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 #31 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Each generation will __________ another; the world repeats its __________ until the end of time.

Possible Answers:

outpace . . . doldrums

beget . . . circuit

proliferate . . . livelihood

deprecate . . . arrogance

rebuke . . . discourse

Correct answer:

beget . . . circuit

Explanation:

Each generation brings forth a next generation, leading to the mentioned repetition. The best option is therefore “beget . . . circuit.” To “beget” means to bring forth often with the connotation of procreation. A “circuit” is a closed loop, therefore well filling the need of the second blank in this sentence.

Example Question #32 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Brandon was never quite sure which of the temperaments his roommate would __________.  In spite of this, he cared deeply for the other man, whose self-presentation could be either frank or somewhat secretive, for these characteristics were not a mark of __________ but merely the result of a somewhat antisocial disposition.

Possible Answers:

express . . . insanity

decry . . . rashness

evince . . . duplicity

reveal . . . eruptions

expose . . . exasperation

Correct answer:

evince . . . duplicity

Explanation:

There is something of a play on words in this sentence. The roommate has two sides, and “duple” (and related words) imply twoness, hence “duplicity.” This likewise means—and this is closer to our usage here—being deceitful (as in being “two faced”). To “evince” is to reveal a reality. Such an act need not show a heretofore hidden reality. One’s (e.g.) body motions “evince” (in the sense of “giving evidence for”) one’s caring nature. 

Example Question #113 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Often, much time is wasted on an undertaking that would be significantly __________ if every intervening __________ were first removed.

Possible Answers:

eased . . . question

decreased . . . complexity

expedited . . . impediment

enjoyed . . . exasperation

simplified . . . annoyance

Correct answer:

expedited . . . impediment

Explanation:

Since the concern here is with removing something that seems to increase the time of an undertaking, such an intervening object is an “impediment,” which means an obstruction.  To “expedite” something is to make it occur more quickly. Both words come from the Latin word for “foot” (This is reflected in the “-ped-” portion of the stem, not to be confused with the “ped” in words like “pediatric” and “pediatrician,” which have different roots). An “impediment” is something placed on (im+) the foot (so to speak), and to “expedite” is to remove something from the foot or away from its path (at least taken literally).

Example Question #33 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

After spending twenty years studying metaphysics, Stanley had barely begun to __________ the depths of his subject but instead had barely skimmed its __________.

Possible Answers:

notice . . . texts

contemplate . . . textbooks 

consider . . . surface

ponder . . . wonders

plumb . . . superfices

Correct answer:

plumb . . . superfices

Explanation:

To “plumb” something is to seek out its depths.  You might know from chemistry class that the element lead has a symbol Pb.  This comes from the Latin word “plumbum,” which was used for the element.  “To plumb” the depths of some body of water would be to tie a piece of lead to a string in order to see how deep it is.  The word “superfices” means “the surfaces” and is related to the word “superficial.” 

Example Question #53 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The whale-oil merchants in the small village had __________ much influence to themselves by means of their wealth.  This state of affairs was so significant that while the legal structures appeared to be purely democratic, in reality the village functioned as a kind of __________, with the merchants being the true ruling body.

Possible Answers:

garnered . . . plutocracy

stolen . . . decadence

wheedled . . . mercantilism

embezzled . . . dictatorship

grasped . . . despotism

Correct answer:

garnered . . . plutocracy

Explanation:

The merchants can be said to have gathered influence to themselves. For this reason, it might be tempting to choose “grasped;” however, the term “despotism” does not apply to this kind of political state of affairs. Perhaps you were tempted by “stolen” or even “wheedled,” but nothing in the sentence justifies these particular judgments. Also, their coupled words do not fit well grammatically. The word “garnered” means “to gather” and is therefore the best option. A “plutocracy” is a form of government run by the wealthy.  The prefix “pluto-” comes from the Greek “plutos” for “wealth.”

Example Question #54 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

During the __________, the people of the kingdom basically continued to live as though there were a still a king. When the new ruler __________ to the throne, they likewise continued living in a rather unchanged manner.

Possible Answers:

interlude . . . acquiesced

conflict . . . ascended

wartime . . . rose

interregnum . . . acceded

respite . . . deferred

Correct answer:

interregnum . . . acceded

Explanation:

The implication of the first sentence is that the kingdom was without a king for a period (though it continued to function as though it had one). We know not why this occurred, but there is no justification for choosing that this was a time of conflict. The best answer is “interregnum,” which means “period between rulers,” coming from “inter-,” meaning “between” and “-regnum,” meaning “rule.” The latter is related to words like “reign,” “regal,” and “regent.” When someone assumes a given position, he or she is said to “accede” to it. This is a second meaning of the term, which is literally derived from the Latin for “to give way to.” (The primary meaning of “accede” is therefore “to give way to or agree to a given demand or request”).

Example Question #131 : Two Blank Sentences

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

The __________ holding together the incision from the surgery had loosened, causing the underlying tissue to be __________ to the air.

Possible Answers:

analgesic . . . vulnerable

wrapping . . . gangrenous

curative . . . extruded

bandages . . . unveiled

suture . . . exposed

Correct answer:

suture . . . exposed

Explanation:

The best option for the first blank is “suture,” which is a stitching used to seal a wound. The other tempting options, namely “wrapping” and “bandages,” do not fit as exactly as does “suture.” The word is related to the English “sew.” Since such stitching helps to keep the wound closed, when it loosens, the wound becomes opened and exposed to the air, hence giving us our second option.

Example Question #132 : Two Blank Sentences

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

Given years of living with mockery in grade school, Jennifer __________ herself on the first day of middle school against the expected __________, hoping to prevent herself from crying by means of adequate preparation.

Possible Answers:

convinced . . . derision

hardened . . . onslaught

accepted . . . unkindness

steeled . . . ridicule

arranged . . . rudeness

Correct answer:

steeled . . . ridicule

Explanation:

The key phrase in this sentence is that Jennifer hoped to prepare herself in order “to prevent herself from crying.” When someone “steels” himself or herself, he or she prepares himself or herself mentally for a difficult situation. Since she fears mockery, it is safe to say that she fears “ridicule,” which means “the act of being mocked or ‘made fun of.’” It is related to words like “ridiculous” and “risible,” coming from the Latin word for “to smile or laugh.”

Example Question #111 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Sometimes it is better to let your children make mistakes and learn from them instead of continually __________ them. Such constant protection does little to teach them the __________ of their actions.

Possible Answers:

observing . . . effects

coddling . . . consequences

inoculating . . . ramifications

monitoring . . . developments

noting . . . implications

Correct answer:

coddling . . . consequences

Explanation:

When someone overprotects their child (or someone else in general), such action is known as “coddling.” This word best matches the key phrase “such constant protection.” The second blank is best filled by the word “consequences” because the other options do not capture the sense of “importance” that often is associated with the word “consequence.” The only really tempting trap word is “effects,” which does carry the extra moral weight that “consequences” does.

Example Question #1421 : Sentence Completion

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

The young American republic had to __________ many potentially fatal ­__________ before the United States would assert itself as a hegemonic world power.

Possible Answers:

counsel . . . disasters

weather . . . catastrophes

eulogize . . . sermons

enrage . . . jubilations

engender . . . notices

Correct answer:

weather . . . catastrophes

Explanation:

The use of the word “fatal” suggests that the second blank must describe some sort of disastrous incident. So you can rule out jubilations (celebrations) and sermons (religious message). Disasters, catastrophes (disasters) and notices (warnings) could all fit. Of the remaining three options for the first blank weather (to endure) is the best possible fit. Answering this question relies on you knowing the secondary meaning of the word weather. Other secondary word meanings that are commonly used include: table (to suggest something) and champion (to promote).

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