ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Nouns in One-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1102 : Psat Critical Reading

Peter introduced a carefully crafted ___________ into his argument, subtly changing the meaning of one word in the hopes of confusing those trying to follow his reasoning.

Possible Answers:

contrivance

equivocation

lie

trickery

falsification

Correct answer:

equivocation

Explanation:

The subordinate clause beginning with “subtly” is the key to getting this sentence correct. The implication of this clause is that Peter changed the meaning of a word in the middle of making an argument. Perhaps he changed “payment” from its general sense to a specific use of payment that had legal repercussions. Without noticing, he would thus have shifted the argument from a question of “payment” to “paying in a specific legal circumstance.” Equivocation is generally used to describe this kind of loose use of language. In ancient and medieval logic, a “purely equivocal term” would be a word like “bank,” which describes both the edge of a river and the institution into which you put money. With such a word, you certainly could equivocate—change meanings—though it would not be very subtle!

Example Question #162 : Sentence Completions

The executive officer sometimes forgot how many __________ were made available to his department; this led him to be unfairly impatient with the slowness of other groups that had far fewer employees and supplies.

Possible Answers:

servants

resources

instruments

employees

drones

Correct answer:

resources

Explanation:

The parallel in this sentence is between the man things that the officer has and the “far fewer employees and supplies” available to the other groups. Note also that the sentence implies that he is impatient because the other groups are not as efficient as his group, which apparently is better endowed. Resources are those materials and people available for someone to accomplish a given task. This is the best option for this sentence, as all the other options are too specific.           

Example Question #81 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

In praise of the speaker’s talk, the crowd gave him a resounding __________.

Possible Answers:

ovation

ovulation

acceptance

yelp

hauteur

Correct answer:

ovation

Explanation:

The two key words in this sentence are “praise” and “resounding.” The sentence implies that the crowd greatly praised the speaker. When someone gives an “ovation,” he or she does just that. Often this signifies that the praise is in the way of applause. We often speak of “standing ovations” when a crowd stands up at the end of a show in order to applaud. Do not be tricked by “ovulation,” which has nothing to do with this sentence. That word has to do with the release of an egg in the female reproductive system.

Example Question #1103 : Psat Critical Reading

The light rainfall left the wooden rowboat glistening, the water giving a slight reflective __________ on the oars stacked on its sides.

Possible Answers:

feel

sheen

texture

color

quantity

Correct answer:

sheen

Explanation:

We can infer that because the rainfall left the rowboat "glistening" and that the noun that will go in the blank will be described by the adjectives "slight" and "reflective," we need to pick out a word that has something to do with shininess, and in particular, slight shininess. While "color" may look like a potentially correct answer, it wouldn't make sense in the blank, because the sentence isn't talking about "color," but shininess. "Sheen," however, is a noun that means "a soft luster on a surface," and because "sheen" best describes the slight shininess that the rowboat acquires after being rained on, "sheen" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1104 : Psat Critical Reading

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.

The government was held in __________ until the issue of healthcare was resolved.

Possible Answers:

abeyance

alacrity

ambience

affirmation

affinity

Correct answer:

abeyance

Explanation:

The choice that makes the most sense is abeyance: a temporary state of suspended action.

Example Question #1105 : Psat Critical Reading

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.

The assassination of the country’s political leaders led to a period of __________ and turmoil.

Possible Answers:

antipathy

probity

anarchy

apathy

piety

Correct answer:

anarchy

Explanation:

The choice that makes the most sense is anarchy: a state of disorder due to the absence of a governing body.

Example Question #1106 : Psat Critical Reading

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.

The __________ of the mind seems to wane significantly after a child has passed a certain age.

Possible Answers:

platitude

precept

pique

plasticity

posterity

Correct answer:

plasticity

Explanation:

The choice that makes the most sense is plasticity: ability to be easily shaped or molded.

Example Question #1581 : Sat Critical Reading

Pick the word that best completes the sentence

The doctor was stumped: he had no idea what the __________ was for this particular snake bite.

Possible Answers:

antidote

analgesia

ceratoid

myalgia

antibiotic

Correct answer:

antidote

Explanation:

An antidote is a subtance which reverses the effect of poisoning—while "antibiotic" is close, in this context, a snake bite releases poison, not bacteria, so the best word is "antidote."

Example Question #82 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

Pick the best word to complete the sentence.

Political scientists will debate for years to come about whether Barack Obama's healthcare __________ was the best solution.

Possible Answers:

legislations

deployment

reform

policies

institutions

Correct answer:

reform

Explanation:

Based on the verb in the sentence, this word needs to be singular—so although policy and legislation might make sense based solely on meaning, reform is the best answer.

Example Question #72 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

 

Simon had to resort to trickery and __________ to convince his mother to let him go out on Friday night.

 

Possible Answers:

panacea

prudence

respite

chicanery

skepticism

Correct answer:

chicanery

Explanation:

"Chicanery" means deception or trickery. "Skepticism" means doubt or disbelief. "Respite" means a pause or suspension of activity. "Prudence" means caution or carefullness. "Panacea" means a cure-all or remedy

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