ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

The regular sandwich comes with lettuce and tomato on wheat bread, but the __________ sandwich includes caramelized onions, cheese, and spicy mayonnaise on a toasted bun.

Possible Answers:

portentous

difficult

deluxe

hungry

miserable

Correct answer:

deluxe

Explanation:

We can infer that we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "special" because the sandwich our word will describe comes with extra toppings compared to the "regular sandwich." "Hungry" might look like a potentially correct answer because of the sentence's culinary context, but since it wouldn't make sense to describe a sandwich as being "hungry," "hungry" cannot be the correct answer. "Deluxe," however, is an adjective that means "luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind," and because "deluxe" best describes the sandwich that comes with extra toppings, "deluxe" is the correct answer.

Example Question #121 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Harry didn't want to go explore the spooky old mansion because it looked so __________—its windows were broken and dusty, its roof missing most of its tiles, and it looked as if the entire building might come crashing down around anyone who entered.

Possible Answers:

derelict

presumptuous

well-maintained

modern

worn

Correct answer:

derelict

Explanation:

We can infer that whichever adjective goes in the blank, it needs to describe the mansion described when the sentence says, "its windows were broken and dusty, its roof missing most of its tiles, and it looked as if the entire building might come crashing down around anyone who entered." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "run-down" to describe the building. "Well-maintained," then, cannot be the correct answer because the building is clearly not well-maintained if Harry is concerned about it "[coming] crashing down." "Derelict," however, is an adjective that can mean "in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect," and because "derelict" best describes the building described in the sentence, "derelict" is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Sentence Completions: choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Karen's varied and extensive training in ballet, hip hop, and jazz made her a very ___________ dancer.

Possible Answers:

pedestrian

gifted

ambivalent

belligerent

versatile

Correct answer:

versatile

Explanation:

In this case, "versatile" means multitalented or able to do many things. If Karen has extensive training in several different genres of dance, she is a versatile dancer. While she might be a gifted dancer, that answer choice implies innate talent rather than the versatility extensive training would provide.

Example Question #4 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Sentence Completions: Select the word that best completes the sentence.
Though he worked long hours in the factory, the worker's __________ pay was still not enough to feed his nine children. 
Possible Answers:

presumptuous

meager

lucrative

sufficient

unfortunate 

Correct answer:

meager

Explanation:
This sentence starts with the word "though," and since the blank comes after the comma, we know the answer will contradict the first part of the sentence. "Meager" means small, and because "meager" is the word that most correctly completes the sentence, "meager" is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Sentence Completions: Select the word that most best completes the sentence.

When we finally reached the coast, the __________ ocean spread out before us, seeming to go on forever. 
Possible Answers:

Gape

Blissful

Amble

Vast

Miniscule

Correct answer:

Vast

Explanation:
"Seeming to go on forever" is the clue in this sentence. The word that most closely means "seeming to go on forever" is "vast," which means immense, so "vast" is the correct answer. 

Example Question #122 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Gregory had always been a strange man, somewhat __________ about even the smallest things, so it was quite surprising to see him calm in the midst of the many stresses he was currently facing.

Possible Answers:

raging

unpleasant

agitated

morose

horrendous

Correct answer:

agitated

Explanation:

The sentence is expressing a contrast. It is surprising that Gregory is calm during a set of circumstances that apparently would be a cause for him not to be calm. This means that he was often—even in small things—agitated or nervous. It does not make sense to say that he was somewhat raging. A "raging" person is someone who is very angry; it is not a matter of many degrees. The other options do not provide an adequate contrast to the calmness. Therefore, the option "agitated" is the best.

Example Question #121 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

William was a particularly __________ individual; he never apologized for always being late to meals, eating more than everyone else, rarely offering to pay for the food, and always talking over everyone else.

Possible Answers:

generous

greedy

annoying

boisterous

inconsiderate

Correct answer:

inconsiderate

Explanation:

From the description of William, it is safe to say that he does not spend much time thinking about other people. In almost every aspect of social interactions, he is self-centered and causes inconvenience for others. Another way to describe this is to say that he does not even consider the other people at all. Therefore, we can fairly say that he is "inconsiderate." While he might be called "greedy" (for not paying) or "boisterous" (for talking over others), the description "inconsiderate" best describes the complete nexus of bad character traits that he shows.

Example Question #123 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Bob believed that he could be __________ with his measurements, for the project did not seem to require attention to the many details considered in his engineering textbooks.

Possible Answers:

immature

lackluster

jejune

imprecise

undeveloped

Correct answer:

imprecise

Explanation:

Since the project did not seem to require attention to details, Bob likely did not think that he needed to be concerned with the specific details of measurement. When someone is "precise," he or she is very careful about the exact details of something. The opposite of this is to be "imprecise," which is the best option among those provided.

Example Question #124 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

The two siblings were surprisingly different; whereas Julie almost never set any significant goals to accomplish, Sarah had a very __________ personality.

Possible Answers:

ambitious

rash

courageous

harried

energetic

Correct answer:

ambitious

Explanation:

This sentence expresses a contrast between Julie and Sarah. Wheras Julie never sets any significant goals, it is implied that Sarah does set significant goals. While it might be said that the setting of such goals is "courageous" or even "energetic," we cannot assume that the goals are either frightening (needing courage of some sort) or that they require a lot of energy. They might require either, both, or neither of these. However, what we can say is that insofar as they are significant goals, they require some ambition. Ambition is not always a bad thing. An "ambitious" person aims to accomplish goals, generally difficult ones. This is the best option among those provided.

Example Question #125 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Unlike his modest brother Rickard, Vince was extremely __________, prominently displaying his appearance and stylish clothing.

Possible Answers:

vain

outrageous

arrogant

foolhardy

flamboyant

Correct answer:

vain

Explanation:

In this sentence, Vince is being contrasted to Rickard inasmuch as Rickard is modest and Vince, apparently, is not. Specifically, Vince's immodesty pertains to his concerns about appearance and clothing. Since he is prominently displaying these, he must have a high opinion of his appearance. Such a person is vain—an attitude quite the opposite of that found in a modest person.

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