ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Nouns in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #438 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even though he was the least talented member of the team, the coach always started the midfielder as a __________ to assist the team's fortunes.
hindrance
talisman
functionary
burden
poison
talisman
Remember that the correct answer choice is the best choice, not just an answer that can make sense in the sentence. Here, all the choices can make sense, but only "talisman," meaning a kind of lucky charm, fits best with the notion that the coach is assisting his team's fortunes.
Example Question #341 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
This year’s presidential address was criticized for its dry __________ since it iterated the same political notions over and over.
reminiscence
monotonous
banter
redundancy
paganism
redundancy
"Redundancy" means repetition or reiteration of the same ideas.
Example Question #271 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
__________ can be a desirable trait in poetry if the author wants his or her piece to have more than one possible interpretation.
Ambiguity
Premonition
Stealth
Foreshadowing
Opulence
Ambiguity
Since "ambiguity" is the opposite of clarity, an ambiguous poem is one that could have more than one interpretation.
Example Question #272 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The jurors were awed by the assailant’s coldness; he completly lacked __________ for the family members of those he murdered.
misery
candor
empathy
indulgence
ingratitude
empathy
"Coldness," in an emotional sense, is synonymous with a lack of empathy, pity, or compassion.
Example Question #273 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
James was a bit of a(n) __________ on the team, as everyone else seemed to enjoy socializing after games, whereas he preferred going home to be alone.
foible
confluence
dissonance
player
anomaly
anomaly
An "anomaly" is something that varies from the norm, such as staying home while everyone else hangs out together.
Example Question #274 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The children loved spending time with their grandfather, whose favorite __________ was "Always make time to stop and smell the roses."
distraction
scintilla
maxim
gargantuan
retribution
maxim
A "maxim" is a common saying of advice or virtue, such as "stop and smell the roses," which means that it's always a good idea to enjoy the little things in life.
Example Question #275 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Few of the artist’s works examine the __________ of men and women; he prefers to depict their ugliness.
malformation
pulchritude
frivolity
hideousness
sobriety
pulchritude
"Pulchritude" means physical beauty. An artist who prefers to depict ugliness would not depict physical beauty.
Example Question #276 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The model’s once atypical beauty eventually became the __________ by which all subsequent models were judged.
unoriginal
moderate
quandary
paradigm
substandard
paradigm
"Paradigm" means that which serves as a pattern or model. The model's once uncommon beauty eventually became the standard by which the beauty of other models was determined.
Example Question #277 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Because of her incomparable __________, the wicked stepmother easily tricked her new husband in the fairy tale.
sincerity
guile
frankness
naivety
artlessness
guile
"Guile" means deceitful and cunning behavior. A wicked stepmother tricking her husband, like those found in old fairy tales, would certainly brim with guile.
Example Question #278 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His direct and somewhat offensive speech ably demonstrated a complete lack of __________.
bluntness
obviousness
nuance
forcefulness
boorishness
nuance
The man's direct, offensive speech is placed in contrast with the correct answer choice. Look for the word that is the best antonym for "direct" or "offensive." "Nuance," indicating subtlety or a fine meaning, is the closest antonym among the answer choices.
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All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
