ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

As a child, she had been terribly __________ and her parents spent countless hours trying to correct her abhorrent behavior.

Possible Answers:

loquacious

bashful

benign

domineering

unruly

Correct answer:

unruly

Explanation:

The sentence tells you that the girl’s behavior was “abhorrent,” which means disgusting or horrible. Additionally, you are told that her parents tried to “correct” her behavior. These two pieces of evidence should lead you to choose an answer choice that means something like badly-behaved; therefore, the correct answer is “unruly.” “Unruly” means disobedient, not listening to rules. To provide further help, “benign” means harmless; “domineering” means in-charge; “loquacious” means talkative; “bashful” means shy or nervous

Example Question #112 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

These strawberries are simply __________ and I cannot stop eating them!

Possible Answers:

curmudgeonly

grotesque

oblivious

delectable

pulchritudinous

Correct answer:

delectable

Explanation:

Since the author of the sentence cannot stop eating the strawberries, they must be tasty and delicious. This is closest in meaning to “delectable.” To provide further help, “pulchritudinous” means beautiful; “oblivious” means unaware; “curmudgeonly” describes someone who is easily annoyed, or someone who is stubborn; “grotesque” means horrific or repulsive

Example Question #113 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The shepherdess was thankful that her flock of sheep was so __________; if they weren't so tame and stayed where she put them, many would have probably gotten lost and been eaten by wolves.

Possible Answers:

intractable

dull

nebulous

meek

incessant

Correct answer:

meek

Explanation:

We know that the sheep are "gentle" and that they stayed where the shepherdess put them, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes these qualities. While "intractable" might look like a potentially correct answer, "intractable" actually means difficult to control, the opposite of "gentle" and obedient, so it can't be the correct answer. "Meek," however, means submissive and gentle, and because it best fits the context of the sentence, "meek" is the correct answer.

Example Question #114 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The __________ lab, contained in an altered RV, allowed the doctors to take their experiments directly to the site of the disease's outbreak.

Possible Answers:

worrisome

mobile

stationary

speedy

malingering

Correct answer:

mobile

Explanation:

We can infer that the lab in the back of the altered RV can move around, as the doctors can take it directly to outbreak sites. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that reflects the lab's ability to be easily transported. "Malingering" may look like a potentially correct answer because it has to do with disease, meaning pretending that one is sick in order to avoid having to do something, e.g. go to work, it does not have anything to do with something being easily transportable, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Mobile," however, when used as an adjective, means able to be moved to different locations. Because "mobile" best fits the context of the sentence, "mobile" is the correct answer.

Example Question #115 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

Because of her __________ understanding of computers, Daisy was able to recover her corrupted files through a complex procedure only professional technicians would be able to execute without error.

Possible Answers:

pretended

literary

sorry

keen

amateur

Correct answer:

keen

Explanation:

We can tell from the sentence's context that Daisy has an advanced understanding of computers, because she was able to perform "a complex procedure only professional technicians would be able to execute without error." So, we need to pick out a word that means something like advanced. "Amateur" is an antonym of "advanced," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Sorry" could mean pitiful, but even then, it would be a near antonym of "advanced," so it could not be the correct answer either. "Keen" is the best answer choice; in this context, it means acute or developed, so it is the closest synonym to "advanced" amongst the listed answer choices.

Example Question #116 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

She was neither a Democrat nor a Republican; in fact, she did not participte in politics at all and was pretty much __________.

Possible Answers:

atheistic

patriotic 

agnostic 

apolitical 

seditious 

Correct answer:

apolitical 

Explanation:

The prefix "a-" is often used to negate the meaning of a word, so someone who is “apolitical” is not political. As the subject of this sentence does not take part in politics, we can assume that she could best be described as “apolitical.” To provide further help, someone who is “atheistic” does not believe in any gods or goddesses; an “agnostic” does not believe or disbelieve in any gods or goddesses, but believes we cannot know if he, she, or they exist; someone who is “patriotic” is fiercely committed to his or her country; and “seditious” means treasonous or rebellious.

Example Question #117 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The __________ old barn made the perfect setting for the town's annual haunted house.

Possible Answers:

deranged

devisive

derelict

derogatory

derived

Correct answer:

derelict

Explanation:

The word "derelict," which means abandoned and in poor condition, is related to the word "relinquish" (to give something up). Both come from the Latin word "relinquere," which means to abandon. In a haunted house, you may encounter various spooks pretending to be "deranged" (insane), but we wouldn't use this word to describe the building itself.

Example Question #118 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

The baseball team is much more aggressive towards its competitors than the basketball team, causing the baseball team to develop a reputation for being __________.

Possible Answers:

honest

combative

disliked

mean

Correct answer:

combative

Explanation:

Here, it is clear that the baseball team is aggressive. Therefore, it would make sense that the reputation the team has would be a synonym for "aggressive." The word "combative" means easily provoked to fight, which is similar in meaning to "aggressive." Therefore, "combative" is the correct answer choice. Although "disliked" might seem to make logical sense, "aggressive" is the better answer choice because "combative" is closer in meaning to "aggressive" than "disliked" is. As for the other answer choices, "honest" means truthful and "mean," in this context, means unkind.

Example Question #119 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Although everyone else in the class thought James stole the money from the fundraiser, Tiffany doubted that he was __________.

Possible Answers:

innocent

relentless

uninvolved

guilty

Correct answer:

guilty

Explanation:

The first part of this sentence informs us that most people in the class believe that James stole the money—in other words, that he is guilty. However, the key word "although" tells us that Tiffany disagrees. If she does not believe that he committed the crime, she must think that he is innocent, but we are looking for what she "doubts" about James' involvement. Thinking that he is innocent equates to doubting that he is guilty, so "guilty" properly completes the sentence here.

Example Question #120 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The team's star player was allowed to rest during the __________ game of the season because he was needed for team's last game.

Possible Answers:

spurious

aggressive

perilous

penultimate

passive

Correct answer:

penultimate

Explanation:

The context of the sentence tells you that the player was rested for the second to last game of the season. We call the second to last of anything, the “penultimate” occasion. To provide further help, “perilous” means dangerous or ominous; “aggressive” means hostile and is an antonym of “passive;” “spurious” means false.

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