ISEE Upper Level Verbal : One-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Sentence Completions

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

Although Leo did not like it when others __________ him, he accepted the commendation of his peers after he obviously accomplished a significant breakthrough in his research.

Possible Answers:

lauded

debated

transcended

greeted

discussed

Correct answer:

lauded

Explanation:

The key word is “commendation”, meaning praise; therefore, what Leo did not like (but did here accept) is “praise.” To be praised is to be “lauded,” a word derived from a Latin roots for to praise, which can be found in “laudatory” and “laudable.”

Example Question #32 : One Blank Sentences

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

After many years of traveling, Julian’s one-time provincial manners had developed a noticeably __________ character. With ease, he could travel from one culture to another without needing any appreciable time to adjust.

Possible Answers:

shifted

terrestrial

cosmopolitan

manifold

sundry

Correct answer:

cosmopolitan

Explanation:

The roots of “cosmopolitan” come from two Greek bases that you should know (at least indirectly). “Cosmo-” comes from the Greek “kosmos,” which means either order or (more appropriate for our usage) universe.

Related English words are “cosmic” and “cosmology.” The second half of the word comes from Greek roots meaning “city” and are found in English words like “political,” “polity,” and “politician.” One who is cosmopolitan is therefore one who lives as though the world were his or her city. Such a person is comfortable in many cultures and milieus.

Example Question #32 : Context Clues In One Blank Sentences

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

After many months of winter dead colorlessness, the fields were once again alive and __________, teeming with the colors of a new spring.

Possible Answers:

well

thriving

vegetative

verdant

growing

Correct answer:

verdant

Explanation:

Spring colors are bright green, hence they are “verdant.” The word comes to us from the Latin word for green, but if you have had other modern languages, you should notice a similarity in the words used for green: “vert” in French, “verde” in Spanish, and “verde” in Italian.

Example Question #25 : One Blank Sentences

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

After years of a simple life, Lucian’s new, __________ lifestyle was quite a change from his poor beginnings.

Possible Answers:

lucrative

dramatic

opulent

harried

overstated

Correct answer:

opulent

Explanation:

In contrast to his poor youth, Lucian’s lifestyle must have become rather wealthy. If something is “opulent” it is outwardly or obviously rich or luxurious. It comes from the Latin root “ops-,” which means either power / might or wealth / resources. It is related to the word “copious,” which means in abundance or great supply.

Example Question #26 : One Blank Sentences

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

The catch was so plentiful that there was a __________ of fish for the market, which was unable to sell all of the product.

Possible Answers:

colony

plurality 

surfeit

load

plantation

Correct answer:

surfeit

Explanation:

Since there is a plentitude of fish, we could say that there was a “surfeit,” which is an excessive amount of something. The prefix of the word is really an abbreviation of “super-”, which means “above.” The “-feit” portion is derived from the Latin “facere,” which means to do or make and is reflected in many English words like “fact,” “factory,” “artifact,” and so forth.

Example Question #27 : One Blank Sentences

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

In comparison to his rather __________ brother, Jonathan was particularly talkative and indeed droning.

Possible Answers:

relaxed

unconfident

understated

loquacious

taciturn

Correct answer:

taciturn

Explanation:

The key is that Jonathan is not like his brother; therefore, he is not talkative. While this might be described as “understated,” the most direct choice would be “taciturn.” This word means to be silent or reserved in speech. It is derived from the Latin tacere (and related words), which means to be silent or leave unmentioned. A related English word is “tacit.”

Example Question #31 : Context Clues In One Blank Sentences

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

Mark was not known as a great __________, but in secret he did much to help a number of needy families in his community.

Possible Answers:

philanthropist

fundraiser

prognosticator

ameliorator

misanthrope

Correct answer:

philanthropist

Explanation:

Mark’s activity is meant to be in support of other human beings. Such a person could be a philanthropist, or one who is a “lover of men.” The word is derived from two Greek roots. The first half, “phil-,” is derived from the Greek word for “love of friendship” or merely “friendship.” The city “Philadelphia” is named from Greek “brotherly love.” (The “brotherly” portion comes from adelphos, for brother.)  The second half is derived from anthropos, which means human person, and has related English derivatives in words like “anthropology” or “misanthrope.”

Example Question #31 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning

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

Laura had a personality quite different from that of her husband, who often was __________ from the very dramatic social situations in which she wanted to be involved.

Possible Answers:

morose

perturbed

saddened

aloof

vexed

Correct answer:

aloof

Explanation:

Since the two personalities are opposed, it is necessary to think of an opposite for Laura’s troublesome drama. While this might be annoying to her husband, the key is to choose the word most opposed to this dramatic persona. That would be “aloof,” not any of the others.

Example Question #31 : Sentence Completion

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

William, whose outlook on life was particularly dour, was easily annoyed by the opposite, __________ temperament of his roommate.

Possible Answers:

saccharine

carping

puerile

immature

nagging

Correct answer:

saccharine

Explanation:

Someone who is “saccharine” is excessively sentimental or sweet. It comes from the Latin word for sugar, and in modern times the manufactured substance called “saccharin” has been used as a substitute for sugar.

Example Question #32 : Sentence Completion

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

Although Mark seemed to enjoy himself most when he was out of the house and at work, his true satisfaction was experienced at home, attending to __________ matters.

Possible Answers:

happy

tedious

quotidian

foreign

domestic

Correct answer:

domestic

Explanation:

The sentence’s focus on “matters of the house and home” gives the key to finding the correct term.  The word “domestic” means “relating to the house.”  It is derived from the Latin “domus,” which means “house” and has related words such as “domicile” and “domesticate.”   The term is often used in discussing the affairs of a country, where matters within the borders of the country are referred to as “domestic” as opposed to those that are foreign.

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