ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Parts of Speech

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #331 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The __________ car was stuck in the middle of the road and was blocking traffic.

Possible Answers:

stagnant

durable

sacrilegious

ramshackle

bleak

Correct answer:

stagnant

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an adjective that means something like motionless, stationary, not moving. So, the correct answer is "stagnant." "Stagnant" means not moving, not growing, remaining in one place. Additionally, "sacrilegious" means offensive to religion, blasphemous; "ramshackle" means derelict, in poor condition, (of a building) falling down; "durable" means tough, reliable and long-lasting; "bleak" means hopeless and miserable, gloomy.

Example Question #332 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The protesters became more and more __________ as the evening got later and the police were fearful of an outbreak of severe violence.

Possible Answers:

sheepish

militant

indispensable

vain

customary

Correct answer:

militant

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you know you are looking for an adjective that means something like prone to violence, inclined towards aggression. So, the correct answer is "militant" which means so passionate about a cause as to be prone to violence. Additionally, "customary" means what is considered polite and traditional; "indispensable" means essential, vital, needed, cannot be done without; "sheepish" means easily embarrassed, shy; "vain" means self-obsessed, in love with one's own appearance.

Example Question #333 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

He worried that the work was not __________ enough and he would not be able to pay the bills next month.

Possible Answers:

gleaming

antediluvian

lucrative

concise

elaborate

Correct answer:

lucrative

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an adjective that means something like profitable, money making. So, the correct answer is "lucrative." Something that is "lucrative" is very valuable and makes a lot of money. Additionally, "concise" means brief, terse, 'to the point'; "gleaming" means polished, shining; "antediluvian" means from an ancient time; "elaborate" means complicated, complex.

Example Question #334 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

They did not want to go outside because of the __________ weather.

Possible Answers:

destitute

inert

tenacious

aghast

inclement

Correct answer:

inclement

Explanation:

If the subjects of this sentence did not want to go outside it makes sense that the weather was not favorable. The correct answer is therefore "inclement" which means (of weather) severe. Examples of "inclement weather" are a rain storm, a blizzard, extreme cold etc. Additionally, "tenacious" means determined, persistent, dogged; "destitute" means very poor, without possessions or money; "inert" means stationary, motionless; "aghast" means shocked and horrified.

Example Question #335 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

My dog stood on its hind legs and spoke to me as I stared at it in __________ astonishment.

Possible Answers:

torrid

utter

pompous

fickle

quaint

Correct answer:

utter

Explanation:

A situation in which a dog was able to stand up and speak would, of course, be completely amazing and astonishing. So, the correct answer here is "utter" which means total, complete, absolute. Additionally, "quaint" means cute, appealing, and old-fashioned; "fickle" means inconsistent, someone who is likely to change their mind, unreliable; "torrid" means either very hot or extremely difficult; "pompous" means arrogant and self-obsessed.

Example Question #336 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The children searched around their town for a(n) __________ hill that they could sled down.

Possible Answers:

ultimate

arduous

circumspect

oblique

interminable

Correct answer:

oblique

Explanation:

Naturally a hill that could be used for sledding would have to be slanted, at an angle that is neither parallel nor perpendicular. The correct answer is therefore "oblique" which means slanting, sloping, diagonal. Additionally, "arduous" means hard work, difficult to accomplish, challenging; "circumspect" means thoughtful; "interminable" means never-ending, eternal; "ultimate" means final or best.

Example Question #337 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

He got into the __________ car and started the engine.

Possible Answers:

stationary

derelict

voluminous

salient

utter

Correct answer:

stationary

Explanation:

In this sentence you are given very little information to try and figure out which adjective makes the most sense. What you are told is that the subject started the engine of the car, so it must have previously been off. A car whose engine is not running would likely be motionless, parked, immobile, or "stationary." Additionally, "derelict" means in poor condition, falling down; "utter" means total, complete; "salient" means relevant, most important; "voluminous" means roomy, vast, spacious, containing a lot of room.

Example Question #336 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

The gemstone is firmly __________ into the rock and it will take some heavy machinery to extract it.

Possible Answers:

jovial

instantaneous

arcane

dormant

embedded

Correct answer:

embedded

Explanation:

To begin with "extract" means withdraw, get out of. So, based on the context of this sentence you know you are looking for an adjective that means something like fixed in, rooted in, stuck in. So, the correct answer is "embedded." Something that is "embedded" is fixed inside something else, stuck inside something else. Additionally, "dormant" means at rest, not awake; "jovial" means good-natured, humorous; "arcane" means (of knowledge) privileged and ancient; "instantaneous" means happening in an instant, occurring in a moment.

Example Question #339 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

His __________ mood was not helped by the gloomy weather.

Possible Answers:

intractable

sage

unintelligible

morose

mutual

Correct answer:

morose

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an adjective that means something like depressed, sulky, gloomy. So, the correct answer is "morose." Additionally, "sage" means wise; "unintelligible" means not able to be understood; "intractable" means obstinate, stubborn, not likely to change one's mind; "mutual" means shared.

Example Question #337 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

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

She knew she was going to get sick because she is __________ to certain illnesses.

Possible Answers:

dissolute

circumspect

enterprising

predisposed

distraught

Correct answer:

predisposed

Explanation:

If the subject knew she was going to get sick it makes sense that it was because she knew she was susceptible, prone, vulnerable to illness. The correct answer is therefore "predisposed," which means previously inclined towards something, prone to something, vulnerable to something. Additionally, "dissolute" means depraved, having loose morals; "circumspect" means thoughtful, able to think around an issue; "distraught" means extremely upset, devastated; "enterprising" means hard-working and innovative, likely to be successful due to work ethic.

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