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 #243 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Although the primary function of the company was to write internet applications, there were many __________ roles that supported the work of the core engineering group.

Possible Answers:

questionable

ancillary

unimportant

demanding

superfluous

Correct answer:

ancillary

Explanation:

A supporting role is an “ancillary” role. The word is derived from the Latin ancilla, which means “slave / servant woman.” Sometimes, one will find reference to the medieval notion that “philosophy is the hand-maiden of theology.” In such cases, philosophy would be called the ancilla of theology.

Example Question #244 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Although he had long been retired from his job as an accountant, the old man could not help but allow himself ample time to reflect upon the __________ matters of his own private household management.

Possible Answers:

responsible

leisurely

pecuniary

tedious

repetitive

Correct answer:

pecuniary

Explanation:

The key here is to note that the man was an accountant. This will aid in singling out “pecuniary,” which means “related to or consisting of money,” particularly given the hints in the sentence that the former accountant just cannot help returning to his old ways of paying heed to such financial matters.

The history of this word is rather interesting. It comes directly from the Latin pecunia (and related words), meaning property, riches, or wealth; however, more remotely, it comes from pecus, which means “cattle”—a distinct type of wealth in more agrarian societies.

Example Question #245 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

To this day, the Catholic Church has an army of Canon Lawyers to address the needs of its own __________ law.

Possible Answers:

corrupt

outmoded

sacerdotal

ecclesiastical

specious

Correct answer:

ecclesiastical

Explanation:

None of the evaluative words are justified by the rest of the sentence, so do not read any implications into the words provided. Based on the given data, we are only justified in calling this law “church-related.” The word “ecclesiastical” fits this well, as it means that—of or related to a (Christian) church. It is directly taken from the Latin “ecclesia” (which is taken from nearly identical Greek roots), meaning assembly or (later) church.

Example Question #246 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Even the most liberating truths can become __________ if they are repeated until they have no substance.

Possible Answers:

ancient

questionable

reflective

tedious

trite

Correct answer:

trite

Explanation:

A “trite” remark is one that has been repeated so often that it has lost its meaning. This is implied by “repeated until they have no substance.”

Example Question #247 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Naturally, Jennifer thought that her boyfriend had a __________ personality. After four months of such brazenly narcissistic behavior on his part, it was hard even for her to believe that he gave his actions much moral consideration at all.

Possible Answers:

sociopathic

distasteful

homeopathic

disruptive

recondite

Correct answer:

sociopathic

Explanation:

The key expressions to note here are “brazenly narcissistic” and the fact that the boyfriend does not seem to have moral considerations in any manner. (This latter point helps to give context to his narcissism. Although several other options (distasteful, disruptive) are vaguely related to the sense, “sociopathic” is by far the best. Someone who has a “pathology” is said to have a social or mental issue of some type. The root “path-” is derived from Greek roots related to the emotions or “suffering” (like having an emotion come over you). It is reflected in words like passion, pathetic, etc. If one is a socio+path, they are antisocial precisely because they cannot function morally in society.

Example Question #248 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Upon entering his office area, the newly hired programmer was overwhelmed by a view of endless cubicles, __________ arranged, each directly connected to its neighbors.

Possible Answers:

ceaselessly

tediously

contiguously

unimaginatively

blandly

Correct answer:

contiguously

Explanation:

The central phrase for our blank is “directly connected.” The word “contiguously” means sharing a common border and comes from the Latin root “tangere” (to touch), which has a number of related words, such as “tactile” and “tangent.” The prefix “con-” means with. Hence, the touching in question is a “touching with (something else).”

Example Question #249 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Since he was going to be out of the country for five years, George granted his brother complete ___________ rights to the land, as he thought it fair to give his sibling the profits of the latter’s work on an otherwise unused piece of healthy farmland.

Possible Answers:

tenant's

development

rental

usufructuary

settlement

Correct answer:

usufructuary

Explanation:

Here, our word is in itself very rare and rather esoteric (only understood by a limited group of people—here, lawyers); however, the clear sense of the sentence can help us to piece together the necessary word. Clearly, George wants to allow his brother to receive profits from use of the land. The word “usufruct” is the right of using a piece of land that is someone else’s and also the right to its fruits (=fruct) but without destroying the land (e.g. by overusing it). “Usufructuary” is merely the adverbial form of this word.

Example Question #251 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Megan’s grandmother could not believe that she was still __________ at thirty years of age. By the time that she was thirty years old, the older woman had already had seven children, let alone one.

Possible Answers:

unwedded

virginal

unmarried

single

nulliparous

Correct answer:

nulliparous

Explanation:

There are a number of tempting answers to this sentence, but none of them captures most closely the fact that Megan has no children. We know none of the other possible details.  (The sentences do not indicate whether or not she is married or virginal. Her grandmother is perplexed that she has no children. Never go beyond the details given to you). To be “nulliparous” is to be a female who has not yet given birth to a child. The word does contain its meaning: nulli+parous. Think of “nullity” or even “null” or “nil”—all indicating nothing.  The second part, “-parous” is derived from the Latin to bear children, and you can easily see how it is related to “parent” (and a number of related words).

Example Question #252 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The Association of Apple Lovers would yearly meet for a ___________ gathering, in which all of the members would join together after their separated meetings to discuss the wonders associated with each faction’s favorite subspecies of the fruit.

Possible Answers:

friendly

jovial

plenary

nondenominational

broadminded

Correct answer:

plenary

Explanation:

The key here is to note that the groups had been meeting separately, though once a year would come together. Although the other words might fit, the best sense will be the one that captures this sense of coming together most closely. To be “plenary” is to be a meeting including all of the groups at a given event. It means something like full session, a meaning that could be guessed from the root “plen-,” which means full. Related words are “plenty” and “plenitude.” 

Example Question #253 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Although Nestor had been raised in a strictly Lutheran home, with age, he found himself to be rather __________, looking for emotional solace at whatever various religious gathering he would sample at a given time.

Possible Answers:

agonistic

atheistic

latitudinarian

antireligious

nihilistic

Correct answer:

latitudinarian

Explanation:

All that we can tell about Nestor is that he will sample any religion whatsoever. Let us not, therefore, go so far as to imply that he has no religion. The sense is best captured by “latitudinarian,” which means merely to show no preference (generally in religion). It is related to words like “latitude,” implying breadth or freedom for expression.

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