ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Parts of Speech in Two-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

That hotel offers a(n) __________ breakfast and other free __________.

Possible Answers:

withheld . . . exultations

complimentary . . . amenities

expensive . . . conveniences

favorite . . . condolences

courtesy . . . problems

Correct answer:

complimentary . . . amenities

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "free," because the breakfast is being compared with "other free [things]." Either "complimentary" (" given or supplied free of charge") or "courtesy" ("(especially of transport) supplied free of charge to people who are already paying for another service") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a noun that means something like "perks," and either "amenities" ("desirable or useful features or facilities of a building or place") or "conveniences" ("something (as an appliance, device, or service) conducive to comfort or ease") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "complimentary" and "amenities" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "complimentary . . . amenities."

Example Question #121 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

The dictator’s __________ was finally overthrown and replaced with a much less __________ form of government, one that allowed many more freedoms than did the former government.

Possible Answers:

regime . . . authoritarian

barbarism . . . questionable

office . . . ancient

cabinet . . . outdated

rule . . . benign

Correct answer:

regime . . . authoritarian

Explanation:

When considering the first blank, notice that what is "overthrown" must be replaced. If it is replaced with a type of government, then what was overthrown must have been a type of government.  A "regime" is a form of government, often one that is oppressive. The second blank implies that the old regime did not allow freedoms. The new regime is less controlling than the former.  An "authoritarian" regime is one that forces very strict submission to authority, often to the point of removing many freedoms.

Example Question #14 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

The __________ stood in front of the crowd for an entire hour, delivering a a long, __________ speech that soon lost his audience's attention.

Possible Answers:

auditor . . . ambiguous

demagogue . . . bombastic

orator . . . verbose

actuary . . . productive

Correct answer:

orator . . . verbose

Explanation:

Since we know that the person mentioned in the sentence is standing in front of a crowd delivering a speech, we know that the first blank should contain a noun that means something like "speaker." Two answer choices could possibly work for this: the one beginning with "orator" (a person who delivers a speech), or the one beginning with "demagogue" (a leader appealing to emotions rather than reason). The two other possible words for the first blank do not work: "auditor" means a listener or an accountant, and "actuary" means a registrar, clerk, or insurance person. Based on the two answers we know could work in the first blank, we can now examine the words available to fill in the second blank. We know that the speaker gives a "long speech" that "lost the audience's attention." The best choice is "verbose," which means wordy or talkative. The other choice, "bombastic," means pretentious.

Example Question #14 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

The __________ decor and cozy __________ of her grandmother's house always made Jane feel better. 

Possible Answers:

feral . . . acumen

reverent . . . conglomeration

pallid . . . conflagration

florid . . . ambience

Correct answer:

florid . . . ambience

Explanation:

By reading the sentence, we can tell that the description of Jane's grandmother's decor and house is positive, since it makes Jane feel better. Focusing on the first blank, we are looking for an adjective like "nice." The word "florid" means flowery or ornate, so this must be the right answer. The other words do not fit: "feral" means wild or savage; "pallid" means lacking color; and "reverent" means respectful. Moving on to the second blank, we are looking for a noun that describes both "environment" and the "feeling" or "mood" of Jane's grandmother's house. The word "ambience" is correct because it means atmosphere and feeling. The other words do not fit: "acumen" is a noun meaning cleverness; a "conflagration" is a fire; and a "conglomeration" is a collection or an accumulation.

Example Question #15 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the words or phrases that most correctly complete the sentence.

Romanus was an extremely __________ speaker, whose zeal was matched by the beauty and convincing  __________ of expression.

Possible Answers:

measured . . . oration

bombastic . . . dictation

famous . . . contention

ardent . . . eloquence

limpid . . . rejection

Correct answer:

ardent . . . eloquence

Explanation:

The clues for the two blanks are "zeal" and "convincing" respectively. At most, what we can say is that Romanus was a "zealous" or passionate speaker. When someone is "ardent," he or she is passionate. The word actually comes from "burning"—being "ardent" is like being "on fire with passion" for something. "Eloquence" is persuasiveness in speech or expression.

Example Question #16 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the words or phrases that most correctly complete the sentence.

After the government fell into rebel hands, the calm society soon was engulfed in complete __________; few could believe that the seemingly stable civilization was in fact so very __________.

Possible Answers:

tyranny . . . continuous

chaos . . . fragile

brazing . . . questionable

warfare . . . discrete

drudgery . . . durable

Correct answer:

chaos . . . fragile

Explanation:

The best keys to this sentence are "calm" and "stable." The first independent clause implies that the society has gone from being calm to being not calm. The best description for such a state of affairs would be "chaotic," meaning confused or full of turmoil. The second sentence contrasts the seeming stability of the nation with apparent instability. While there are no answer choices that directly mean "instability," a "fragile" nation would be one that is easily broken down (like fragile glass) and, hence, one that is unstable.

Example Question #17 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the words or phrases that most correctly complete the sentence.

John was known for having a __________ temperament, ever fearful of breaking even the smallest __________ of the law.

Possible Answers:

upright . . . litigation

legislative . . . peccadillo

gracious . . . notification

legalistic . . . detail

jurist's . . . statute

Correct answer:

legalistic . . . detail

Explanation:

The subordinate clause, "ever fearful" provides the key hint regarding John's temperament. Since he is very fearful of breaking the law, he is likely overly concerned about its details. This latter point is expressed in the words "even the smallest," which indicate that he does not want to break even the smallest aspect or—more appropriate given our answers—detail of the law. Such a person is "legalistic," meaning that he or she is very concerned with all of the legal details, generally in a way that is overly concerned and fearful.

Example Question #122 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

For the entire morning, Jaime remained __________ the fact that he had put on mismatched socks; he didn't notice until someone pointed out the __________ between his socks' colors at lunchtime.

Possible Answers:

oblivious to . . . disparity

concerned with . . . identicalness

conscious of . . . difference

unaware of . . . similarity

intent on . . . harmony

Correct answer:

oblivious to . . . disparity

Explanation:

For the first blank, we know that Jaime did not know about his mismatched socks because "he didn't notice until someone pointed [them] out . . . at lunchtime." So, we should pick out an adjective that reflects this. Either "oblivious to" or "unaware of" could be correct, as "oblivious" and "unaware" each can mean not aware. For the second blank, we know that Jaime's socks were mismatched, so they were different. We should pick out an answer choice that is a noun that means something like difference. Either "disparity" (a large difference) or "difference" could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "oblivious to" and "disparity" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "oblivious to . . . disparity."

Example Question #21 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Sentence completions: select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

The seasoned attorney couldn't wait for the trial to end, but his __________ young intern was still enchanted by the __________ of the courtroom.

Possible Answers:

upstart . . . tedium

repulsed . . . vitality

venerable . . . infamy

neophyte . . . novelty

Correct answer:

neophyte . . . novelty

Explanation:

The intern in this sentence is juxtaposed against the "seasoned" (or experienced) attorney, so we know that we are looking for words that highlight the lack of the intern's experience and the newness of the courtroom setting. "Neophyte" comes from the Greek language and literally means "new plant," though the English word is usually applied outside of the horticultural realm to mean any beginner or novice. The word "novelty" (do you see a common root with "novice"?) also incorporates a root meaning "new," and means simply the quality of being new, or inNOVative.

Example Question #123 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The __________ hike up Angels Landing was a true test of the young scout's __________.

Possible Answers:

strenuous . . . timidity

serene . . . fortitude

concise . . . tact

perilous . . . mettle

colossal . . . ineptitude

Correct answer:

perilous . . . mettle

Explanation:

All of the first words are accurate descriptions of the Angels Landing hike in Zion National Park. We are left with the second-blank words to lead us to the correct answer. Sections of the hike are quite "serene" (peaceful), but this would not test the scout's "fortitude" (courage or bravery). Parts of the hike could reveal a hiker's "timidity," but we wouldn't say that those parts were a test of timidity. "Ineptitude" (lack of skill, incompetence) doesn't make much sense here. "Mettle" is pronounced like the word "metal," and is actually a variant of the word; but whereas "metal" names a physical substance, "mettle" describes a figurative quality that has a metal-like strength. Synonyms include determination, courage, and valor.

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