Answers:

faster

hurried

exceptional

slower

Correct answer:

slower

Explanation:

Since the second part of the sentence begins with "but," we can assume that humans' running speed is different from those of the fastest animals. Since 27 miles per hour is slower than 70 miles per hour, humans are "slower" than the fastest animals.

Example Question #607 : Sentence Completions

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

Max had a(n) __________ appetite that was rarely satiated. 

Possible Answers:

passive

belligerent

imaginative

unquenchable

Correct answer:

unquenchable

Explanation:

We need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "gigantic" or "voracious" because the sentence tells us that Max has a very large appetite. So, "unquenchable," an adjective that means unable of being fulfilled, is the correct answer choice because it best fits with sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "imaginative" means showing creativity; "belligerent" means hostile and aggressive; and "passive" means unassertive.

Example Question #608 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ student was encouraged to try out for the basketball team because he towered over his peers.

Possible Answers:

fickle

strong

large

tall

Correct answer:

tall

Explanation:

We need to pick out an answer choice that conveys the student's above-average height because the sentence tells us that the student is substantially taller than his peers, hence why he was encouraged to try out for the basketball team. So, "tall," an adjective that means being of above-average height, is the correct answer choice because it best fits the sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "large" means of a great size; "strong" means powerful; and "fickle" means changing one's loyalties frequently. "Large" may fit into the sentence somewhat well, but "large" is usually used to describe someone's overall body size or weight, not their height. On the other hand, "tall" is exclusively used to describe someone's height!

Example Question #609 : Sentence Completions

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

The city council decided to update __________ policies that did not accurately reflect the city's liberal ideals in the modern era.

Possible Answers:

futuristic

ancient

steadfast

open

Correct answer:

ancient

Explanation:

We need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "old" or "conservative" because the sentence tells us that the city council decided to update previous policies that did not reflect the city's liberal ideals. So, "ancient," an adjective that means belonging to the distant past, is the correct answer choice because it best fits the sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "open" means unbiased; "steadfast" means loyal; and "futuristic" is an antonym of "ancient" and means involving modern technology or ideas.

Example Question #610 : Sentence Completions

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

When it comes to playing sports, John is __________; he can never seem to succeed in athletic activities.

Possible Answers:

uncoordinated

basic

skilled

wishful

Correct answer:

uncoordinated

Explanation:

We need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "clumsy" or "unskilled" because the sentence tells us that John has difficulty succeeding in sporting events. So, "uncoordinated," an adjective that means clumsy, is the correct answer choice because it best fits the sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "skilled" is an antonym of "uncoordinated" and means possessing a high ability to complete a certain task; "basic" means fundamental; and "wishful" means hopeful.

Example Question #611 : Sentence Completions

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

The lawyer presented a __________ argument to the judge, so the judge decided to acquit the lawyer's client of all charges.

Possible Answers:

Weary

Incorrect

Compelling

Lackluster

Correct answer:

Compelling

Explanation:

We need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "influential" or "persuasive" because the sentence tells us that the judge is agreeing with the lawyer's argument. So, "compelling," an adjective that means persuasive or unable to be proven false, is the correct answer choice because it best fits the sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "lackluster" means dull or boring; "incorrect" means false; and "weary" means tired.

Example Question #612 : Sentence Completions

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

He was still hungry after dinner because he been given an extremely __________ amount of food.

Possible Answers:

massive

paltry

colossal

gigantic

excessive

Correct answer:

paltry

Explanation:

Because the author was still hungry after dinner, we can assume that he must have been given too little or not enough food. A word that means not enough, too little, tiny is “paltry.” To provide further help, “excessive” means too much; the other three answer choices, “gigantic,” “colossal,” and “massive,” are synonyms and all mean very big

Example Question #613 : Sentence Completions

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

I can’t stand when my boyfriend focuses on __________ issues, especially when there are so many more important things to be considered.

Possible Answers:

noteworthy

repent

remarkable

significant

petty

Correct answer:

petty

Explanation:

The context of the sentence suggests that the author’s boyfriend focuses on meaningless or silly issues. This means the correct answer is “petty,” which means trivial or insignificant. To provide further help, to “repent” means to apologize for or to work for forgiveness; “significant” means important, noteworthy; “remarkable” means extraordinary.

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