All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1061 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The boss sent her most discerning man to try and __________ truth from fiction.
quantify
terrify
prioritize
disentangle
appoint
disentangle
To begin with "discerning" means able of observing things, intelligent and able to pick up on small things. So, a "discerning" person would likely be sent to try and figure out the truth and separate truth from fiction. The correct answer then is "disentangle" because this means separate. Additionally, "prioritize" means declare as most important, make a priority; "appoint" means select for a position; "terrify" means frighten, scare; "quantify" means put data into numerical form.
Example Question #1062 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The workers decided to __________ the meeting until the next day.
establish
originate
adjourn
placate
aspire
adjourn
Based on the context of this sentence you know you are looking for a verb that means something like suspend, delay until a later date. So, the correct answer is "adjourn." To "adjourn" can have many, related, meanings - it can mean to leave a place; to pause a meeting; to delay until later. Additionally, "originate" means come from; "aspire" means seek to achieve, aim for; "establish" means set up; "placate" means soothe, calm, relieve.
Example Question #1063 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was worried that his muscles might __________ with age, so he resolved to work out more regularly.
atrophy
acknowledge
portend
respire
flourish
atrophy
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer is a verb that means to weaken, particularly with age or due to lack of use. The correct answer is therefore "atrophy." Additionally, "flourish" means either wave around, brandish or strive, achieve great things, do well; "acknowledge" means recognize, notice; "respire" means breathe; "portend" means foreshadow, provide a warning that something might happen a certain way in the future.
Example Question #1064 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The critics expected him to fail so were __________ by his unprecedented success.
confined
confounded
ransacked
anchored
amassed
confounded
Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like amazed, stunned, surprised. So, the correct answer is "confounded." Additionally, "ransack" means search through messily; "confine" means imprison; "anchor" means fix in place, root to a spot; "amass" means gather, collect.
Example Question #1065 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her literature is __________ with a rage that reflects the anger of her day-to-day life.
infused
enticed
acquiesced
embellished
maimed
infused
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer means filled with, so the correct answer is "infused." To "infuse" means to fill. Additionally, "entice" means tempt, lure, attract; "acquiesce" means give in to, accept the demands of; "maim" means injure, hurt; "embellish" means decorate, adorn, add detail to.
Example Question #1066 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The students arrived early to __________ their territory on the field.
heed
usurp
emulate
accent
establish
establish
Which of these verbs makes sense as an action a group of students might undertake with regard to their "territory"? The correct answer is "establish," which means set up, lay permanent claim to. Additionally, "accent" means give emphasis to, highlight; "usurp" means take over power from, take the control from; "heed" means pay attention to, listen to a warning; "emulate" means copy, match the achievements of.
Example Question #1067 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She watered her plants every day to __________ their growth.
surmount
disentangle
facilitate
defray
exorcise
facilitate
Watering one's plants would help them to grow, so to solve this problem you are looking for a verb that means something like help the process of, make a process easier. So, the correct answer is "facilitate." Additionally, "surmount" means overcome; "disentangle" means separate, make no longer tangled; "exorcise" means rid of demons, drive out an evil entity; "defray" means pay for the cost of.
Example Question #1068 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He __________ brutal cold and intense exhaustion in order to make it to the summit of the mountain.
atoned
condoned
marauded
dismounted
endured
endured
To begin with "summit" means top of. So, the subject of this sentence experienced terrible cold and exhaustion in order to make it to the top of the mountain. We are therefore looking for an answer choice that means something like put up with in order to achieve something. The correct answer is therefore "endured." To "endure" means to suffer through something, to go through some difficulty with patience. Additionally, "atone" means make amends for, seek forgiveness for; "condone" means allow to happen, permit, approve of; "dismount" means get down from; "maraud" means roam in search of violence.
Example Question #1069 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since my father left it is uncomfortable to even __________ to him; let alone directly talk about him.
mar
goad
allude
outfox
recite
allude
The content and structure of this sentence suggests that you are looking for a verb that means hint at, suggest or indirectly call attention to. The correct answer is therefore "allude." Additionally, "outfox" means outwit, defeat through cunning and intelligence; "mar" means spoil, ruin; "goad" means 'egg-on', encourage someone to do something through manipulation; "recite" means speak out loud from memory, read aloud.
Example Question #1070 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her parents are __________ by her refusal to attend classes.
perturbed
stifled
impaled
monitored
nourished
perturbed
A child refusing to go to class is something that would likely make a parent worried, concerned, upset. So, the correct answer is "perturbed." Additionally, "monitor" means watch, pay attention to, 'keep an eye on'; "impaled" means stabbed; "stifled" means suffocated, repressed, held back, prevented from doing; "nourish" means provide with food and care so as to help growth.
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