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 #55 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

Although Gerard enjoyed working in the chemical manufacturing department of the plant, he nevertheless felt the need to __________ to a safer department, for his new wife was concerned that he might be injured.

Possible Answers:

transfer

advance

militate

flee

translate

Correct answer:

transfer

Explanation:

As strange as it might seem, the best clue in this sentence is the preposition "to." The sense is that Gerard needs to go from his current department to a new one. This is not necessarily a matter of "fleeing" or "advancing." Instead, it is merely a matter of "transferring." To "transfer" something is literally to carry it "across" some space—from one place to another. The prefix "trans-" means across, as you might know from the word "translate."

Example Question #56 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

The doctors had to __________ labor in the pregnant woman so as to avoid any complications; they did not want to have to force anything, but the alternative was to let the mother suffer.

Possible Answers:

remedy

assuage

demean

pacify

induce

Correct answer:

induce

Explanation:

The context of this sentence suggests that the doctors had to force the pregnant woman into labor to avoid complications. This means the correct answer is “induce.” To provide further help, “remedy” means fix and “demean” means humiliate, put down. Additionally, “assuage” and “pacify” are synonyms of one another, both words mean to calm

Example Question #57 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

Since the table was constructed incorrectly, it needed to be __________ and then reconstructed.

Possible Answers:

rethought

remodeled

corrugated

dismantled

deteriorated

Correct answer:

dismantled

Explanation:

Since the table was put together incorrectly, it needed to be taken apart, or "dismantled." To "rethink" is to ponder over something once more; to "remodel" is to make structural or decorative renovations to; to "corrugate" is to fold into tiny ridges or folds; and to "deteriorate" is to become steadily worse.

Example Question #58 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

All of the flowers in the garden __________ during the drought, some bending almost to the ground, but they look a lot healthier since last night's rainstorm.

Possible Answers:

averted

broke

pacified

wilted

crammed

Correct answer:

wilted

Explanation:

We can tell from the sentence that we're looking for a verb that means something like bent. While "wilted" and "broke" each seem like possible options, "broke" is too strong of a word for the sentence's context, since then we wouldn't be able to explain how the flowers were able to recover after the rainstorm. "Wilted," however, refers to plants and means drooped; because of this, it best fits the context of the sentence and is the correct answer.

Example Question #59 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

The vice principal rushed to the lunch room to __________ the food fight, but by the time he restored order, mashed potatoes had been splattered on the ceiling and gravy coated the floor.

Possible Answers:

opine

pause

quell

start

encourage

Correct answer:

quell

Explanation:

We can infer from the subject of the sentence that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "stop." "Start" and "encourage" are antonyms of the word we're looking for, so neither of them can be the correct answer. While "pause" might look like a good answer, "pause" implies only a temporary stop, and it seems pretty unlikely that the vice principal would let the food fight start up again. The best answer choice is "quell," a verb that in this context means "put an end to a rebellion or other disorder, typically by the use of force."

Example Question #56 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

Toby was initially suspected of being the one who ate most of the fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies when no one was looking, but he was __________ when his little brother wandered into the room chewing on the last cookie with chocolate smeared around his mouth.

Possible Answers:

tried

accused

convicted

vindicated

confirmed

Correct answer:

vindicated

Explanation:

We can infer that because Toby's little brother clearly ate the cookies, that Toby was proven innocent when his little brother wandered into the room. So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "proven innocent" for the blank. "Convicted," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "convicted" means "declared to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law," and Toby was not guilty. "Vindicated," however, is a verb that means either "cleared (someone) of blame or suspicion" or "showed or proved to be right, reasonable, or justified," and because "vindicated" best describes how Toby was cleared of suspicion when it was discovered that his brother had eaten the cookies, "vindicated" is the correct answer.

Example Question #41 : Sentence Completions: Conjunctions And Sentence Logic

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

Sally showing up to school on Friday with no dramatic change in her appearance __________ the rumors that she had died her hair bright pink for the school play that was premiering that night.

Possible Answers:

presented

confirmed

quashed

liberated

encouraged

Correct answer:

quashed

Explanation:

We can infer that because Sally did not show up to school on Friday with her hair died pink, that it stopped the rumors that she had died her hair. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "stopped." Neither "encouraged" nor "confirmed" can be the correct answer, because Sally did nothing to support the rumors that she had died her hair pink, so neither answer choice makes sense in the sentence's context. "Quash," however, means "put an end to; suppress," so "quashed" is the answer choice that best describes what happened to the rumors, and because "quashed" best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #42 : Sentence Completions: Conjunctions And Sentence Logic

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

Although Thomas Jefferson was not an impressive __________, he did wield great communicative power when sitting alone in his study, expressing his thoughts in writing.

Possible Answers:

legislator

orator

poet

stylist

legalist

Correct answer:

orator

Explanation:

The sentence implies a contrast because of its beginning with "although." The blank is contrasted to the fact that Jefferson could write very communicatively. The implication is that he was perhaps not as impressive in communicating by other means. The only option that indicates such other means of communication is the word "orator." An orator is one who speaks in a public forum. The fact that Jefferson writes well when alone particularly hints that the contrasting term should be "orator," which not only indicates abilities as a speaker but also the fact that such speaking is public in character.

Example Question #43 : Sentence Completions: Conjunctions And Sentence Logic

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

Although Patrick had very little __________ in computer programming, he had, in fact, worked for twenty years as a computer technician.

Possible Answers:

enjoyment

renown

dislike

experience

expertise

Correct answer:

experience

Explanation:

The key to this question is the word "although." This sets up a contrast between the main clause and the introductory clause. The contrast being expressed is between the fact that Patrick had worked for years as a technician and his status as a programmer. In contrast to working for a number of years, he must have worked few years (or none) as a programmer. Therefore, he lacks "experience." The second best answer is "expertise." However, it could be the case that Patrick has the expertise (though unpracticed).

Example Question #44 : Sentence Completions: Conjunctions And Sentence Logic

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

Dean's resume was not very __________; he had never held a job and had no work experience at all.

Possible Answers:

wealthy

questionable

industrial

academic

impressive

Correct answer:

impressive

Explanation:

A resume should express someone's work experience (and other such background information), making the case for them to be considered for some form of employment. If Dean had no work experience at all, his resume was "not much to see." That is, it was not "impressive" for his potential employers.

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