All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1961 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I am a(n) __________ and abhor those who praise violence and warfare.
pacifist
mentor
guerilla
soldier
insurgent
pacifist
The first important thing to understand is the definition of "abhor," it means hate, detest. So, what word is used to describe someone who hates violence and warfare? The correct answer is "pacifist." To provide further help, "guerilla" and "insurgent" are synonyms, both words mean rebel, revolutionary; a "mentor" is a teacher, someone who provides help and advice to someone younger or less experienced.
Example Question #1962 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I was given a __________ demanding that I appear before a judge within the month.
felony
boon
subpoena
disease
bulletin
subpoena
In this sentence the speaker is told to appear in court to answer for a possible crime committed. Something that summons someone to court is called a "subpoena." To provide further help, a "felony" is a crime; a "bulletin" is a posted public announcement; a "boon" is a blessing, a gift.
Example Question #1963 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Zeus and Athena are both found in the Greek __________ of Gods.
ceremony
orthodox
counsel
pantheon
gala
pantheon
A collection of Gods within a religion is known as a "pantheon." To provide further help, to "counsel" means to advise; a "gala" is a festival; a "ceremony" a formal occasion or gathering; "orthodox" means conservative or conforming to what is expected or required by a religion.
Example Question #1964 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Every Muslim is expected to make a __________ to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
turmoil
retort
tremor
pilgrimage
diatribe
pilgrimage
The context of this sentence is that every Muslim is expected to make a trip to Mecca at some point in their lifetime. A religious journey is called a "pilgrimage." To provide further help, a "retort" is a response in an argument; a "tremor" is a quake; "turmoil" is trouble, danger and suffering; a "diatribe" is a verbal attack.
Example Question #1965 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He looked over the __________ at the city below him and wondered at all the millions of people going about their daily lives.
devotee
hovel
probe
consternation
parapet
parapet
To answer this question you simply need to determine which of these answers is a noun that describes something that someone might look over. The correct answer is therefore "parapet" which means low wall, or low barrier. To provide further help, to "probe" means to examine, a "probe" is an inquiry; a "devotee" is a fan, someone who is loyally interested in or committed to something; "consternation" is a feeling of astonished frustration; a "hovel" is a small house, a shack.
Example Question #1966 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ announced that a curfew would be put in place; coming into effect at midnight every Friday and Saturday.
accolade
bulletin
reconnaissance
atrophy
mentality
bulletin
In this sentence you are looking for the answer that means public announcement, official statement. The correct answer is therefore "bulletin." To provide further help, "reconnaissance" means exploration, preliminary search of an area; "mentality" means state of mind, opinion, perspective; an "accolade" is an aware, a formal certificate of praise; "atrophy" means to weaken.
Example Question #1967 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Snow in the summertime would be quite the __________.
authority
boon
anomaly
error
industry
anomaly
If it snowed in the summertime that would be extremely unusual so the correct answer must mean something like "irregularity" or "abnormality," something that reflects how odd and unusual this would be. The correct answer then is "anomaly." An "anomaly" is something that is unusual, a deviation from what is expected, a peculiarity. To provide further help, "boon" means gift or blessing; an "industry" is a business, an area of business; an "error" is a mistake; an "authority" is someone in charge.
Example Question #1968 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The previously merciful judge sentenced the repeat offender to eighteen years in jail after his most recent string of __________ came to light.
felonies
heroics
guerillas
reactionaries
lawyers
felonies
Based on the context of this sentence, which is discussing a man being sent to jail for committing crimes, it is clear that the correct answer must mean "crimes." The correct answer then is "felonies." To provide further help, "guerillas" are rebels, revolutionaries; "reactionaries" are people who violently oppose any changes to society; "heroics" are good-deeds, actions taken by heroes.
Example Question #1969 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
"We must record everything that happened here, so that it may be enjoyed by __________."
ancestors
comedians
orators
posterity
pedagogues
posterity
The speaker of this sentence is commenting on how it is very important to preserve the details of what is taking place so that it may be enjoyed by people in the future. Things preserved for future generations are "preserved for posterity." "Posterity" means future generations, descendents. To provide further help, "ancestors" are older generations, the people who came before; an "orator" is a speaker, someone who is skilled at public speaking; "pedagogue" means teacher.
Example Question #1970 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He could not believe that his favorite show did not win an award; "this is a(n) __________," he announced to no one in particular.
travesty
deception
truth
accolade
trajectory
travesty
The subject obviously feels it is ridiculous that his favorite show did not win an award. He would probably therefore describe it as a "farce" or a "mockery" something that provides a false representation of the truth in an absurd way. The correct answer then is "travesty." To provide further help, "trajectory" means path, expected path that something will take; "accolade" means award, reward; "deception" means trickery. Both "deception" and "accolade" could theoretically be correct answers, but neither is as strong as "travesty." Be sure to always pick the strongest possible answer choice.
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