All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #236 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was lucky to escape with only __________ damage after such a terrible accident.
horrendous
incidental
equitable
aggravated
bellicose
incidental
If the accident was so terrible than the subject could only be considered lucky if he only suffered minor damage, so the correct answer is "incidental." "Incidental" means secondary, minor, something small that goes along with something bigger. Additionally, "equitable" means fair and equal; "bellicose" means aggressive, war-like, hostile; "horrendous" means terrible, dreadful, horrible; "aggravated" means provoked or made worse.
Example Question #237 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His __________ beliefs were challenged by his liberal daughter.
moderate
garrulous
reactionary
youthful
fleeting
reactionary
If the daughter's "liberal" beliefs challenged the father then his beliefs must have been deeply conservative or "reactionary." "Reactionary" means strongly opposed to change and very conservative. Additionally, "moderate" means not severe, not strongly in favor of one or the other; "youthful" means young, full of youth; "garrulous" means talkative; "fleeting" means not long lasting.
Example Question #238 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His __________ career left him well regarded and admired by his peers around the world.
outlandish
unnerving
gruesome
despicable
illustrious
illustrious
The subject is described as "well regarded and admired" so his career could best be described as "illustrious" which means storied, well known and respected within a certain area. Additionally, "outlandish" means ridiculous and extravagant; "gruesome" means causing disgust, gross; "despicable" means wicked; "unnerving" means worrying, discomforting, causing unease.
Example Question #239 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ___________ house is in desperate need of repair.
laden
gleaming
derelict
terse
lucrative
derelict
If the house badly needs repair it makes sense to describe it as "derelict" which means falling down, in poor condition. Additionally, "terse" means brief; "laden" means weighed down with, burdened with; "gleaming" means shiny; "lucrative" means profitable.
Example Question #240 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
You have to be careful in this __________ weather or you will get heatstroke.
interminable
quaint
instantaneous
torrid
wanton
torrid
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the adjective you need to find must mean something like uncomfortably hot, scorching, boiling. The correct answer is therefore "torrid." "Torrid" can mean very hot and very dry or difficult to accomplish. Additionally, "quaint" means cute and old-fashioned; "interminable" means never ending, ceaseless; "instantaneous" means happening in an instant, occurring in a moment; "wanton" means random and reckless.
Example Question #461 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The concept was __________ to her, but she soon became accustomed.
current
quaint
alien
concise
lucrative
alien
If the subject had to become accustomed to an idea it must have previously been unfamiliar to her. The correct answer is therefore "alien" which means foreign, exotic, unfamiliar. Additionally, "current" means modern, contemporary, of the times; "lucrative" means profitable, producing wealth; "quaint" means cute and old-fashioned; "concise" means brief, to the point.
Example Question #462 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
It may take years for the local environment to recover from the __________ destruction caused by local miners.
opaque
stagnant
wanton
unscathed
indispensable
wanton
Based on the context you know you are looking for a word that relates to the reckless destruction of something. The correct answer is therefore "wanton" which means reckless, random, and cruel. Additionally, "opaque" means not transparent, not able to be seen through; "indispensable" means vital, needed, essential; "stagnant" means not moving, not growing; "unscathed" means unhurt, not wounded by.
Example Question #463 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The president appeared on the news to try and debunk the __________ story about his private life.
arcane
apocryphal
inclement
antediluvian
utter
apocryphal
To begin with "debunk" means disprove, prove as false. So, if the politician wanted to prove a story false it must, logically, have been "apocryphal" or most likely false, not genuine, of unlikely authenticity. Additionally, "antediluvian" means from an older time; "arcane" means (of knowledge) ancient and privileged; "inclement" means severe, intense; "utter" means completely, totally.
Example Question #464 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He is completely __________ and I cannot ever get him to change his mind.
intractable
haggard
circumspect
obese
poised
intractable
If the speaker cannot get the subject to change his mind then he could be described as stubborn, obstinate, or "intractable." Additionally, "circumspect" means thoughtful; "obese" means overweight, very fat; "poised" means calm and under control in a stressful situation; "haggard" means overworked, exhausted, having a poor appearance due to being overworked.
Example Question #465 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He sat at the window for hours keeping a __________ watch on the streets outside his house.
lucid
sage
tactful
rakish
vigilant
vigilant
The man stayed in one place watching what was happening for hours. This is a rather extreme action that could best be described as "vigilant." "Vigilant" means watchful, extremely attentive. Additionally, "tactful" means polite, knowing what not to say; "sage" means wise; "rakish" means charming, dashing; "lucid" means able to understand, able to know what is going on.
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