ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : Sentence Completions

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

I am still ___________ by the memory of my failures in high school soccer.

Possible Answers:

implored 

beckoned 

encouraged 

refuted 

vexed 

Correct answer:

vexed 

Explanation:

The author is talking about his "failings" so it makes sense that his memory of them would be exasperating, annoying, or frustrating. These words are all synonyms of "vexed," which means annoyed by, confused and frustrated by. Additionally, "encouraged" means supported; "implored" means begged, urged; "beckoned" means summoned, called someone towards; "refuted" means argued against, disputed, proved wrong

Example Question #212 : Sentence Completions

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

The shelter is full of many sick and malnourished dogs who have suffered under the __________ treatment of their owners.

Possible Answers:

posthumous

expensive 

inhumane 

convoluted 

perpetual 

Correct answer:

inhumane 

Explanation:

The dogs in the shelter are "sick and malnourished" (under-fed), so it makes sense that they would have been treated with a lack of compassion, with cruelty. So, the correct answer is "inhumane," which means without compassion, cruel, malicious. Additionally, "posthumous" means after death; "perpetual" means eternal, lasting forever; "convoluted" means complex and hard to understand; "expensive" means costing a lot of money.

Example Question #213 : Sentence Completions

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

Although Laura was happy with killing off most of the insects in the house, Paula wanted to __________ them completely.

Possible Answers:

deteriorate

reduce

kill

destroy

eradicate

Correct answer:

eradicate

Explanation:

This sentence expresses a kind of intensification in its comparison of Laura and Paula. Paula apparently wants to kill every last bug in the house. A great word for this would be "exterminate," but that option is not given. The word "eradicate" expresses this notion of totally killing as well.  (Hence, it is better than "kill" or "destroy.") The word "eradicate" comes from Latin bases that mean, to take out the roots. Imagine if you were to rip out the roots of a tree. This would involve totally eliminating the tree.

Example Question #214 : Sentence Completions

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

At first,Vincent did not care about Jordan's bad health decisions, but when he realized that his friend might die, he  ___________ him to stop smoking three packs of cigarettes every hour, hoping that his frequent remarks would convince Jordan of the stupidity of his actions.

Possible Answers:

strengthened

asked

inquired

implored

forced

Correct answer:

implored

Explanation:

Since the sentence says at the end that Vincent wanted to convince Jordan, we know that he must be asking him to stop his smoking and not forcing him to do so. Now, we also know that Vincent is doing this frequently. This hints that he is very worried and is asking his friend to stop in a very devoted manner. Whenever we implore someone to do something, we ask him or her regularly and earnestly to stop. This kind of asking is hinted at by the sentence, so "implore" is the best option.

Example Question #215 : Sentence Completions

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

The teacher's _____________ voice was so boring that his entire class fell to sleep as he droned on about the otherwise exciting topic.

Possible Answers:

speaking

monotonous

lecturing

exhausting

musical

Correct answer:

monotonous

Explanation:

This sentence indicates on several occasions that the teachers voice itself is very boring. We have words like "boring" and "droned" that make us think of a voice that is very tedious and unchanging. Whenever someone is "monotonous," he or she has a voice that does not change its pitch very much at all. The word comes from the prefix "mono-" and the stem "-tonous", meaning one-sounded. A monotonous voice can become very boring, very quickly, so it is understandable that the students in question fell asleep—even though the topic itself was interesting!

Example Question #216 : Sentence Completions

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

The two men decided to ___________ the carpet that they had removed from the house, using the flames to get rid of the large amounts of fabric.

Possible Answers:

eliminate

burn

incinerate

char

scorch

Correct answer:

incinerate

Explanation:

The two men apparently want to destroy the carpet with a fire. Now, it would be acceptable to choose "burn", but the word "incinerate" is just a little bit better of an option. It means, to destroy with fire. This is a little more accurate and detailed about just what the two men are doing.

Example Question #217 : Sentence Completions

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

Many details are not very important when investigating a crime. One or two ____________ facts are often all that are needed to solve a case.

Possible Answers:

circumstantial

crucial

interesting

determinate

enlightening

Correct answer:

crucial

Explanation:

This sentence implies a contrast between two kinds of facts. On the one hand, there are unimportant facts. There are many of these, and they do not help in solving many investigations. On the other hand, there are facts that are important and do help in solving cases. Whenever something is "crucial," it is very important. This is the only option that expresses this general idea about being "very important."

Example Question #211 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

Although the forest fire did not burn down the house, it did _____________ its front porch, leaving black patches in various places.

Possible Answers:

Incinerate

Destroy

Scorch

Enflame

Heat

Correct answer:

Scorch

Explanation:

This sentence indicates that the fire in question did not completely burn the porch. It came to the very edge of the house and only left some minor surface damage on the porch. For this reason, options like "destroy," "incinerate," and "enflame" are all too strong. The word "scorch" is a perfect fit, for it means to burn something's surface. This seems to be what happened to the porch—its surface was burnt, though it was not damaged much more.

Example Question #212 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

As Nigel stared at the majestic waterfall, crashing down into the lake may feet below, he thought the view was utterly __________ and glorious.

Possible Answers:

Physical

Sublime

Aqueous

Gluttonous

Interesting

Correct answer:

Sublime

Explanation:

For this sentence, you are really just looking for synonyms for "majestic" and "glorious." There is no indication that something else is needed, but this point is repeated again and again: the view is quite marvelous. Therefore, the best option is "sublime." Something that is described as being "sublime" is marvelous, majestic, and glorious.

Example Question #213 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

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

With all of the acid rain in the city, the buildings were not merely wearing away. They were completely _____________ from the corrosive fluid.

Possible Answers:

injured

edified

disintegrating

flaking

damaged

Correct answer:

disintegrating

Explanation:

Clearly the acid rain is damaging the buildings in question. Indeed, this sentence indicates that they are being very significantly harmed by the rains. This means that they must be completely "falling apart" or "breaking down" from the acid rain. Therefore, the best word is "disintegrating," which describes the process of falling apart and losing all shape. This seems to be what is happening. In any case, the word "disintegrating" is the only option that has the strength needed, given the structure of the sentence, which signals such an intensification by means of the expression "not merely..."

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