ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1031 : Sentence Completions

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

My grandmother will __________ about anything and she is only getting more disagreeable with age.

Possible Answers:

squirm

carp

lure

dwindle

herd

Correct answer:

carp

Explanation:

The speaker describes their grandmother as getting more "disagreeable" (argumentative) with age. So, it makes sense that she constantly complains or "carps" about everything. Additionally, "lure" means entice, tempt, trap; "dwindle" means reduce in number, become smaller; "herd" means gather together, force together into a tight group; "squirm" means wriggle uncomfortable, fidget.

Example Question #1032 : Sentence Completions

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

My dinner is small, but I am not that hungry so it will __________.

Possible Answers:

confine

emulate

dispute

ratify

suffice

Correct answer:

suffice

Explanation:

If the speaker is not that hungry then his small dinner would likely be enough. So, the correct answer is "suffice." To "suffice" means to be sufficient, to be enough. Additionally, "emulate" means copy, try to match the achievements of; "confine" means imprison, restrict to a small space; "dispute" means argue about; "ratify" means approve, give formal approval to.

Example Question #1033 : Sentence Completions

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

The restaurant agreed to __________ my party and provide food for more than fifty people!

Possible Answers:

deprive

enunciate

veer

cater

adjourn

Correct answer:

cater

Explanation:

To solve this problem you are looking for a verb that means provide food for a formal occasion. The correct answer is therefore to "cater." Additionally, "veer" means change direction wildly; "deprive" means not allow to have, take away from; "adjourn" means leave a meeting and go to another room; "enunciate" means pronounce, say.

Example Question #1034 : Sentence Completions

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

Attempts at peace failed and the army had to __________ to violence to quell the rebellion.

Possible Answers:

embellish

resort

articulate

atrophy

invalidate

Correct answer:

resort

Explanation:

The context of this sentence relates to an action reluctantly turned to as an option. The correct answer is therefore "resort." To "resort" to something means to turn to something as an option. Additionally, "invalidate" means prove to be false; "embellish" means add detail to, decorate, add a false detail to a story; "articulate" means give voice to, express; "atrophy" means weaken over time due to lack of use.

Example Question #1035 : Sentence Completions

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

The adherents went on a pilgrimage to __________ for their sins.

Possible Answers:

subjugate

solicit

ameliorate

classify

atone

Correct answer:

atone

Explanation:

To begin with "adherents" are strict followers and a "pilgrimage" is a religious journey. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these verbs is something that a group of religious followers might do with regard to their sins. The correct answer is "atone," which means seek forgiveness for, seek to make amends for. Additionally, "subjugate" means bring under control; "ameliorate" means relieve, calm, make less severe; "classify" means put into groups, organize according to some trait; "solicit" means seek advice, help, or payment from.

Example Question #1036 : Sentence Completions

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

Raiding parties landed on the island to _________ and plunder.

Possible Answers:

disentangle

maraud

wail

queue

efface

Correct answer:

maraud

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these verbs relates to "plunder" (stealing, pilfering) and might be committed by a group of soldiers during a war. The correct answer is "maraud," which means to roam around committing violence and stealing property. Additionally, "efface" means erase, delete; "disentangle" means resolve, sort out, make no longer tangled; "wail" means cry out loudly; "queue" means get in line for, wait for.

Example Question #1037 : Sentence Completions

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

They were angered by the act of aggression committed against them and decided to violently __________.

Possible Answers:

retaliate

germinate

cloister

insinuate

slander

Correct answer:

retaliate

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like attack back, fight back. So, the correct answer is "retaliate." Additionally, "insinuate" means suggest, imply is true; "germinate" means plant and grow; "cloister" means hide away, shut away, lock away; "slander" means speak out in an attack against someone's reputation.

Example Question #1038 : Sentence Completions

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

During prohibition the government __________ the sale of alcohol.

Possible Answers:

interdicted

surpassed

beguiled

trudged

squirmed

Correct answer:

interdicted

Explanation:

The context of this sentence discusses the "prohibition" (ban) on alcohol, so the correct answer must mean prohibited, forbade, did not allow. The correct answer is therefore "interdicted." Additionally, "squirm" means wiggle uncomfortable, fidget; "surpass" means go beyond; "beguile" means charm; "trudge" means walk in a slow, ponderous manner.

Example Question #1039 : Sentence Completions

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

If you have an important test it __________ you to study.

Possible Answers:

retrieves

goads

alludes

perturbs

behooves

Correct answer:

behooves

Explanation:

"Behooves" is an antiquated, old-fashioned word that is nonetheless still in use today. It means something like is good for, is advantageous for, is one's responsibility to. Additionally, "alludes" means hints at, suggests is true; "goad" means encourage, 'egg on'; "retrieve" means go get, fetch, bring back; "perturb" means upset, disturb, worry.

Example Question #1040 : Sentence Completions

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

The young lady was __________ by the magician and forced into a deep sleep.

Possible Answers:

enthralled

hypnotized

agitated

derided

succored

Correct answer:

hypnotized

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means put to sleep. The correct answer is therefore "hypnotized." Additionally, "deride" means mock, make fun of in a cruel way; "agitate" means disturb, cause to feel anxious and excited; "enthralled" means captivated by, deeply interested in and attracted to; "succor" means provide aid or relief to.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors