ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Two-Blank Sentences

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

1 2 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 Next →

Example Question #31 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

Although the army only recently had suffered its only defeat, the damage they suffered was so __________ that they no longer had any delusions that they were __________.

Possible Answers:

extensive . . . invincible

noteworthy . . . exceptional

devastating . . . marital

gory . . . pristine

forthright . . . supernal

Correct answer:

extensive . . . invincible

Explanation:

The best way to approach this sentence is to consider the options for the second word. The option “devastating, marital” might seem acceptable if you happen to let your eyes glide over the second word too quickly. The word “marital” is not “martial,” which would seem to be acceptable (meaning “pertaining to war”). Even if it were that word, it would still be unacceptable, but “devastating” does match well for the first blank, thus making it a tempting option. Do not be deceived! The best option is “extensive, invincible,” particularly given that the army apparently can no longer think that they cannot be defeated. Therefore, they cannot think themselves to be “invincible.”

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

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

The __________ terrorist refused to compromise on his demands; the __________ stand-off left the authorities with few options.

Possible Answers:

intransigent . . . intractable

ameliorated . . . tolerable

amenable . . . unmanageable

responsive . . . impossible

satisfied . . . relieved

Correct answer:

intransigent . . . intractable

Explanation:

"Intransigent" means refusing to compromise, while "intractable" means difficult to manage or unmanageable. Refusing to compromise on his demands, the terrorist made the stand-off unmanageable for the authorities, taking away their options.

Example Question #40 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

In the waning years of his life King Henry VIII, once a healthy and ­­­__________ leader, became slovenly and __________.

Possible Answers:

erratic . . . regressive

boorish . . . tempered

neglectful . . . meticulous

disdainful . . . wasteful

regal . . . corpulent

Correct answer:

regal . . . corpulent

Explanation:

This sentence provides several clues to help you identify the correct answer. Firstly, you know that the first blank must match the attitude of the word healthy and the second black must match the attitude of the word slovenly. Secondly, the second blank must be different (most likely opposite) in meaning to either healthy or the first blank. Erratic means inconsistent and regressive means reverting to a less developed condition. The second blank could perhaps fit, but the first blank does not match with what we know about the sentence. Likewise, for boorish, which means ill-mannered, and tempered, which means a measured response. If those two blanks were the other way around the sentence might work. Neglectful (failing to care for something) and meticulous (showing extreme care and precision) could also work if the blanks were the other way around. Disdainful (disrespectful) and wasteful are not opposites. That leaves regal and corpulent as the only possible answer. Regal refers to the condition of royalty and fits comfortable with a description of a healthy King Henry VIII; corpulent describes someone who is fat and works well with the changing nature of King Henry’s health.

Example Question #2301 : Psat Critical Reading

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

The farmer surveyed his plot of land, convinced the __________ soil would deliver a __________ harvest.

Possible Answers:

arid . . . copious

fecund . . . bountiful

dismal . . . generous

healthy . . . useless

fertile . . . insubstantial

Correct answer:

fecund . . . bountiful

Explanation:

"Fecund" means fruitful and fertile, while "bountiful" means generous, plentiful, copious. A farmer who surveyed a fertile plot of land would certainly expect it to deliver a generous crop.

Example Question #342 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The funeral of Margaret Thatcher was a __________ and respectful occasion for the majority of the British population; however there was a large minority, particularly over the internet, who commented __________ and distastefully on her life.

Possible Answers:

notorious . . . dramatically

terse . . . succinctly

audible . . . wistfully

concise . . . quiescently

somber . . . sardonically

Correct answer:

somber . . . sardonically

Explanation:

The use of the word “however” to begin the second clause suggests that the meaning of the second part of the sentence is different from and most likely opposite to the meaning of the first sentence. Additionally, you know that the first blank must refer to a common feeling at a funeral, and the second blank must closely resemble the meaning of the word “distastefully.” The best match for the first blank is "somber," which means having a serious and melancholy atmosphere, and the word that most closely matches with "distastefully" is "sardonically," which means in the manner of sarcastic commentary. These answers best fit with the context of the sentence. As for the other answer choices, "terse" means short and concise and "succinctly" means expressed with brevity; "concise" means expressing meaning using few words and "quiescently" means in a manner that is at rest; "audible" means able to be heard, and "wistfully" refers to doing something in the manner of looking back with sadness to a better past; and "notorious" means famous for bad deeds.

Example Question #2311 : Psat Critical Reading

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

I’m not usually a(n) __________ person, but I was fuming after I got lost driving to my friend’s house because of the __________ directions he gave me.

Possible Answers:

irksome . . . volatile

presumptuous . . . egregious

fanatical . . . unwitting

irascible . . . nebulous

glacial . . . subtle

 
Correct answer:

irascible . . . nebulous

Explanation:

For the first blank, we are looking for a word that has to do with getting angry because this person was “fuming.” For the second, we can infer that the directions were not very good because this person got lost. The answer choice with "irascible . . . nebulous" is the only that fits because irascible means easily angered, while "nebulous" means vague.

Example Question #1911 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

Sally wore a(n) __________ dress that involved feathers, fringe, sequins and a long train, and while her boyfriend Fred was initially shocked by her appearance, he eventually __________ that the outfit suited her outgoing personality perfectly.

Possible Answers:

flamboyant . . . conceded

colorful . . . contested

ostentatious . . . denied

simple . . . proclaimed

demure . . . admitted

Correct answer:

flamboyant . . . conceded

Explanation:

For the first blank, we can infer that because Sally's dress "involved feathers, fringe, sequins and a long train," we need to pick out a word that means something like "complex" or "conspicuous." Neither "simple" or "demure" can be correct, because they are antonyms of "complex" and "conspicuous," but either "flamboyant" (when describing clothing, "noticeable because brightly colored, highly patterned, or unusual in style") or "ostentatious" ("characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "eventually agreed"; either "admitted" or "conceded" ("admitted that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "flamboyant" and "conceded" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "flamboyant . . . conceded."

Example Question #381 : Two Blank Sentences

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

The lady's dress was simply __________ and she drew many __________ glances from the guests at her party. 

Possible Answers:

impeccable . . . covetous 

elegant . . . casual 

garish . . . envious 

pristine . . . irritated 

bewildering . . . bellicose 

Correct answer:

impeccable . . . covetous 

Explanation:

From the context you know that the subject was wearing a dress that drew a certain reaction from the guests at the party. It is up to you to determine which adjective describing the dress matches with which adjective describing the reaction. The best answer is "impeccable" (perfect) and "covetous" (envious, desiring). The lady's dress was perfect so many people wanted it. To provide further help, "envious" means jealous; "elegant" means refined, dignified; "pristine" means spotless, clean; "garish" means showy and tacky; "bewildering" means confusing; "bellicose" means hawkish, aggressive, desiring war

Example Question #382 : Two Blank Sentences

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

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

altruistic . . . destitute

gaudy . . . inaugural

lax . . . impecunious

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.

1 2 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 Next →
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors