ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, and Connotation

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #205 : Sentence Completions

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

She was suffering dramatically in the __________ heat.

Possible Answers:

nimble 

obdurate 

frivolous 

ambidextrous 

sweltering 

Correct answer:

sweltering 

Explanation:

You are told that the subject of this sentence was "suffering dramatically" in the heat. The correct answer must therefore reflect that intensity. "Sweltering" means extremely and uncomfortably hot. To provide further help, "obdurate" means stubborn; "frivolous" means pointless; "nimble" means agile, flexible and capable of quick movement; "ambidextrous" means equally skilled at using either the right or left hand

Example Question #206 : Sentence Completions

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

She turned heads in her new summer dress and people kept coming up to her to tell her how __________ she looked.

Possible Answers:

vengeful

grumpy

gorgeous

chivalrous

frantic

Correct answer:

gorgeous

Explanation:

If the girl kept "turning heads" it makes sense that she looked beautiful, attractive, or "gorgeous." To provide further help, "chivalrous" means noble, honorable; "frantic" means rushed, stressed; "vengeful" means seeking revenge for some wrong done to you; "grumpy" means in a bad mood, moody

Example Question #207 : Sentence Completions

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

Thankfully the poison proved not to be __________ and the girl made a complete recovery.

Possible Answers:

superb 

paltry 

hilarious 

lethal 

muddled 

Correct answer:

lethal 

Explanation:

If the author is "thankful" and the girl made a "complete recovery" then the poison must not have been deadly, likely to cause death, or "lethal." To provide further help, "superb" means excellent; "paltry" means small, an insufficiently little amount of something; "hilarious" means very funny; "muddled" means confused.

Example Question #201 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

The __________ student will stop at nothing to get what he wants; no matter the sacrifice, no matter the constant work.

Possible Answers:

ambitious

loquacious 

quarrelsome 

apathetic 

selfless 

Correct answer:

ambitious

Explanation:

In this sentence you are told that the student will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He is willing to work hard and has goals in mind that drive him forward. He is therefore "ambitious." "Ambitious" means driven, determined to reach certain goals. To provide further help, "selfless" means not selfish, generous; "apathetic" means uncaring; "quarrelsome" means argumentative, inclined towards fighting; "loquacious" means talkative.

Example Question #201 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

He found the instructions much too __________ so he called his father to ask for help.

Possible Answers:

elementary

effortless

facile

complex

simple

Correct answer:

complex

Explanation:

If the subject had to call his father for help it makes sense that he found the instructions too difficult to understand. The correct answer then is "complex," which means consisting of many different parts and very hard to understand. To provide further help the other four answers are all antonyms of "complex," they all mean easy, easy to understand.

Example Question #81 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

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

It was a wet and __________ day in southern England and she really did not want to get out of bed.

Possible Answers:

voracious

coherent

dreary

perpetual

lustrous

Correct answer:

dreary

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for something that matches with a "wet" day in which someone might be inspired not to get out of bed by the terrible weather. The correct answer then is "dreary" which means dull, uninspiring, and depressing. To provide further help, "lustrous" means shiny; "voracious" means not easily satisfied, greedy, having an immense desire to eat; "perpetual" means lasting forever; "coherent" means able to be understood.

Example Question #202 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

I am still ___________ by the memory of my failures in high school soccer.

Possible Answers:

implored 

vexed 

beckoned 

encouraged 

refuted 

Correct answer:

vexed 

Explanation:

The author is talking about his "failings" so it makes sense that his memory of them would be exasperating, annoying, or frustrating. These words are all synonyms of "vexed," which means annoyed by, confused and frustrated by. Additionally, "encouraged" means supported; "implored" means begged, urged; "beckoned" means summoned, called someone towards; "refuted" means argued against, disputed, proved wrong

Example Question #203 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

The shelter is full of many sick and malnourished dogs who have suffered under the __________ treatment of their owners.

Possible Answers:

perpetual 

inhumane 

posthumous

convoluted 

expensive 

Correct answer:

inhumane 

Explanation:

The dogs in the shelter are "sick and malnourished" (under-fed), so it makes sense that they would have been treated with a lack of compassion, with cruelty. So, the correct answer is "inhumane," which means without compassion, cruel, malicious. Additionally, "posthumous" means after death; "perpetual" means eternal, lasting forever; "convoluted" means complex and hard to understand; "expensive" means costing a lot of money.

Example Question #204 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Although Laura was happy with killing off most of the insects in the house, Paula wanted to __________ them completely.

Possible Answers:

reduce

deteriorate

eradicate

kill

destroy

Correct answer:

eradicate

Explanation:

This sentence expresses a kind of intensification in its comparison of Laura and Paula. Paula apparently wants to kill every last bug in the house. A great word for this would be "exterminate," but that option is not given. The word "eradicate" expresses this notion of totally killing as well.  (Hence, it is better than "kill" or "destroy.") The word "eradicate" comes from Latin bases that mean, to take out the roots. Imagine if you were to rip out the roots of a tree. This would involve totally eliminating the tree.

Example Question #205 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

At first,Vincent did not care about Jordan's bad health decisions, but when he realized that his friend might die, he  ___________ him to stop smoking three packs of cigarettes every hour, hoping that his frequent remarks would convince Jordan of the stupidity of his actions.

Possible Answers:

implored

strengthened

forced

asked

inquired

Correct answer:

implored

Explanation:

Since the sentence says at the end that Vincent wanted to convince Jordan, we know that he must be asking him to stop his smoking and not forcing him to do so. Now, we also know that Vincent is doing this frequently. This hints that he is very worried and is asking his friend to stop in a very devoted manner. Whenever we implore someone to do something, we ask him or her regularly and earnestly to stop. This kind of asking is hinted at by the sentence, so "implore" is the best option.

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