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 #301 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

She was left __________ by the death of her husband.

Possible Answers:

distraught

vigilant

lucid

obese

erratic

Correct answer:

distraught

Explanation:

The lady received terrible news so it makes sense that she would become devastated, emotionally destroyed, deeply upset, or "distraught." Additionally, "obese" means overweight, very fat; "erratic" means unreliable, inconsistent; "lucid" means able to understand, alert; "vigilant" means watchful, observant.

Example Question #302 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The audience seems to enjoy listening to me speak, it is probably because I am so engaging and __________.

Possible Answers:

articulate

intrepid

perilous

aloof

antagonistic

Correct answer:

articulate

Explanation:

The context of this sentence relates to someone who is enjoyable to listen to, so the correct answer is "articulate" which means well-spoken. Additionally, "perilous" means dangerous; "aloof" means distant, detached, remote, hard to reach emotionally; "intrepid" means adventurous; "antagonistic" means annoying, prone to starting conflict.

Example Question #303 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

__________ to my house is a bar that makes it hard for me to sleep on weekends.

Possible Answers:

Stationary

Elusive

Adjacent

Perpendicular

Salient

Correct answer:

Adjacent

Explanation:

If noise from the bar makes it hard for the speaker to sleep than the bar must be next to or "adjacent" to the speaker's house. Additionally, "salient" means most important, relevant; "stationary" means not moving, fixed in place; "elusive" means hard to capture, hard to find; "perpendicular" means (of a line) at a right angle to another line, the opposite of parallel.

Example Question #304 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

He stood in front of the class without his notes, completely unprepared for the moment, and felt very __________.

Possible Answers:

mutual

jocular

haggard

vain

sheepish

Correct answer:

sheepish

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer must mean something like embarrassed, self-conscious, uncomfortable. So, the correct answer is "sheepish." Additionally, "haggard" means having the physical appearance of being exhausted or overworked; "jocular" means amusing, good-natured, cheerful; "vain" means self-obsessed, overly concerned with one's own appearance; "mutual" means shared.

Example Question #305 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The __________ girl can easily touch her toes. 

Possible Answers:

ultimate 

rigid 

awry 

flexible

utter 

Correct answer:

flexible

Explanation:

The girl in question is being described as "flexible," bendy, or supple. Additionally, "rigid" means firm, sturdy, fixed; "awry" means out of place, amiss; "ultimate" means best, greatest; "utter" means totally, completely

Example Question #306 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

His judgment was __________ and the rest of the group did not always trust what he had to say.

Possible Answers:

predisposed

hospitable

winsome

erratic

eminent

Correct answer:

erratic

Explanation:

The fact that the group " . . . did not always trust . . . " the man suggests that his judgment must be inconsistent, unreliable, or "erratic." Additionally, "eminent" means famous, well-regarded within a certain area; "predisposed" means already inclined towards liking, preferring because of a previous experience; "hospitable" means welcoming; "winsome" means attractive, charming.

Example Question #307 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

His __________ appearance was not helped by another night of little sleep.

Possible Answers:

dashing

haggard

vain

handsome

perfunctory

Correct answer:

haggard

Explanation:

The adjective "haggard" is used to describe someone who looks bad due to exhaustion or to being overworked. Additionally, "vain" means self-obsessed, overly concerned with how you look; "dashing" means attractive and charming; "handsome" means good-looking; "perfunctory" means quick and casual, hurried, (of a decision) based on little thought or reflection.

Example Question #308 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

She was embarrassed by her husband's complete inability to be __________ at the party.

Possible Answers:

tactful

applicable

cantankerous

inept

abject

Correct answer:

tactful

Explanation:

Which of these is an adjective that describes a trait that might embarrass someone if their partner did not possess? The correct answer is being "tactful." "Tactful" means polite, knowing what to say and what not to say. Additionally, "applicable" means relevant, able to be applied to this situation; "abject" means miserable and hopeless; "inept" means not skilled, incapable; "cantankerous" means bad-tempered, grumpy.

Example Question #309 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The __________ pond gave off an unpleasant smell.

Possible Answers:

fruitful

stagnant

inclement

arcane

militant

Correct answer:

stagnant

Explanation:

Which of these adjectives relates to a quality that might cause a body of water to smell bad? The correct answer is "stagnant." "Stagnant" typically means not growing, not moving, however when used to describe a body of water it means not flowing water, water that is stuck in one place and begins to smell. Additionally, "militant" means so passionate about a cause as to be prone to violence; "arcane" means (of knowledge) privileged and ancient; "inclement" means severe; "fruitful" means productive, causing a large quantity to be made.

Example Question #310 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

I watch the news every evening so I can keep up with __________ events.

Possible Answers:

trivial

arduous

current

eternal

gleaming

Correct answer:

current

Explanation:

The word "current" is used to describe things that are happening now, in the moment. Additionally, "trivial" means insignificant, not important; "arduous" means hard, difficult to accomplish, challenging; "gleaming" means shining; "eternal" means lasting forever.

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