ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Sentence Completion
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Example Questions
Example Question #1755 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Richard’s status as a __________ was enhanced by his refusal to join the group’s effort.
maverick
devotee
sluggard
follower
participant
maverick
Richard’s refusal to join the others means he is set apart from the group, which is the opposite meaning of "participant," "follower," "devotee," and unrelated in meaning to the word "sluggard." "Maverick" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1756 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chef had an _________ to Asian cuisine, and refused to consider any jobs at Japanese restaurants.
affinity
auspiciousness
adaptibility
epiphany
aversion
aversion
The sentence makes it clear that the chef does not like Japanese restaurants, therefore he clearly has a problem with Asian cuisine. Of the available answer choices, only aversion gives the correct meaning.
Example Question #431 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor used a series of __________ in his education class in order to illustrate some difficulties young teachers face with students.
lexicons
veneers
vignettes
outputs
superlatives
vignettes
"Vignettes" (short sketeches) is the only answer that provides an illustration (either via words or otherwise) from which students can learn. "Veneers" is entirely unrelated, as "verneers" means a surface coating or surface appearance that doesn't accurately characterize the whole; "superlatives" may be used in speech, but they do not alone illustrate potential difficulties; and "lexicons" are also related to words, but again, they do not illustrate difficulties.
Example Question #1758 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The cleric’s __________ was off-putting; everyone could see he was only pretending to believe.
hypocrisy
sincerity
genuineness
scrupulousness
naivete
hypocrisy
"Hypocrisy" means affectation or false pretense of behaving in a good way. Naturally, a religious man or woman's affected belief would be unsettling.
Example Question #1759 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Punk music fans seem to enjoy it when their musicians scream __________ at them; they relish being cursed.
sweetly
ingratiatingly
maledictions
dulcetly
blessings
maledictions
"Maledictions" are curses. A punk musician who screams maledictions at his fans is cursing them.
Example Question #1761 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The punk musician’s __________ ingratiated him to his fans; they loved his rudeness.
nonchalance
sincerity
insolence
empathy
consideration
insolence
"Insolence" means rudeness and arrogance, while "ingratiate" means make someone else see you positively. A performer whose fans love rudeness would bring himself into their good graces by being arrogant and rude.
Example Question #431 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chess player found himself in a serious __________ when he lost his most powerful piece early in the game.
passivity
provocation
caprice
quandary
lexicon
quandary
"Quandary" means difficulty or problematic situation. A chess player would be in a difficult situation if he or she lost his or her most powerful piece early on in a game.
Example Question #432 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The aging professor believed his speeches on immigration laws gave his students a unique perspective, but they mostly viewed him as an out-of-touch __________.
bigot
testament
hero
champion
amusement
bigot
The students view their professor as out of touch, indicating that he is perceived in a negative light. Four of the possible answer choices are very positive. Only "bigot" is sufficiently negative.
Example Question #433 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The estate owner was well known for being stingy, and some of his contractors were still seeking __________ years after they had completed their work.
solace
totality
access
remuneration
comfort
remuneration
Upon looking at the answer choices, the word that should stick out in the sentence is "stingy," which means being tight with money; therefore, find the answer choice that is related to money or payment. "Remuneration," which specifically means payment for work, is the only choice with such a starkly financial meaning.
Example Question #433 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even though he was the least talented member of the team, the coach always started the midfielder as a __________ to assist the team's fortunes.
functionary
poison
talisman
hindrance
burden
talisman
Remember that the correct answer choice is the best choice, not just an answer that can make sense in the sentence. Here, all the choices can make sense, but only "talisman," meaning a kind of lucky charm, fits best with the notion that the coach is assisting his team's fortunes.
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