ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Two-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #252 : Two Blank Sentences

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

Eric loved his apartment, but the __________ crying of the baby in the apartment below him made it difficult to __________ on his studies, so he spent a lot of his time at the library.

Possible Answers:

piercing . . . confound

persistent . . . concentrate

obsequious . . . deliberate

unencumbered . . . deplore

chagrinned . . . distract

Correct answer:

persistent . . . concentrate

Explanation:

The sentence's context clue that the baby's crying disturbs Eric enough to send him to the library gives a strong hint that the word for the first blank should involve high frequency or volume. "Persistent" and "hysterical" could each be correct, as "persistent" would indicate that the crying is constant and "piercing" would indicate that it is loud. In the latter portion of the sentence, the fact that Eric goes to the library tells us that his studying is not going well, and in this context, saying that he cannot "concentrate," or focus one's attention on something makes the most sense. So, the correct answer is "persistent . . . concentrate."

Example Question #1322 : Sentence Completions

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

The __________ behavior of the student caused the teacher to __________ him and send a note home describing the interruptions caused by the student during class time.

Possible Answers:

intolerable . . . forgive

inexcusable . . . reprimand

unpardonable . . . excuse

acceptable . . . compliment

reprehensible . . . commend

Correct answer:

inexcusable . . . reprimand

Explanation:

That the teacher sent a note home "describing the interruptions caused by the student during class time" suggests that the student's behavior was bad and unjustified, and therefore "inexcusable." The teacher presumably "reprimanded" (scolded) him for his behavior and then sent the note home to his parents. So, the correct answer is "inexcusable . . . reprimand."

Example Question #71 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

The mother wanted to make sure her children were being __________ with one another and not being selfish, so she resolved to __________ into their relationships with one another. 

Possible Answers:

affable . . . collide 

dogmatic . . . inquire 

perplexing . . . aspire 

evenhanded . . . pry 

equitable . . . accelerate 

Correct answer:

evenhanded . . . pry 

Explanation:

The mother wants to make sure her children are not being selfish, so she wants to make sure they are sharing and have a fair relationship with one another. The word "evenhanded" means fair and equal, but so does "equitable." A mother that wants to check on the activity of her children might "pry" or interfere with their lives, she would not "accelerate" (speed up) into the situation. To provide further help, "affable" means friendly, "collide" means hit, crash; "perplexing" means confusing; aspire" means attempt to be like; "inquire" means ask, question; "dogmatic" means insistent on one's own opinion

Example Question #1 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

The __________ man used his savings to start a charity that aimed to help __________ families that couldn't afford food or rent in the city.

Possible Answers:

philanthropic . . . distinguished

refined . . . amiable

gaudy . . . inaugural

lax . . . impecunious

altruistic . . . destitute

Correct answer:

altruistic . . . destitute

Explanation:

Since we know that the man used his savings to start a charity, we know that we're looking for an adjective for the first blank that means something like "generous." Both "altruistic" ("showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish") and "philanthropic" ("seeking to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes; generous and benevolent") seem like good choices. For the second blank, we need an adjective that means something like "poor," since we know the families can't afford food or rent. Either "destitute" ("lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished") or "impecunious"("having little or no money") could work. Of the potential answers we've identified, the only two to line up in a single answer choice are "altruistic" and "destitute," so that is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Always smiling and __________ Aaron could cheer even the most __________ personality.

Possible Answers:

placid . . . tumultuous

giddy . . . irate

jovial . . . sullen

smirking . . . frowning

grinning . . . farcical

Correct answer:

jovial . . . sullen

Explanation:

Since this sentence focuses merely on Aaron’s ability to cheer others, the best option will be that one which describes him in terms of cheerfulness and contrasts that with those who are not so cheerful. When someone is “jovial,” he or she is cheerful. The word comes from the description of Jove / Jupiter in Roman mythology. A person born under the influence of the planet Jupiter was believed to exhibit the cheerful personality characteristic of the God with the same name. For whatever one might say about the source of this word, it has stuck in English usage, though Jove has been left far behind. When someone is “sullen,” he or she is gloomy or bad tempered.

Example Question #1 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

After being fooled by his daughter’s lies too many times, James finally learned to be __________ when she told him a potentially __________ tale.

Possible Answers:

quizzical . . . brash

angry . . . false

wary . . . deceptive

magisterial . . . overstated

attentive . . . remarkable

Correct answer:

wary . . . deceptive

Explanation:

The relative and independent clauses work in parallel for this sentence. While James had been fooled before, he “finally” learns to be more cautious in believing.   Likewise, we can only say that his daughter’s tales are lies, for that is all that is indicated in the introductory subordinate clause. We are not told that they are remarkable, brash, or anything else of the like; therefore, the best options are “wary” and “deceptive.” To help memorize “wary,” think of it in terms of “trying to be aware.”

Example Question #2 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

The __________ explorer was met with many obstacles as he traveled into the heart of the jungle, including poisonous snakes, dangerous beasts, and __________ diseases that could spread incredibly easily from person to person and wipe out whole villages; however, he wasn't afraid of any of them.

Possible Answers:

condescending . . . bland

fearful . . . convalescent

intrepid . . . infectious

fearless . . . mild

timid . . . contagious

Correct answer:

intrepid . . . infectious

Explanation:

For the first blank, we can infer that because "[the explorer] wasn't afraid of any [of the dangerous obstacles]" that he is brave. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "brave." Either "fearless" ("lacking fear") or "intrepid" ("fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect)") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that describes diseases that can "spread incredibly easily from person to person and wipe out whole villages"; either "contagious" ("of a disease: spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact") or "infectious" ("of a disease or disease-causing organism: likely to be transmitted to people or organisms through the environment") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "intrepid" and "infectious" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "intrepid . . . infectious."

Example Question #3 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Frau Büchlein spent three lectures focusing on what she believed was the __________ issue involved in the topic, for she was of the opinion that without __________ awareness of the issue, one would likely muddle any discussion about the topic.

Possible Answers:

pivotal . . . keen

reflective . . . summary

first . . . outlined

nuanced . . . educated

overall . . . focused

Correct answer:

pivotal . . . keen

Explanation:

The issue with which Frau Büchlein is concerned appears to be “central” to the topic. When something is “pivotal” it is of crucial importance. It is related to the word “pivot,” which is the central point at which something or someone turns. When a person in a marching band “pivots” he or she turns at a given point. In a mechanism, the pivot point is the point at which something turns in the thing’s motion. When applied metaphorically, it means “central” in the sense above, namely, “centrally important” or “crucially important.” When someone has “keen” awareness, he or she has very sharp or developed awareness.

Example Question #2 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

That novel's protagonist is a __________ knight who roams the countryside winning tournaments and protecting travelers from __________ beasts like wolves and bears.

Possible Answers:

failed . . . ferocious

boisterous . . . tame

inconsequential . . . protective

formidable . . . meek

redoubtable . . . fell

Correct answer:

redoubtable . . . fell

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need to pick out an adjective that could potentially describe a "knight who roams the countryside winning tournaments and protecting travelers from . . . beasts like wolves and bears." Either "redoubtable" ("of a person: formidable, especially as an opponent") or "formidable" ("inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "dangerous" to describe the "beasts like wolves and bears" from which the travelers need protecting. Either "fell" ("of terrible evil or ferocity; deadly") or "ferocious" ("savagely fierce, cruel, or violent") could be a potentially correct answer choice. Of the potentially correct answers we've identified, only "redoubtable" and "fell" appear in a single answer choice, so "redoubtable . . . fell" is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

The group realized that their newest member Todd was extremely __________ when he never turned his assignments in on time and sometimes never turned them in at all, so they decided to have a __________ talk with Todd where they would tell him that the group's other members wanted him to leave.

Possible Answers:

reliable . . . straightforward

dramatic . . . meticulous

inconstant . . . frank

fallacious . . . insistent

unreliable . . . congratulatory

Correct answer:

inconstant . . . frank

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "unable to be depended upon," because we know that Todd "never turned his assignments in on time and sometimes never turned them in at all." Either "inconstant" ("of a person or their behavior: not faithful and dependable") or "unreliable" ("not able to be relied upon") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "blunt," because one can assume that a talk where the group would tell Todd that "the group's other members wanted him to leave" would be pretty blunt. Either "straightforward" ("uncomplicated and easy to do or understand") or "frank" ("open, honest, and direct in speech or writing, especially when dealing with unpalatable matters") could be potentially correct. could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "inconstant" and "frank" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "inconstant . . . frank."

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