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 #32 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Many actors spend their entire lives chasing after the __________ high that is associated with being onstage in front of an audience.

Possible Answers:

ephemeral 

divergent

frugal

jubilant

exemplary

Correct answer:

ephemeral 

Explanation:

"Ephemeral" works best here since a high is a temporary rush of euphoric emotions, which can only last so long before disappearing, making it temporary.

Example Question #701 : Sentence Completion Questions

The college freshman considered her dorm room very __________ after sharing a room with her three sisters all her life.

Possible Answers:

capacious

enervating

frugal

arid

florid

Correct answer:

capacious

Explanation:

Because she had shared a room with her three sisters all her life, she was probably accustomed to a cramped and small living space. Thus, the dorm room must seem very large, or "capacious," to her.

Example Question #2086 : Sat Critical Reading

Once a boring part of town life, the town meeting was now __________ with tension after the high school controversy.

Possible Answers:

reclusive

prosaic

 

fraught

mundane

provacative

Correct answer:

fraught

Explanation:

The best answer is "fraught," which means "filled with," and captures the transformation of the town meeting from boredom to tension.

Example Question #71 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

The seemingly __________ puppy never tired, even after several vigorous hours of play.

Possible Answers:

indefatigable 

volatile

uninhibited 

satirical 

heretical

Correct answer:

indefatigable 

Explanation:

"Indefatigable" means incapable of being tired out, or never tired.

Example Question #1621 : Psat Critical Reading

Lewis and Clark are often regarded as the daring and __________ pair that explored the entire western United States.

 

Possible Answers:

rancorous

mercurial

intrepid

benign

inadvertent 

Correct answer:

intrepid

Explanation:

The fact that Lewis and Clark explored the entire western United States would make them “intrepid”—adventurous or fearless.

Example Question #32 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

The public was pleasantly surprised and relieved by their congresswoman’s speedy and __________ recovery from pneumonia.

Possible Answers:

incongruent 

superficial

resilient 

inauspicious

exacerbated 

Correct answer:

resilient 

Explanation:

“Resilient” indicates a quick recovery from illness or adversity

Example Question #72 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Most people were impressed with George’s grasp of __________ trivia, but Susan saw it as a mere parlor trick.

Possible Answers:

arcane

popular

significant

common

useful

Correct answer:

arcane

Explanation:

George’s knowledge of trivia is not something that everyone knows, ruling out both "common" and "popular."  Susan’s dismissal of George’s knowledge indicates that it is also not "significant" or "useful," so "arcane" is the correct answer.

Example Question #73 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Becky's locker was __________—all of her papers were filed by date and class, all of her notes were color-coded, and there wasn't a speck of dust or piece of trash to be seen.

Possible Answers:

humble

immaculate

vulnerable

deprived

perfidious

Correct answer:

immaculate

Explanation:

We're looking for an adjective that conveys how clean and organized Becky's locker is, so "immaculate," which means perfectly clean, neat, or tidy, is the best answer.

Example Question #581 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

The story was published __________, so Wallace knew that contacting the author would be a challenging task, as no one knew who he or she was.

Possible Answers:

anomalously

anonymously

copiously

evanescently

credulously

Correct answer:

anonymously

Explanation:

Since no one knows who wrote the story, we're looking for an adverb that describes something done in a way so as to have one's identity remain secret. While "anomalously" and "anonymously" sound extremely similar, they have very different meanings: "anomalously" means "done in a way that deviates from expectations or norms" and "anonymously" means "done in a way that does not identify someone by name." So, "anonymously" is the best answer choice. 

Example Question #1631 : Psat Critical Reading

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one or two blanks.  One blank indicates that one word is missing.  Two blanks indicate that two words are missing.  Each sentence is followed by five choices.  Select the one word or pair of words that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The __________ pieces of clothing were ideal for summertime and could be layered during the wintertime to create new outfits.

Possible Answers:

unsuitable

favorable

versatile

abundant

sparse

Correct answer:

versatile

Explanation:

Since the clothing pieces had uses in summertime and wintertime, it means they are versatile or functional.

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