All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1001 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She needed time to forget the past and __________ her demons.
dwindle
exorcise
exercise
beguile
trudge
exorcise
Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like to rid oneself of demons, to get rid of troubles and suffering. The correct answer is therefore "exorcise." Additionally, "beguile" means charm; "exercise" means work out, do something physical; "dwindle" means become smaller, reduce in amount; "trudge" means walk slowly and ponderously.
Example Question #1002 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He did not agree with her and found it hard to __________ her actions.
quell
vex
atrophy
facilitate
condone
condone
Seeing as the subject does not agree with her it makes sense that he would not give his support to her actions. The correct answer is therefore "condone," which means allow, give support to. Additionally, "facilitate" means help to get done; "atrophy" means weaken over time due to lack of use; "vex" means confuse and irritate; "quell" means stop, reduce in intensity.
Example Question #1003 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He wants to __________ his older sister, but his sister just wants him to be himself.
emulate
solicit
perturb
mar
disentangle
emulate
The subject's speaker wants him to be himself, so the verb used to describe what the subject wants to do must relate to not being oneself. The correct answer is therefore "emulate," which means to copy, to try and match the accomplishments of. Additionally, "solicit" means ask for, try to get, seek help or payment; "disentangle" means separate, make no longer tangled; "mar" means spoil, ruin; "perturb" means upset, disturb, worry.
Example Question #1004 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She did not dare __________ such offensive words in such delicate company.
throttle
maraud
utter
confine
refrain
utter
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer must mean something like say, speak. So, the correct answer is "utter," which means to say aloud. Additionally, "throttle" means strangle, choke; "confine" means imprison, trap, force to stay in one place; "maraud" means roam aimlessly in search of violence and theft; "refrain" means keep oneself from doing.
Example Question #1005 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The judge needed more detail so she __________ her original story.
lingered
elaborated
mutilated
interrogated
surpassed
elaborated
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer is a verb that means to add detail to a story. The correct answer is therefore "elaborated." To "elaborate" means to add detail to a story, to go into further detail. Something that is "elaborate" is detailed and complex. Additionally, "interrogate" means question a suspect; "surpass" means go beyond; "mutilate" means destroy the appearance of; "linger" means stay behind, wait around.
Example Question #1006 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His opponent used a simple trick to __________ him and win the match.
originate
dissuade
cater
admonish
outfox
outfox
The subject was tricked, outwitted by his opponent so the correct answer is "outfox." To "outfox" means to outwit, to trick, to think of a way to beat someone. Additionally, "cater" means bend to the whim of or provide food for; "dissuade" means persuade someone to change their mind; "originate" means come from; "admonish" means scold, punish, yell at.
Example Question #1007 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I was badly __________ in the collision and have had to spend two months in the hospital.
maimed
adjourned
pelted
spliced
established
maimed
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer must mean something like injured, deformed, wounded. So, the correct answer is "maimed." To "maim" means to injure. Additionally, "splice" means join together; "establish" means set up; "pelted" means hit repeatedly with something moving very quickly; "adjourn" means leave a meeting, end a meeting and go to another place.
Example Question #1008 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The water __________ slowly down the mountainside.
trickles
endures
scowls
drenches
transcends
trickles
The answer choice you are looking for is a verb that describes the slow movement of water. The correct answer is therefore "trickles." To "trickle" means (of a liquid) to move slowly. Additionally, "endures" means puts up with, is able to carry on in spite of; "drench" means to soak, to make completely wet; "scowl" means frown angrily; "transcend" means to go beyond.
Example Question #1009 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The witness __________ the testimony of the previous witness; dramatically changing the direction of the trial.
nourished
penalized
invalidated
rue
crammed
invalidated
In order for the direction of the trial to be changed completely the testimony of the second witness must have contradicted, proved wrong the testimony of the first witness, so the correct answer is "invalidated." Additionally, "penalize" means punish, take something away for something done wrong; "rue" means regret; "nourish" means provide energy, in the form of food; "cram" means to stuff into a tight space or to study hard for a test.
Example Question #1010 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He __________ the flight of the ball and leapt perfectly to catch it.
sullied
proliferated
anticipated
breached
hypnotized
anticipated
If the subject was able to jump perfectly to catch the ball it makes sense that he was able to expect, foresee where the ball was going to be. The correct answer then is "anticipated." To "anticipate" means to be aware that something is happening right before it happens. Additionally, "hypnotize" means put to sleep; "proliferate" means spread wildly; "sully" means ruin the reputation of; "breach" means get past the barriers of.
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