All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #32 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ between Native Americans and European settlers that granted the island of Manhattan to the settlers was __________ of any sentiment or fairness.
conflict . . . inclusive
indoctrination . . . lacking
arrangement . . . devoid
lamentation . . . remiss
nostalgia . . . bereft
arrangement . . . devoid
From the structure of this sentence you know that the first blank is referring to some agreement between Native Americans and European settlers and that the second blank describes how fair that agreement was. Of the five possible answer choices the best answer is arrangement and devoid. Arrangement refers to an agreement and devoid describes something as lacking. As possible answer choices lacking, bereft and remiss would also be correct as these are all synonyms for devoid. However, lamentation means to express sadness and grief; indoctrination means to cause someone to believe something different to what they naturally would; nostalgia refers to a sentimental recollection of past events. None of these answer choices is quite right as a synonym for agreement.
Example Question #1541 : Sentence Completion
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Christopher had long been indifferent to his studies, he recently showed signs of __________ for mathematics. His parents, thrilled at this new inquisitiveness, wished to encourage these __________ interests.
curiosity . . . nascent
disdain . . . troubling
mastery . . . joyous
expertise . . . contemporary
virtuosity . . . comforting
curiosity . . . nascent
The key thing to note is that Christopher only recently had a change in his interests. This gives us the best indication for the second word to be chosen, as “nascent” literally means “newly born.” It is related to other words like “nativity,” “natal,” and “renaissance" (meaning "re-birth").
Example Question #1542 : Sentence Completion
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
My friend’s argument that might makes right is the very __________ of my belief in a higher law to which we are all __________.
same . . . responsible
antithesis . . . beholden
opposite . . . apathetic
objection . . . burdened
cornerstone . . . liberated
antithesis . . . beholden
"Antithesis" means the exact opposite, while "beholden" means owing something to another, such as allegiance. A person who argues that power determines what is right and wrong would believe the exact opposite of his or her friend who believes in a higher law to which we must all be loyal.
Example Question #1543 : Sentence Completion
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The thief made a ___________ ___________ from the jewelry store she was robbing when the burglar alarm went off, pocketing the loot she'd gathered and running straight out the door at a headlong dash.
inspired . . . conclusion
hasty . . . egress
quick . . . entrance
ponderous . . . getaway
delicate . . . start
hasty . . . egress
We can infer that for the second blank, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "escape," because we know the thief "[ran] straight out the door" when she heard the burglar alarm go off. Either "getaway" (" an escape or quick departure, especially after committing a crime") or "egress" ("the action of going out of or leaving a place") could be potentially correct. For the first blank, we know that the thief made her exit "at a headlong dash," so she was moving very quickly and we should pick out an adjective to reflect her speed. Either "hasty" ("done or acting with excessive speed or urgency; hurried") or "quick" ("moving fast or doing something in a short time") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "hasty" and "egress" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "hasty . . . egress."
Example Question #34 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Thanks to carefully crafted financial devices, the firm’s assets were particularly __________ from any collateral effects of the prices of several key commodities. Even if the prices of these goods fluctuated greatly, the assets would basically be at __________ with their initial values.
liquidated . . . odds
insulated . . . parity
lax . . . prominence
disinclined . . . differentials
limpid . . . development
insulated . . . parity
Since the assets were free from interference, they were isolated. The word “insulated” does not merely indicate the process of installing material to prevent energy from being transferred from one area to another. It also can indicate any such isolation of forces. The word is derived from the Latin word “insula,” which means “island.” The English word, “insular,” is similarly derived.
The word “parity”, indicating a state of equality, is derived from the Latin “pars,” meaning equal. The same root is reflected in English words like “disparity,” “pair,” and even “subpar.”
Example Question #2691 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Sebastian’s attitude was quite dark and irritable. Indeed, one could rightly call it __________. What is more, everyone knew of this disposition because of his constant __________.
homicidal . . . screeching
morose . . . lamentations
depressing . . . sniveling
bleak . . . weeping
moody . . . whining
morose . . . lamentations
The key to getting this question correct is noting the options for the first blank. The sense here is not directly depression but instead is that of being of a bleak and sullen temperament. “Morose” best fits this usage. Although “lamentation” can have the sense of weeping, it also can indicate the expression of sorrow in general, so the word still fits—at least better than the other options, which is all that is needed.
Example Question #1544 : Sentence Completion
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Always delaying his work, Aaron was the __________ example of your textbook __________.
remarkable . . . reader
noted . . . lector
worst . . . salesman
quintessential . . . procrastinator
immature . . . peddler
quintessential . . . procrastinator
The only thing that is stated about Aaron in this sentence is that he delays his work. Therefore, the best description of him would be “a procrastinator.” The expression “textbook . . .” is a colloquial (i.e. spoken or informal) expression meaning “the standard version of . . .”. Someone who is “quintessential” is the perfect example of a given class of things. The word “procrastinator” comes from the Latin “cras”, meaning “tomorrow.” The word “quintessential” comes from the old cosmology that spoke of four elements, followed by the fifth (“quint-”) element that made up the heavenly bodies—the most refined and perfect of all elements in that account.
Example Question #2191 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The country had become quite accustomed to __________ alterations in __________, always changing its entire political structure every nineteen years.
belabored . . . regalia
regular . . . legislation
cyclical . . . authority
astonishing . . . juries
representative . . . regulation
cyclical . . . authority
A change in political structures does not necessarily indicate a mere change in "juries," "regulation," or "regalia." These options are far too specific in themselves. Likewise, the alterations are very regular in their occurrence, happening “every nineteen years.” Such the best option for the adjective for “alterations” thus should express the regularity of such alterations. “Cyclical” and “regular” do this well. However, “legislation” is too specific as well. Remember, it is the “entire” political structure that is changed. Cyclical means happening in a cycle, that is, as though it were happening in a circular manner. This and “authority” fit the sentence very well.
Example Question #1545 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Gina's friends knew her to be bubbly and __________ as well as a constant chatterer, so they were quite surprised with her sudden __________ at dinner, where she barely said a word and seemed quite withdrawn.
exuberant . . . garrulousness
ebullient . . . reticence
biased . . . turpitude
quiet . . . reservedness
seditious . . . demeanor
ebullient . . . reticence
For the first blank, we can infer that because Gina is "[known] to be bubbly . . . as well as a constant chatterer," we need to pick out an adjective that describes her social personality. Either "ebullient" ("cheerful and full of energy") or "exuberant" ("filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "withdrawn" or " because we know that Gina "barely said a word" at dinner and "seemed quite withdrawn"; either "reticence" ("not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily") or "reservedness" ("the quality of being slow to reveal emotion or opinions") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "ebullient" and "reticence" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "ebullient . . . reticence."
Example Question #1546 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Some people can subtly break rules without being perceived, while others are far too __________ to escape __________.
overzealous . . . reproach
nefarious . . . arrest
curmudgeonly . . . oversight
blatant . . . detection
noisy . . . detainment
blatant . . . detection
The sentence implies an opposition between those who subtly break rules and those who are not so subtle, leading to their being noticed. Note, that the second word must be related to “perceived,” thus eliminating options like “arrest” and “detainment,” which imply more than mere detection. The best option is “blatant, detection,” for someone who is “blatant” is someone who is very “out in the open” and “unsubtle.” The word “detection” is a much better match than the other options for the manner that the blatant person is noticed.
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