All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1111 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The team's diehard fans were furious over the general manger's attempts to be __________ with the payroll money and got extremely sick of watching losses, which they considered to be resulting from his frugality.
lavish
superficial
parsimonious
liberal
squandering
parsimonious
That the team is losing because of something they did regarding money gives a contextual clue that they are not spending much of it on their players. We are also told that the team's losses are being blamed on the manager's "frugality." Parsimonious is defined as frugality to the point of stinginess, so it is the correct answer because it best fits the context of the sentence.
Example Question #1112 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Timothy’s parents were greatly concerned about his __________ attitude and hoped that he would soon show some interest in some activity, if only an after school sport.
apathetic
unscholarly
negative
sulking
moping
apathetic
The key thing to note in this sentence is that Timothy is showing no interest in anything at all. A person who has little interest is best described as being “apathetic,” a word that literally means “having now emotions.” The “a-” prefix is here a negative prefix meaning “not,” while “pathetic” comes from Greek roots meaning “feeling” or even “suffering.” It is related to words like “pathos,” “empathy,” “sympathy,” and “passion.”
Example Question #2497 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Some of his __________ goals include receiving a Nobel Prize, majoring in aeronautical engineering, and running a marathon.
lofty
ordinary
mundane
mindless
effortless
lofty
All of the listed goals are difficult to attain and require exceedingly hard work to make a reality; therefore, they can best be described as lofty or elevated.
Example Question #481 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
In contrast with the dire poverty he knew growing up, the otherwise simple house seemed absurdly __________ to Byron.
arrogant
hoi polloi
affluent
sizable
complex
affluent
The contrast being made in this sentence is between Byron’s poverty and the new house. The appropriate word must reflect above all this notion of being “not a poor man’s house.” Therefore, the best option is “affluent,” which means “wealthy.” The word literally is derived from root words in Latin that mean “to flow.” Someone who is “affluent,” in a sense “flows” with wealth / money / et cetera.
Example Question #1081 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Having once been one of the wealthiest people in town, Dalton now found himself utterly __________ and living on the street.
scanty
shiftless
destitute
jobless
meager
destitute
The sentence implies that Dalton now finds himself in an utterly different set of circumstances, no longer extremely wealthy but instead utterly poor. When someone is “destitute,” he or she is unable to provide even for the necessities of life (like housing, as appropriate to our sentence). The word comes from the prefix “de-” in the sense of “being down from” and the base “-stit-” as meaning “to stand.” One who is destitute has “stood down” from his or her place in life—though not necessarily by choice, mind you. The “-stit-” base can be found in words like “constitute” and “prostitute.”
Example Question #1281 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Since Timothy accomplished tasks best when they were given a __________ order, he always worked through his lists of obligations one item following another.
bounded
fixed
regular
steady
sequential
sequential
The key expression here is “one item following another.” This implies that Timothy worked best with items that are given an order “one after another,” which is best described as being “sequential.” The word literally means “following an understandable order,” often meaning a temporal (time) order. The word comes from the Latin meaning “to follow” and is found in other English words like “consecutive,” “consequence,” and “consecutive.”
Example Question #1282 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
After many years of disappointing experiences, Laura had come to believe that all happiness was __________.
penumbral
idiotic
perfidious
irritating
illusory
illusory
The key expression is “disappointing experiences,” implying that Laura had seen most enjoyments come to nothing. Such experiences would lead one to believe that happiness is not real or that it is an illusion; therefore, it is best described as “illusory.” The word “illus-” portion of the word actually comes from the Latin for “to play or mock,” so “illusory” is related to words like “ludicrous,” “elusive,” and “delusion.”
Example Question #1283 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The stark contrast between mainstream society and the hippie movement in the 1960s demonstrated how __________ America had become.
mundane
distinct
polarized
steadfast
arrogant
polarized
The use of the phrase “stark contrast” tells you that there must have been a massive difference between mainstream society and the hippie movement; the correct answer must reflect this. While "distinct" might look like a good answer, "polarized," which means characterized by extreme differences of opinion, is the most fitting answer, since it conveys a more intense difference than does "distinct." (In addition, "polarized" conveys a sense of something (e.g. a country) being made up of two or more very different aspects, whereas "distinct" would suggest that the country is different from something else, but does not suggest anything about its component parts.) As for the other answer choices, "mundane" means boring; "steadfast" means resolute; and "arrogant" means smug.
Example Question #1284 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ behavior of Mother Theresa is legendary; over the course of her lifetime she gained a reputation for extreme kindness, self-sacrifice, and generosity.
polarizing
arrogant
magnanimous
holistic
inaudible
magnanimous
The second clause reveals that the first blank must describe how Mother Theresa’s behavior was kind and generous. The best answer choice is therefore magnanimous which means generous, high-minded, selfless and noble. Holistic refers to the consideration of all factors; inaudible describes something that cannot be heard; arrogant means cocky; polarizing means causes extreme division.
Example Question #1285 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The French Revolution was a(n) __________ occasion where the whole future of European society changed.
irrelevant
dismissive
polarizing
introspective
momentous
momentous
The sentence suggests that the French Revolution changed the whole future changed the whole future of European society. It must have therefore been an important occasion. Of the answer choices momentous best captures the implied importance. Momentous means highly significant. Irrelevant means not important; polarizing means extremely divisive; dismissive means to not consider something; introspective means reflective.