All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #104 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He had always been introverted and found it very hard to make friends; eventually he decided to __________ social interaction altogether.
shun
embrace
mentor
flatter
compute
shun
The structure of this sentence suggests that the subject only grew more detached from society as the years went by (the use of the words "eventually" and "altogether" tell you this). So, the correct answer must mean something like avoid, shy away from, keep away from. The correct answer is "shun." To provide further help, "embrace" means welcome and is an antonym of "shun." Additionally, to "mentor" means to teach, to help out; "compute" means calculate using data; "flatter" means praise.
Example Question #105 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
My grandmother went to the doctor for a routine check-up, but it turns out she has lung cancer; the __________ is less than a year.
insight
diagnosis
prognosis
creed
pilgrimage
prognosis
A "prognosis" is the likely progression of a disease and how long it will take for the disease to kill someone. The information about the speaker's grandmother having less than a year should lead you to this answer. To provide further help, "diagnosis" means the identification of what type of disease someone has; a "pilgrimage" is a religious journey; a "creed" is a fundamental belief; "insight" is awareness, special knowledge about something.
Example Question #106 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Due to the wildfires raging in Northern California many inhabitants have __________ their homes.
verified
enervated
demolished
abandoned
implored
abandoned
If fires were raging in a neighborhood it would make sense for those living in that neighborhood to leave their homes. So the correct answer must mean something like left behind, fled, disavowed. The correct answer is therefore "abandoned." To provide further help, "enervated" means weakened; "demolished" means destroyed; "verified" means confirmed; "implored" means begged, urged.
Example Question #107 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Whilst her best friend was able to live in a gorgeous and distinctive apartment building; the best she could afford was a __________ building way out of town.
resplendent
nondescript
sumptuous
opulent
elegant
nondescript
Based on the structure of this sentence you know that the correct answer must mean something opposite to either "gorgeous" or "distinctive." "Distinctive" means different to the point of being easily noticed. So, the correct answer is "nondescript" which means unremarkable, lacking any distinguishing qualities. To provide further help, the four incorrect answer choices are all loosely synonyms of "gorgeous." They all describe something that is beautiful, especially attractive and impressive.
Example Question #108 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
"Okay," she said, "our old plan is not working, we need to __________ a new one."
inundate
dominate
replicate
eradicate
formulate
formulate
The speaker here is saying that the group's old plan is not working for them and as a result they need to come up with a new one. The correct answer is therefore "formulate" because that means come up with, develop. To provide further help, "inundate" means flood, overwhelm; "eradicate" means get rid of; "dominate" means take control over; "replicate" means copy.
Example Question #109 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
"Listen son," admonished the Captain, "you need to toughen up, the battlefield is no place for the __________."
exquisite
fainthearted
brawny
outfoxed
abrasive
fainthearted
The Captain tells another man that he needs to toughen up if he is to survive on the battlefield. This suggests that the correct answer must mean the opposite of tough. The correct answer is therefore "fainthearted" which means scared, shy, timid, cowardly, afraid. To provide further help, "outfoxed" means outwitted, beaten by someone's cunning; "abrasive" means rude and obnoxious; "brawny" means strong; "exquisite" means lovely, beautiful, magnificent.
Example Question #111 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The judge dismissed the defendant's claim that the assault had been spontaneous; ruling that there was sufficient evidence to prove the crime was __________.
transpired
residual
contaminated
premeditated
dire
premeditated
The judge ruled that the crime could not have been "spontaneous," or unplanned and occurring in the moment. So, the correct answer must be an antonym of "spontaneous." The correct answer is therefore "premeditated" which means planned in advance. To provide further help, "contaminated" means polluted, made impure, infected; "transpired" means occurred, happened, took place; "residual" means left over, remaining; "dire" means desperate, dreadful circumstances.
Example Question #112 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was imprisoned for committing __________.
larceny
fallacy
monogamy
allegory
brevity
larceny
To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a crime or something that someone might be imprisoned for. The correct answer then is "larceny" which means theft, robbery. To provide further help, "brevity" is the quality of being brief and quick; a "fallacy" is a misconception, something commonly misunderstood; an "allegory" is a parable, a story meant to impart some lesson, often a metaphorical lesson; "monogamy" is the state of being in a committed relationship with only one person.
Example Question #113 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She felt little __________ for her husband and so decided to get a divorce.
passion
disdain
peril
temerity
gravity
passion
A person would logically choose to divorce their partner if they felt little "emotion" for them. Therefore the correct answer is "passion." "Passion" means emotion, usually strong emotion. To provide further help, "disdain" means hatred, dislike and disgust; "peril" means danger, trouble; "gravity" when applied to a situation means seriousness; "temerity" means boldness, audacity, nerve.
Example Question #114 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The deer came running onto the road and __________ the sleepy driver.
startled
assisted
punched
dismissed
befriended
startled
Logically a deer running onto the road would shock, surprise, and stun someone who was driving. The correct answer then is "startled." "Startled" means astonished, surprised, shocked. To provide further help, "dismissed" means ignored or sent away; "befriended" means became friends with; "assisted" means helped.
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All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
