ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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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.

Possible Answers:

dwindle

exorcise

exercise

beguile

trudge

Correct answer:

exorcise

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

quell

vex

atrophy

facilitate

condone

Correct answer:

condone

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

emulate

solicit

perturb

mar

disentangle

Correct answer:

emulate

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

throttle

maraud

utter

confine

refrain

Correct answer:

utter

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

lingered

elaborated

mutilated

interrogated

surpassed

Correct answer:

elaborated

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

originate

dissuade

cater

admonish

outfox

Correct answer:

outfox

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

maimed

adjourned

pelted

spliced

established

Correct answer:

maimed

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

trickles

endures

scowls

drenches

transcends

Correct answer:

trickles

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

nourished

penalized

invalidated

rue

crammed

Correct answer:

invalidated

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

sullied

proliferated

anticipated

breached

hypnotized

Correct answer:

anticipated

Explanation:

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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