ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Verbs
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All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #291 : Sentence Completions: Verbs
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The vandals ____________ the front of the school, covering it with graffiti and mocking images of the teachers.
destroyed
painted
defaced
shielded
specified
defaced
The best option is the word that most closely matches the particular action that is being described in the sentence. Clearly, the vandals are drawing on the school building. Their drawings are negative. We know this both from the description of the action as well as the fact that they are called vandals. Now, this indicates that they are "defacing" the school. The word "deface" describes what someone does when he or she ruins the appearance of something. This is an appropriate word to describe what these people have done!
Example Question #292 : Sentence Completions: Verbs
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Mark knew that he did not have many talents, so he always would ___________ those in power, hoping to gain their favor by his fawning remarks.
discussed
flattered
examined
inflated
implored
flattered
The idea of this sentence is that Mark knew that he couldn't rely on his own skills to advance in this world. Instead, he relied upon others to "raise" or "elevate" him to a higher station of life. Whenever you "fawn over" someone, you flatter him or her, hoping to get some benefit from that person. Therefore, the best option in this sentence is "flatter." When we do such flattering, we always make our kind remarks with an eye to what we can gain from these "kindnesses."
Example Question #293 : Sentence Completions: Verbs
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the defendant could not _____________ his innocence with utter certainty, he did manage to convince the jurors that it was not likely that he was guilty of the crime.
establish
express
divulge
interrogate
announce
establish
The general idea here is that the defendant can't prove his innocence of the crime. Whenever we "establish" something, we set it up. When a business is established, that is when it first opened up. (Think of signs that say, "Est. 1839." This means, "We were established—i.e. opened up for business—in 1839.) In a secondary sense, "establishing" the facts of the case involves proving something to be, in fact, true. This is the way that the word is being used in this sentence. The defendant wants to convince the jury that he is innocent.
Example Question #294 : Sentence Completions: Verbs
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I could not see who was speaking to me on the other side of the hill, as the trees ___________________ the figure.
moved
demonstrated
showed
obscured
darkened
obscured
"Obscured" in this context means hidden. The sentence states. "I could not see..." which implies that the speaker is hidden. The other answer choices do not match the context of the sentence.
Example Question #1124 : Sentence Completions
Fill in the blank:
Be careful with that, do not __________ the surface!
polish
mar
help
buff
finish
mar
Be careful with that, do not mar the surface! Whenever something is marred, it is scratched up or broken.
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All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
