All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #51 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Fill in the blank with the word that best completes the sentence.
The __________ from middle school to high school is indicated by a physical shift from one building to another.
transition
adaptation
stagnation
mobility
development
transition
The physical shift as seen going from middle to high school shows a change or "transition." "Mobility" is movement; "adaptations" are mechanisms used to fit in; "development" is evolution; and "stagnation" is staying the same.
Example Question #52 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Fill in the blank with the word that best completes the sentence.
The __________ of the mountains from the airplane made them seem small and insignificant, even though they were enormous when seen on land.
interpretation
visibility
disclosure
perspective
stance
perspective
The best word choice is one that indicates the viewpoint from the plane differed from that on land; therefore, the best answer choice is "perspective." The other answer choices mean the following: "visibility" is the ability to be seen; "stance" is a stand taken on an issue; "interpretation" is a translation of something; and "disclosure" is revealing a truth or secret.
Example Question #53 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
A(n) __________ is used to measure the height of something.
fathometer
hot-air balloon
satellite
thermometer
altimeter
altimeter
The prefix alt- means related to height so something that is used to measure height is called an “altimeter.” To provide further help, a “fathometer” measures depth underwater; “thermometer” measures temperature; a “satellite” orbits around a larger body.
Example Question #54 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
In France __________ with a guillotine were not stopped until the 1970s.
accusations
decapitations
reincarnations
berating
processions
decapitations
A “guillotine” is a device used to execute people by chopping off their heads. Another word for chopping off someone’s head is “decapitation.” To provide further help, “processions” are parades; “reincarnations” are things that have died and been reborn as something else; “berating” means yelling at; an “accusation” is a statement that someone did something wrong.
Example Question #55 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
The canyon's walls were slowly receding from the river due to __________ caused by wind and rain.
misuse
fatigue
erosion
hinderances
precipitation
erosion
The wearing away of rock by natural forces is known as "erosion," so this is the correct answer. The incorrect answer choices mean the following: "hinderances" means things which prevent something from progressing or succeeding; "misuse" means the incorrect use of something; "precipitation" means weather events that involve water falling from the sky such as rain, sleet, and hail; and "fatigue" means extreme tiredness.
Example Question #56 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
The experienced writer wanted to receive feedback as if she were unknown, so she decided to write under a __________.
synonym
pendulum
pseudonym
antonym
bibliophile
pseudonym
The information in the sentence suggests that the writer would want her name not to be recognized so that she could receive unbiased feedback. This is called writing under a “pseudonym” or writing under a false name. The prefix "pseudo-" means fake, false and the suffix "-nym" means related to names. To provide further help, a “synonym” is a word that has the same meaning as another word; an “antonym” is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word; a “pendulum” is something that swings back and forth, something that changes between two positions; a “bibliophile” is someone who loves books.
Example Question #57 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
The receptionist informed them that the hotel currently had no __________, but they were expecting several rooms to be available the following day.
animosities
vacancies
celebrations
administrations
remonstrations
vacancies
The sentence implies that there were no rooms available for the day. In other words, the hotel was full and had no "vacancies,” or openings. To provide further help, “animosities” are hostilities, fighting, bad-feeling; “administrations” are groups of people tasked with managment and organization; “remonstrations” are arguments or complaints.
Example Question #58 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
The mother was shocked when the doctor informed her that she would be having __________; how on earth would she raise five babies?
octuplets
twins
triplets
quintuplets
quadruplets
quintuplets
The information after the semicolon tells us that the mother is going to have five babies, so you are looking for a word that contains a prefix related to the number five. The correct prefix is "quin-," so the correct answer is “quintuplets.” To provide further help, the prefix "tri-" means related to three; the prefix "quad-" means related to four; the prefix oct- means related to eight.
Example Question #59 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The two neighbors had a __________ over the boundary of their properties and had to go settle their disagreement in court.
parallel
mettle
frenzy
adage
dispute
dispute
Since we know that the neighbors had to go to court to settle their differences, we can infer that we're looking for a noun that means something like disagreement. Of the listed answer choices, only three are nouns—"adage," "mettle," and "dispute." Since "adage" means proverb or saying, it does not mean disagreement and is not the correct answer. Similarly, "mettle" means courage or fortitude and does not mean disagreement either. "Dispute," however, means a disagreement, so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #60 : Sentence Completions: Nouns
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Emily displayed admirable _________ at the party when she took Jane aside to point out that she had toilet paper stuck to her shoe instead of pointing it out publicly and embarrassing her.
comfort
jubilance
hurry
absentmindedness
tact
tact
We know from the context of the sentence that Emily was socially sensitive—while she could have pointed out the toilet paper in a more overt way, she did it in a way that did not embarrass her friend. We have no reason to suspect that Emily was absentminded, and "comfort" and "hurry" have nothing to do with the situation either. "Jubilance" is a noun meaning triumph, so "jubilance" does not fit the context of the sentence either. "Tact," however, is a noun meaning sensitivity in dealing with potentially embarassing or awkward issues, so "tact" is the answer choice that best fits the sentence and the correct answer.
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