ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #52 : Sentence Completions: Verbs

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

One of the saddest parts of the death of a relative happens long after the funeral when family members begin to __________ the interpretation of the will, leading to many disagreements among fighting parties.

Possible Answers:

ignore

contest

release

overcome

retain

Correct answer:

contest

Explanation:

The best hint for this sentence is the participial clause "leading to many disagreements among fighting parties." Perhaps the two tempting wrong answers are "ignore" and "overcome." Certainly, if members of the family begin to ignore the will's interpretation, this could cause disagreements—indeed, is likely to cause them. "Overcome" would be a bit odd in this sentence. We might overcome an opponent; rarely do we say that we overcome an interpretation of a will or another legal document. The word "contest" can be used as a verb in addition to its more regular noun form. As a verb, it means oppose.

Example Question #53 : Sentence Completions: Verbs

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

Despite several decades of effort, the gender gap between men and women is still massive and more needs to be done to __________ this imbalance. 

Possible Answers:

detonate

demoralize

equalize

calculate

implicate

Correct answer:

equalize

Explanation:

The author tells us that the gender gap between men and women is massive and that we need to correct this imbalance. The best answer choice is “equalize,” which means to make equal. To provide further help, “implicate” means get into trouble; “detonate” means set off an explosion; “calculate” means work out the answer; “demoralize” means take confidence away from.

Example Question #54 : Sentence Completions: Verbs

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

In the build-up to the Civil War, several states decided that the federal government was not working for their interests and opted to __________ from the Union. 

Possible Answers:

receive

recall

declare

secede

surmount

Correct answer:

secede

Explanation:

Since the sentence is talking about the Civil War, we can infer that the states who felt the government was working against them would want to break away from or leave the Union. This means the correct answer is “secede,” which means to separate from and become independent. To provide further help, “recall” means call back or remember; “receive” means to get; “surmount” means to defeat, to overcome; “declare” means announce

Example Question #881 : Sentence Completions

The family had to go home early because the dog got sick, causing them to __________ their family vacation. 

Possible Answers:

lengthen

enjoy

curtail

prolong

enhance

Correct answer:

curtail

Explanation:

The fact that the family had to go home early implies that they had to shorten their vacation. The word that means the same as shorten is "curtail."

Example Question #882 : Sentence Completions

The man was __________ so that he could receive health care benefits; he did not really have a mental disorder.

Possible Answers:

skeptical

meticulous

malingering

honest

lucid

Correct answer:

malingering

Explanation:

The man faked an illness so that he could receive benefits, which is the definition of "malingering." "Lucid" means unclear, "skeptical" means questioning the truth of something, and "meticulous" means paying close attention to detail

Example Question #661 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

The president was asked to __________ an individual for the open position in the Supreme Court, but he could not think of anyone he wanted to name. 

Possible Answers:

retract

nominate

mitigate

remonstrate

expedite

Correct answer:

nominate

Explanation:

The sentence suggests that the president was asked to formally name and choose an individual to the Supreme Court. The correct answer is “nominate.” The prefix "nom-" often means related to names. To provide further help, “expedite” means speed up; “mitigate” means lessen, allay, calm; “retract” means take back; “remonstrate” means argue with

Example Question #662 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Fill in the blank with the word that best completes the sentence.

Sunlight __________ into the room through the window, casting beams of light on the floorboards.

Possible Answers:

filtered

infiltrated

fused

retreated

merged

Correct answer:

filtered

Explanation:

The best answer choice is one that means entered; therefore, the most fitting choice is that sunlight "filtered" or poured through the window. The other answer choices mean the following: "merge" is to connect; "fuse" is to attach; "retreat" is to move away from; and "infiltrate" is to invade space.

Example Question #662 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Fill in the blank with the word that best completes the sentence.

The parents wanted to __________ the importance of completing homework and being diligent about schoolwork in their children.

Possible Answers:

commend

distill

denote

entrust

instill

Correct answer:

instill

Explanation:

The parents were probably trying to stress the importance of schoolwork in their children and therefore were trying to "instill" or implant the importance of education. To "denote" is to mark; to "entrust" is to trust with something; to "commend" is to praise; and to "distill" is to purify.

Example Question #663 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

The whining child's frustrated mother was at her wits’ end and eventually screamed at her child to __________

Possible Answers:

desist

activate

originate

commence

instigate

Correct answer:

desist

Explanation:

Based on the child’s behavior and her mother’s frustration, we can infer that the mother would scream at her child to stop, or “desist.” To provide further help, “commence” means begin; “instigate” means bring about; “activate” means turn on; “originate” means comes from.

Example Question #664 : Sentence Completions: Parts Of Speech

Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence. 

It is an oft repeated saying that pride and arrogance __________ a fall or embarrassment. 

Possible Answers:

improves

precedes

meanders

changes

takes

Correct answer:

precedes

Explanation:

It is often said that pride or arrogance comes before a fall. The word that most closely means comes before is “precedes.” To provide further help, “conclude” means to end; to “meander” is to move indirectly or from side-to-side; “improve” means make better

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