ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

Many religions believe in a(n) __________ god that has the ability to do anything.

Possible Answers:

omnipotent

fulsome

frantic

eloquent

immortal

Correct answer:

omnipotent

Explanation:

From context, you know that the underlined word must relate to having the ability to do anything. If you are all-powerful, you are said to be “omnipotent.” “Eloquent” means well-spoken; “frantic” means hurried, stressed, rushed, and panicked; “fulsome” means complimentary, overly flattering, or fawning; and “immortal” means unable to die. “Immortal” is a little bit of a trick answer here because you may relate it to the sentence's subject of a god, but "omnipotent" is more closely related to "the ability to do anything" than is "immortal."

Example Question #42 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The singer’s __________ behavior caught the attention of her sponsors who threatened to withdraw funding if she did not clean up her act.

Possible Answers:

apt

incessant

poignant

licentious

laconic

Correct answer:

licentious

Explanation:

The use of the phrase “clean up her act” suggests that the singer’s behavior must have somehow been debauched, immoral or controversial. This should lead you to the correct answer, “licentious.” “Licentious” means debauched and immoral, particularly in sexual matters. As for the other answer choices,“poignant” means touching, moving, or affecting; “apt” means appropriate and fitting; “laconic” means brief and using few words; and “incessant” means non-stop.

Example Question #43 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

His family rejoiced when it was revealed his tumor was __________.

Possible Answers:

benign

malignant

benevolent

malevolent

beneficial

Correct answer:

benign

Explanation:

Because his family is happy about his prognosis, you can assume that his tumor must have been harmless, nonmalignant, or “benign.” As for the other answer choices, “malignant” means dangerous, deadly, or fatal; “malevolent” means wicked and spiteful; “benevolent” means good-natured and kind; and “beneficial” means helpful.

Example Question #44 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

He was embarrassed at having made a __________ comment in front of his wife’s parents.

Possible Answers:

fatuous

whimsical

insightful

intentional

agreeable

Correct answer:

fatuous

Explanation:

One would likely be embarrassed by making a foolish or insensitive comment in front of the parents of one’s wife. This leads to the correct answer “fatuous,” which means idiotic or inane. “Insightful” means discerning or demonstrating how well one understands something;“whimsical” means quirky and silly; “agreeable” means pleasant, not argumentative; and "intentional" means done on purpose.

Example Question #1 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

The paramedics were left ­­______________ when they arrived at the scene to find that no-one had been hurt.

Possible Answers:

incredulous 

diminshed 

ecstatic

intrepid 

amiable

Correct answer:

incredulous 

Explanation:

The structure of the sentence informs us that the paramedics were in some way shocked or surprised to arrive somewhere and find they were not needed. The answer choice that most clearly matches this definition is "incredulous," which means showing disbelief. Amiable and ecstatic are both associated with positive feelings. Amiable is friendly or pleasant and ecstatic is very happy. Diminished means reduced and could possibly fit here, but incredulous is a much better answer. Intrepid means adventurous.

Example Question #45 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

The predatory and rapacious nature of Attila the Hun led many contemporaries to describe him in __________ terms.

Possible Answers:

affable

lupine

lavish

munificent

benevolent 

Correct answer:

lupine

Explanation:

The use of the words predatory and rapacious, which both relate to viciousness and destruction provides the context for the rest of the sentence. As Attila is predatory and rapacious, we know that his contemporaries must not have described as benevolent or affable, as these words mean good intentioned and friendly respectively. Munificent and lavish both relate to having a great deal of money: munificent means generous, and lavish means fancy or expensive. As the sentence makes no reference to Attila’s wealth, we can eliminate these options. This leaves only lupine, which means wolf-like. As wolves have historically be considered both predatory and rapacious this answer choice is the most correct.

Example Question #46 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

America is the most consistently __________ country in the world; more cases are brought before the court system than anywhere else.

Possible Answers:

lethargic

soporific

altruistic

litigious

indolent

Correct answer:

litigious

Explanation:

This is a two-clause sentence, where the clues in the second clause help you solve the blank in the first clause. The second clause pertains to the number of legal cases brought before the courts so you know that the word in the first clause must relate to the legal system. Altruistic means an attitude of giving selflessly and would most likely be used in relation to charity. Indolent and lethargic both mean lazy and could not be applied to something so time consuming as going to court. Soporific refers to the experience of sleepiness or being tedious. Litigious, which means inclined to take legal action is by far the best fit.

Example Question #47 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

During the early Renaissance period many scholars looked back __________ to the height of the Greek and Roman Empires, when Western philosophy had first asserted itself.

Possible Answers:

derisively

magnanimously

wistfully 

philanthropically

disdainfully

Correct answer:

wistfully 

Explanation:

You know from the context of the question that the scholars are looking back into the past. You can also infer from the fact that they are European scholars means they would think positively of the period of time when European philosophy had first flourished. Magnanimously means very kind or generous, and philanthropically refers to showing charitable concern for others. Neither of those words fits comfortably within the sentence. Derisively (show contempt) and disdainfully (show disgust) both refer to the expression of negative opinions; they do not satisfy what we can assume is true of the early Renaissance scholars. Only wistfully which means to be pensive, and yearn for something lost works within this sentence.

Example Question #1 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Captain Cook’s __________ adventure through the Pacific Ocean discovered many new lands for the British Empire.

Possible Answers:

intrepid

facile

convivial

imperious

undermined

Correct answer:

intrepid

Explanation:

The blank is an adjective being used to describe the noun adventure. Facile means easy and does not likely fit with the description of sail through the Pacific Ocean. Imperious means arrogant and could perhaps accurately describe the mindset of a man who sets out to explore the complete unknown, but it is important to remember we are always looking for the best answer. Convivial means pleasant or sociable. Undermined refers to the weakening of something. Intrepid means bold and courageous and fits comfortably with the description of an adventure.

Example Question #2 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Mother Theresa was known for her __________ personality; she gave often and generously to the poor.

Possible Answers:

bountiful 

intrepid 

insolent

incoherent 

arcane 

Correct answer:

bountiful 

Explanation:

From the context of the sentence you know that whatever aspect of Mother Theresa’s personality is being described must relate to generosity and giving to the poor. Of the five answer choices only bountiful means giving generously, and is therefore the correct answer. Intrepid means adventurous; incoherent means impossible to understand; insolent means rude; arcane means mysterious or hard to understand.

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