ISEE Middle Level Verbal : ISEE Middle Level (grades 7-8) Verbal Reasoning

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Sentence Completions: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

He was lucky to escape with only __________ damage after such a terrible accident.

Possible Answers:

bellicose

horrendous

incidental

aggravated

equitable

Correct answer:

incidental

Explanation:

If the accident was so terrible than the subject could only be considered lucky if he only suffered minor damage, so the correct answer is "incidental." "Incidental" means secondary, minor, something small that goes along with something bigger. Additionally, "equitable" means fair and equal; "bellicose" means aggressive, war-like, hostile; "horrendous" means terrible, dreadful, horrible; "aggravated" means provoked or made worse.

Example Question #232 : Sentence Completions: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

His __________ beliefs were challenged by his liberal daughter.

Possible Answers:

youthful

fleeting

garrulous

reactionary

moderate

Correct answer:

reactionary

Explanation:

If the daughter's "liberal" beliefs challenged the father then his beliefs must have been deeply conservative or "reactionary." "Reactionary" means strongly opposed to change and very conservative. Additionally, "moderate" means not severe, not strongly in favor of one or the other; "youthful" means young, full of youth; "garrulous" means talkative; "fleeting" means not long lasting.

Example Question #233 : Sentence Completions: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

His __________ career left him well regarded and admired by his peers around the world.

Possible Answers:

despicable

unnerving

gruesome

illustrious

outlandish

Correct answer:

illustrious

Explanation:

The subject is described as "well regarded and admired" so his career could best be described as "illustrious" which means storied, well known and respected within a certain area. Additionally, "outlandish" means ridiculous and extravagant; "gruesome" means causing disgust, gross; "despicable" means wicked; "unnerving" means worrying, discomforting, causing unease.

Example Question #234 : Sentence Completions: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

The ___________ house is in desperate need of repair.

Possible Answers:

terse

laden

gleaming

lucrative

derelict

Correct answer:

derelict

Explanation:

If the house badly needs repair it makes sense to describe it as "derelict" which means falling down, in poor condition. Additionally, "terse" means brief; "laden" means weighed down with, burdened with; "gleaming" means shiny; "lucrative" means profitable.

Example Question #235 : Sentence Completions: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

You have to be careful in this __________ weather or you will get heatstroke.

Possible Answers:

wanton

quaint

interminable

torrid

instantaneous

Correct answer:

torrid

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you know that the adjective you need to find must mean something like uncomfortably hot, scorching, boiling. The correct answer is therefore "torrid." "Torrid" can mean very hot and very dry or difficult to accomplish. Additionally, "quaint" means cute and old-fashioned; "interminable" means never ending, ceaseless; "instantaneous" means happening in an instant, occurring in a moment; "wanton" means random and reckless.

Example Question #1701 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

The concept was __________ to her, but she soon became accustomed.

Possible Answers:

alien

concise

lucrative

current

quaint

Correct answer:

alien

Explanation:

If the subject had to become accustomed to an idea it must have previously been unfamiliar to her. The correct answer is therefore "alien" which means foreign, exotic, unfamiliar. Additionally, "current" means modern, contemporary, of the times; "lucrative" means profitable, producing wealth; "quaint" means cute and old-fashioned; "concise" means brief, to the point.

Example Question #1702 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

It may take years for the local environment to recover from the __________ destruction caused by local miners.

Possible Answers:

wanton

unscathed

stagnant

opaque

indispensable

Correct answer:

wanton

Explanation:

Based on the context you know you are looking for a word that relates to the reckless destruction of something. The correct answer is therefore "wanton" which means reckless, random, and cruel. Additionally, "opaque" means not transparent, not able to be seen through; "indispensable" means vital, needed, essential; "stagnant" means not moving, not growing; "unscathed" means unhurt, not wounded by.

Example Question #1703 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

The president appeared on the news to try and debunk the __________ story about his private life.

Possible Answers:

utter

antediluvian

apocryphal

arcane

inclement

Correct answer:

apocryphal

Explanation:

To begin with "debunk" means disprove, prove as false. So, if the politician wanted to prove a story false it must, logically, have been "apocryphal" or most likely false, not genuine, of unlikely authenticity. Additionally, "antediluvian" means from an older time; "arcane" means (of knowledge) ancient and privileged; "inclement" means severe, intense; "utter" means completely, totally.

Example Question #1704 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

He is completely __________ and I cannot ever get him to change his mind.

Possible Answers:

circumspect

haggard

intractable

obese

poised

Correct answer:

intractable

Explanation:

If the speaker cannot get the subject to change his mind then he could be described as stubborn, obstinate, or "intractable." Additionally, "circumspect" means thoughtful; "obese" means overweight, very fat; "poised" means calm and under control in a stressful situation; "haggard" means overworked, exhausted, having a poor appearance due to being overworked.

Example Question #1705 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

He sat at the window for hours keeping a __________ watch on the streets outside his house.

Possible Answers:

lucid

vigilant

rakish

tactful

sage

Correct answer:

vigilant

Explanation:

The man stayed in one place watching what was happening for hours. This is a rather extreme action that could best be described as "vigilant." "Vigilant" means watchful, extremely attentive. Additionally, "tactful" means polite, knowing what not to say; "sage" means wise; "rakish" means charming, dashing; "lucid" means able to understand, able to know what is going on.

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