ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1081 : Sentence Completions

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

She tried to __________ herself with her new work colleagues by bringing coffee and donuts to work every morning.

Possible Answers:

proliferate

avow

maim

embellish

ingratiate

Correct answer:

ingratiate

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like seek favor and acceptance in a new group through flattery or gifts. The correct answer is therefore "ingratiate." To "ingratiate oneself" means to seek acceptance in a new group, to try and 'fit in.' Additionally, "maim" means wound, badly injure; "proliferate" means spread wildly; "embellish" means decorate, adorn, add detail to; "avow" means assert, declare to be true.

Example Question #1082 : Sentence Completions

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

I tried to __________ him from driving that night, but he would not listen to me.

Possible Answers:

dissuade

invalidate

establish

diffuse

cater

Correct answer:

dissuade

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like convince not to do something, convince someone to change their mind. The correct answer is therefore "dissuade," which means persuade not to do. Additionally, "establish" means set up, prepare; "diffuse" means spread throughout; "invalidate" means make no longer valid, disprove, prove as false; "cater" means provide food for a party or provide necessary care for someone.

Example Question #1083 : Sentence Completions

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

My mother __________ me for waking up in the late afternoon and then watching television all evening.

Possible Answers:

amassed

maimed

abolished

enticed

admonished

Correct answer:

admonished

Explanation:

A child spending all day in bed and then all night watching television would likely get scolded, yelled at by their mother for their laziness. So, the correct answer is "admonished," which means scolded, yelled at, reprimanded. Additionally, "abolish" means get rid of, 'do away with'; "maim" means wound, or badly injure; "amassed" means gathered, collected; "enticed" means lured, tempted.

Example Question #1084 : Sentence Completions

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

The water __________ the levee and quickly inundated the small town.

Possible Answers:

adjourned

breached

originated

subjugated

disciplined

Correct answer:

breached

Explanation:

To begin with a "levee" is something constructed to prevent flooding and "inundated" means flooded. So, based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like overcame. The correct answer is "breached." To "breach" means to break through something. Additionally, "originate" means comes from, began at; "adjourn" means to leave a meeting and go to another room, to suspend a meeting until a later time; "subjugated" means brought under control, made subservient by an authority; "discipline" means punish.

Example Question #1085 : Sentence Completions

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

Although widely ignored by society, many scientists __________ him for his groundbreaking discoveries.

Possible Answers:

sully

venerate

penalize

classify

ameliorate

Correct answer:

venerate

Explanation:

The use of the conjunction "although" suggests that whilst society at large ignores the subject of this sentence, the scientific community does not. The correct answer is therefore "venerate," which means deeply respect, revere and greatly admire. Additionally, "penalize" means punish for breaking the rules; "classify" means arrange into distinct categories; "sully" means ruin the reputation of; "ameliorate" means make better, provide relief for.

Example Question #1086 : Sentence Completions

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

The young player __________ all expectations and broke several records for his new team.

Possible Answers:

transcended

emulated

heeded

devastated

anticipated

Correct answer:

transcended

Explanation:

If the young player broke lots of records for his new team it makes sense that he went beyond or "transcended" the expectations. To "transcend" means to surpass, to go beyond, to rise above. Additionally, "emulate" means copy, try to match the achievements of; "anticipate" means to expect to happen, to foresee; "heed" means pay attention to (a warning); "devastate" means destroy, completely ruin.

Example Question #1087 : Sentence Completions

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

She __________ her story to make it more interesting.

Possible Answers:

proliferated

diffused

veered

trickled

embellished

Correct answer:

embellished

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like add detail to. So, the correct answer is "embellished." "Embellish" can mean one of two things, it can either mean decorate, adorn or to add detail (particularly false detail) to a story to make it more interesting. Additionally, "veer" means swerve wildly, change direction dramatically; "trickle" means (of liquid) to fall slowly, a small flow; "diffuse" and "proliferate" both mean to spread throughout, although "proliferate" suggests to spread wildly.

Example Question #1088 : Sentence Completions

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

The dog bounded across the park to __________ the ball.

Possible Answers:

retrieve

beguile

perturb

squander

purport

Correct answer:

retrieve

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means something like fetch, go get something and bring it back. The correct answer is therefore "retrieve." Additionally, "perturb" means worry, concern; "squander" means waste, use recklessly; "purport" means appear to be, claim to be; "beguile" means charm.

Example Question #1089 : Sentence Completions

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

Spring arrived and the plants began to __________.

Possible Answers:

cloister

interrogate

retaliate

germinate

mutilate

Correct answer:

germinate

Explanation:

As you probably know in the spring most plants sprout and begin to grow. So, the correct answer is "germinate," which means (of a plant) to sprout and begin to grow. Additionally, "interrogate" means question, formally question as part of an investigation into a crime; "mutilate" means ruin the appearance of; "cloister" means hide away, seclude; "retaliate" means fight back against.

Example Question #1090 : Sentence Completions

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

Our supply of firewood has __________ so I am going out to chop some more.

Possible Answers:

acquiesced

adorned

dwindled

endorsed

meddled

Correct answer:

dwindled

Explanation:

If the speaker of this sentence feels the need to go and chop some more firewood then it makes sense that his supply of firewood has been reduced or "dwindled." To "dwindle" means to become smaller in quantity, to reduce in amount. Additionally, "meddle" means interfere, become involved with something that has nothing to do with you; "endorse" means publicly support; "adorn" means decorate; "acquiesce" means give in to the demands of.

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