All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #191 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The smell of the spices was so __________ that the restaurant customers were forced to step outside.
flavorful
unquestionable
pungent
hateful
pleasant
pungent
Pay attention to the words used in this sentence: "smell," "spices," and "restaurant" all refer to food. A "pungent" smell is very intense, and could lead to people in a restaurant stepping outside for a break. While the word "hateful" may be used in this context, "pungent" is more commonly tied to very stong smells, which is what is being referred to here with the words "smell," "spices," and "restaurant." "Flavorful" and "pleasant" describe something good as opposed to bad, and "unquestionable" does not fit in this context.
Example Question #192 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The article the students were asked to read was so __________ in tone, they felt offended.
serious
abrasive
cheerful
pleasant
humorous
abrasive
If something you read or listen to offends you, what does it do or sound like? While a "humorous" or "serious" piece of writing may offend some people, more people are likely to be offended by "abrasiveness" (which is, by definition, not pleasant) than by humor or seriousness. An "abrasive" tone means overly aggressive in how it addresses its audience, which the article described in the sentence clearly is, since all students felt offended upon reading it. The sentence is looking for a negative word as opposed to a positive one like "cheerful" or "pleasant."
Example Question #186 : Sentence Completions
Select the word or pair that best completes the sentence.
Though some people called him generous, the banker was actually rather frugal and __________, given his desire to keep everything to himself.
parsimonious
thrifty
picky
avaricious
wasteful
avaricious
The words "though" and "rather" should signal you to search for a word whose meaning is opposite of generous, or giving. Generous is a good quality, which suggests a person's good character as he or she desires to help others. "Thrifty" and "parsimonious" fit into a category for words that describe people who use their money or resources carefully, just like frugal. The sentence, however, wants you to find a word that is opposite to those three (thrifty, parsimonious, frugal). One may be thrifty, for example, but also generous to others. Eliminate therefore thrifty and parsimonious. "Generous" and "wasteful" are not opposed either-- not wishing to give your resources to others is not proof of being wasteful of your resources; it just means you keep them to yourself. A person who is "avaricious" keeps her or his resources entirely to herself or himself, with a degree of intensity that seems shallow and insensitive. Since picky is not opposed to generous, the best answer is therefore avaricious.
Example Question #193 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The athlete lay stricken on the turf, overcome with __________ leg pain.
slight
incidental
shoddy
anonymous
excruciating
excruciating
The fact that the athlete lay "stricken" (deeply affected and pained by) and was "overcome" (affected very strongly by) provide important clues to the level of intensity of the pain felt by the athlete. The answer therefore is that he felt "excruciating" leg pain. "Excruciating" means incredibly painful, unbearable. To provide further help, "shoddy" means poorly built; "anonymous" means unknown; "incidental" and "slight" both mean minor.
Example Question #194 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The singer was mobbed by his __________ of fans when he left the hotel.
viewpoint
panache
repository
legion
pantheon
legion
The use of the word "mobbed" provides a clue as to the level of intensity of the correct answer. "Mobbed" means surrounded by, inundated with. So, the correct answer must express the large number of fans that are surrounding the subject. The answer is therefore "legion," which means numerous, a multitude of. To provide further help, a "pantheon" is a group of Gods within a religion; "panache" means style; a "repository" is a place where things are stored; a "viewpoint" is a perspective, a point of view.
Example Question #195 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I have been feeling very __________ this past week; probably because I am still recovering from the cold I caught last weekend.
feeble
lonesome
arbitrary
sacred
humane
feeble
The speaker of this sentence is still recovering from a cold so it makes sense that they would be feeling "weak" and "frail." So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices means weak from illness, or made frail. The correct answer is "feeble." To provide further help, "sacred" means holy; "lonesome" means lonely; "arbitrary" means random, a decision made without any clear reason; "humane" means kind and compassionate.
Example Question #196 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She went with her parents to choose a dog and wound up choosing the __________ of the litter because he was so small and cute.
grandest
mirage
occupant
runt
donor
runt
The dog that the girl chooses is especially small, based on this information the correct answer is "runt." The "runt" is the smallest or weakest of a group of animals. To provide further help, "grandest" means largest, most magnificent; "occupant" means resident, inhabitant, person who lives there; a "mirage" is an optical illusion, something seen that is not really there; a "donor" is a giver, someone who gives to others.
Example Question #197 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The isolated town descended into a state of chaos after the police force was disbanded as people committed crimes with __________.
repentance
reverence
enthusiasm
impunity
neglect
impunity
In a circumstance where the police force had been disbanded people would likely feel they could commit crimes without fear of punishment. The correct answer is therefore "impunity." "Impunity" means immunity from retribution, freedom from punishment and consequence. To provide further help, "repentance" means remorse, shame and guilt; "reverence" means deep respect; "neglect" means the state of being uncared for or of not caring for; "enthusiasm" means excitement. Although "enthusiasm" could be a viable answer, it is not as strong as "impunity."
Example Question #192 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I like to __________ my food, so I take my time when eating.
savor
wean
abet
incriminate
nag
savor
The speaker of this sentence likes to take their time when eating. Something you take the time to casually enjoy is something you "savor." To provide further help, "abet" means aid, assist; "wean" means to become no longer addicted to; "nag" means bother, irritate by telling someone what to do; "incriminate" means provide evidence to suggest someone is guilty.
Example Question #198 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She was often seasick throughout their journey and was jubilant to finally __________ when they reached their destination.
disembark
divulge
subsist
dismember
lure
disembark
If the woman were often sick onboard the ship she would probably be jubilant (very happy) to "leave" the ship. So, to solve this problem you have to determine which of these answers means to get off a boat. The correct answer is therefore "disembark." To provide further help, "divulge" means reveal, as in reveal a secret; "dismember" means pull apart, break; "lure" means attract, usually attract through nefarious means; "subsist" means survive on.
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