ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Conjunctions and Sentence Logic

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #88 : Sentence Completions

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

When the science teacher accidentally mixed the wrong chemicals together, the __________ fumes caused the entire school to be evacuated.

Possible Answers:

calm

noxious

aggressive

aromatic

pleasant

Correct answer:

noxious

Explanation:

We know that the science teacher mixed the wrong chemicals together AND that this caused the school to be evacuated. We can infer, then, that the fumes were bad for people. The only answer that fits this description is "noxious," meaning harmful or dangerous.

Example Question #89 : Sentence Completions

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

The principal __________ Robbie's telephone because he continually violated the school rules and used it in class.

Possible Answers:

permitted

obfuscate

confiscated

activated

abducted

Correct answer:

confiscated

Explanation:

Since Robbie was not following school rules by using his telephone in class, we can infer that the principal would either do something to force Robbie to follow the rules, or punish him in some way. "Confiscate" is a verb that means to surrender something to a legal authority

Example Question #81 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Sam and Tom were disgusted when they discovered that they had paid $200 for a(n) __________ autograph of their favorite football player.

Possible Answers:

genuine

disheveled

ingenious

counterfeit

authentic

Correct answer:

counterfeit

Explanation:

Since Tom and Sam were disgusted at the discovery, we can infer that they did not get what they thought they were paying for. "Counterfeit" means fake or false. "Authentic" and "genuine" are both antonyms to "counterfeit." "Disheveled" refers to a messy appearance. "Ingenious" describes a very clever idea or person.

Example Question #82 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Ariana went to the __________ store to have her wedding invitations personalized.

Possible Answers:

jewelry

florist

stationery

accessory

stationary

Correct answer:

stationery

Explanation:

"Wedding invitations" are paper products, so Ariana is going to a store that sells paper products. "Florists" sell flowers, "jewelry" stores sell jewelry, and an "accessory," in this instance, is something that is an extra item for an outfit. For instance, a scarf might be an accessory. This leaves "stationery" and "stationary." "Stationery," with an "e" refers to paper products, while "stationary," with an "a" refers to something that doesn't move.

Example Question #83 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Li was determined to finish the race despite the __________ weather conditions.

Possible Answers:

transverse

adverse

superior

averse

inverse

Correct answer:

adverse

Explanation:

The key words in this sentence are "determined" and "despite." These words indicate that Li is facing an obstacle. We can infer that an obstacle to finishing a race would be poor weather conditions. "Adverse" means not ideal, which fits the sentence. "Averse" means against and "inverse" means opposite.

Example Question #84 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Maria was disappointed in her friends due to their insistence she try to fit in with the crowd more, and felt __________ by them.

Possible Answers:

comforted

misunderstood

amused

praised

entertained

Correct answer:

misunderstood

Explanation:

It's likely Maria feels misunderstood by her friends who wish she "fit in" and not be herself. "Entertained" and "amused" are similar in meaning, and do not describe how Maria feels in a situation in which she's pressured to be like others. Finally, far from "praising" her, Maria's friends are putting her under significant pressure.

Example Question #85 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

While Mike and Doug felt __________ about their team's win in the tournament, Jake felt __________ about what he thought was cheating on their part.

Possible Answers:

sad . . . sullen

remorseful . . . content

satisfied . . . wasteful

elated . . . euphoric

happy . . . conflicted

Correct answer:

happy . . . conflicted

Explanation:

The word "while" at the beginning of the sentence signals the presence of opposition between two or more elements in this sentence. In this case, there are two friends who are happy about their team's win, while another friend who is not. Given that Jake is unhappy about how the team reached their goal of winning, he's likely conflicted-- probably torn about cheering with his friends and teammates, but unable to fully engage due to their act of cheating. Therefore, the best answer is "happy" and "conflicted." The other pairs do not fully express the strong oppostion that presents itself in the scenario the sentence describes--for one "elated" and "euphoric" are very close in meaning (not opposites), as well as, "sad" and "sullen" (both are very close). "Satisfied" and "wasteful" are not opposites, and a cheating scandal does not make you feel "wasteful" as much as ethically at odds. The same with "remorseful" and "content;" they are not opposites and do not fit the emotions described in the sentence.

Example Question #86 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Although the scientists __________ the latest results, they agreed that part of the experiment had been well done.

Possible Answers:

confirmed

corrected

disputed

consented

disturbed

Correct answer:

disputed

Explanation:

Identify the key transition term in the sentence: "although." It calls forth an opposition; in this case, between scientists' negative reaction to some results and their aproval of the part of the method that was used to produce them. You are looking for a word in the negative slot, that would allow you to say that the scientists did not agree with the results. "Corrected," "consented," and "confirmed" are all positive words; and "disturbed" is an awkward choice to describe disagreement, so therefore you can eliminate it. The scientists disputed the results, despite agreeing with the experiment. 

Example Question #87 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Select the word or pair that best completes the sentence.

Tania and her mother accepted the fact that they would not be able to purchase a dog, since getting one would mean that one of them had to come home early to feed him and take him for a walk. Therefore, they __________ for a cat.

Possible Answers:

settled

triumphed

fought

celebrated

struggled

Correct answer:

settled

Explanation:

To "settle" for something means to become satisfied with it after your first option becomes unavailable or unattainable. Since Tania and her mom really want a dog, but decide they can't care for it, they "settle" for a cat. The other options do not adequately convey the idea of choosing your second best option.

Example Question #88 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

As a foreigner living in the United States, I have to be extra careful not to commit any crimes or I run the risk of being __________.

Possible Answers:

reinstated 

exhumed 

infected 

daunted 

deported 

Correct answer:

deported 

Explanation:

The speaker of this sentence is an immigrant living in America. Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer must mean something like removed from the country for committing a crime. The correct answer is therefore "deported." To provide further help, "daunted" means frightened, intimidated; "exhumed" means dug up, as in dug up a corpse; "infected" means made sick; "reinstated" means brought back, allowed to rejoin something

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