ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Sentence Completion Questions

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

 

Nobody is perfect; we all have our own __________.

 

Possible Answers:

foibles

genres

jargons

dictums

mendicants

Correct answer:

foibles

Explanation:

"Foible" means a personal imperfection or shortcoming. "Mendicant" means a beggar or vagabond. "Jargon" is a dialect or invented language. "Genre" means a type or category. "Dictum" means a saying or a proverb

Example Question #71 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

 

__________ to you Bill! You really did well on the vocabulary portion of the exam.

 

Possible Answers:

edicts

acumens

maxims

kudos

chagrins

Correct answer:

kudos

Explanation:

"Kudos" means congratulations or praise. "Chagrin" means displeasure or annoyance. "Edict" means a pronouncement or order. "Acumen" means ability to understand or reason, acuity, or ingenuity. "Maxim" means a saying or a proverb

Example Question #91 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Using her mother's __________, Sandra knew her teenage son wasn't being completely honest with her.

Possible Answers:

intuition

belligerence

apathy

eloquence

chagrin

Correct answer:

intuition

Explanation:

"Intuition" means insight or instinct. "Chagrin" means displeasure or annoyance. "Eloquence" means skillful way with words or speech. "Belligerence" means aggresiveness or hostility. "Apathy" means an uncaring attitude or lack of caring.

Example Question #92 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Robert delivered a warm and heartfelt __________ during Saturday afternoon's funeral.

Possible Answers:

maxim

censure

eulogy

affirmation

hyperbole

Correct answer:

eulogy

Explanation:

"Eulogy" means tribute or praise. "Censure" means condemnation or denunciation. "Affirmation" means a claim or assurance. "Hyperbole" means exaggeration or embellishment. "Maxim" means a saying or proverb.

Example Question #206 : Sentence Completion Questions

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

The ancient Roman senators lived lives of extreme __________, hoarding massive piles of gold and treasure.

Possible Answers:

stimulus

opacity

etiquette

odyssey

avarice

Correct answer:

avarice

Explanation:

"Avarice" means greed or selfishness. "Odyssey" means an epic journey full of adventure. "Opacity" means darkness or ambiguity. "Etiquette" means manners or proper behavior. "Stimulus" means provocation or incitement.

Example Question #93 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The junior researcher assured the scientist that the results were just a(n) __________ and would probably not occur again.

Possible Answers:

venality

tangent

aberration

invocation

onus

Correct answer:

aberration

Explanation:

"Aberration" means an oddity or abnormality. "Tangent" means a digression or an aside. "Venality" means something easily bribed or manipulated. "Onus" means a responsibility or duty. "Invocation" means conjuration or enchantment.

Example Question #81 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

With his heliocentric model of the solar system, Copernicus entered the history books as a true __________ of the 1500s.

Possible Answers:

mendicant

implication

plethora

tyro

iconoclast

Correct answer:

iconoclast

Explanation:

"Iconoclast" means someone who questions the traditional or conservative way of doing things. "Mendicant" means a beggar or vagrant. "Plethora" means an excess or overabundance. "Implication" means an association or suggestion. "Tyro" means a beginner or novice.

Example Question #181 : Sentence Completions

Because of her faith in her __________ to do well in graduate school, Julie had already began to make plans for after graduation. 

Possible Answers:

dissonance

incompetence

authority

competence

serenity

Correct answer:

competence

Explanation:

This question asks for a word that means that Julie had the ability to do well. The word closest in meaning to ability is competence. 

Example Question #94 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Each sentence completion question 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.

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is the solitary figure onstage in Act 5 Scene I and she delivers a(n) _____ in which she mourns the deaths of Lady Macduff and Banquo.

Possible Answers:

prelude

anecdote

epilogue

prologue

monologue

Correct answer:

monologue

Explanation:

Lady Macbeth delivers a monologue or a long speech given by one person that allows the character to express hidden thoughts and emotions.  She indeed expresses her innermost thoughts and the fact that she is distraught due to the recent deaths of Lady Macduff and Banquo. 

Example Question #95 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

My father could make a joke out of anything; no matter what anyone said, he was always ready with a __________ in response.

Possible Answers:

fenestration

quip

story

calumny

cackle

Correct answer:

quip

Explanation:

Since the narrator's father can joke about anything, we should expect that he was always ready with a joke or a wisecrack. "Cackle" is close to the word we're looking for; it means a shrill laugh. However, this would suggest that the narrator's father laughs at other people's jokes, but does not make them himself, and we are specificaly told that "[he] could make a joke out of anything." "Story" doesn't fit, either, because while stories can be funny, they aren't necessarily funny. "Calumny" means a false and injurious remark about someone—not very funny! "Fenestration" refers to the design of windows—that has nothing to do with making jokes! Our best choice is "quip," which means a quick, witty remark.

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