ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

In order to prevent the pending lawsuit against him, Lawrence decided to accept the numerous conditions __________ for him by the other party.

Possible Answers:

delivered

stipulated

withheld

announced

presented

Correct answer:

stipulated

Explanation:

If one "stipulates" something, they clearly demand a set of conditions for an agreement. Often in arguments, one will provide a “stipulative” definition, which is one that is set to have a specific meaning in order to make the argument clearer and more direct (without the nuances of potentially non-stipulated definitions). 

Example Question #142 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

After many days of clouds, the sunny weather immediately __________ the previously deadened spirits of the citizens of the small hamlet.

Possible Answers:

altered

recanted

vivified

mollified

brightened

Correct answer:

vivified

Explanation:

They key word to note is “deadened.” This helps us to avoid “brightened” (and even more so the much weaker “altered”). The weather brought the spirits of the citizens “back to life” from their deadened state; therefore, it “vivified” them.

This word comes from the Latin vivere, meaning “to live.” One can think of many related English words, for instance: survive, vivacious, revive.

Example Question #143 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The repetitive task required the workers to __________ over the same procedures all day, every day, without any alteration.

Possible Answers:

labor

iterate

obsess

struggle

operate

Correct answer:

iterate

Explanation:

The key here is the fact that the workers do the same procedures repetitively. Hence, the best choice is “iterate.”  This word is derived from Latin roots that mean again or to repeat

Example Question #144 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The two connected, parallel processes needed to be strictly __________ so they would not deviate from their precisely related operations.

Possible Answers:

modified

engineered

monitored

observed

synchronized

Correct answer:

synchronized

Explanation:

Since the two processes are parallel and “precisely related,” they have to run with exactly the same timing; therefore, while many of the options are tempting, “synchronized” is the best.

This is derived from two familiar Greek words. “Syn” means together or with. It has many English derivatives like “synoptic”—seeing (=optic) together or in the same manner—and symphony. (The latter has also –phony, which comes from the Greek for “sound” and is found in words like “cacophony” and “telephone”). The “-chronized” portion of our word comes from the Greek for “time” and is reflected in words like “chronology” and “chronometer.”

Example Question #131 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

After expending fifteen cans of polish, the young man finally felt he had done what he could to __________ the dull old sousaphone.

Possible Answers:

ameliorate

burnish

improve

repair

rectify

Correct answer:

burnish

Explanation:

The key meaning for our term is that the young man had finished giving a shine to the instrument. Hence, he had burnished it by thus polishing it.

Example Question #132 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The insurgents __________ all of the governmental power, replacing all the members of the legislature, judiciary, and executive branches with men of their own part.

Possible Answers:

usurped

overthrew

destroyed

conquered

decimated

Correct answer:

usurped

Explanation:

The key thing to note is that the insurgents not only overthrew the government but that they also replaced those in power. This means that they “usurped” it, a word that implies the taking over of a position or institution by force (not merely removing it from power, regardless of the new state after the overthrow). The word is distantly related to the base of many words regarding “use,” such as “utilize” and “peruse.”

Example Question #133 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Oswald’s future allegiance to the neighboring realm was __________ on the latter’s continued deliveries of spices to his trading ports. 

Possible Answers:

considered

respected

decided

recalled

conditioned

Correct answer:

conditioned

Explanation:

The implication of the sentence is that Oswald would retain the alliance so long as the neighboring realm continued its deliveries. Such an alliance has conditions set for its continuance. Hence, one can call it “conditional” or (here) “conditioned” (e.g. if they continue deliveries, then he will remain an ally).  

Example Question #134 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Although the three companies were often in fierce competition, the upcoming bid was of such a nature that they could only attempt to make an offer if they agreed to pool their resources and __________ in fulfilling the various aspects of the proposed project.

Possible Answers:

collaborate

contract

ally

agree

underbid

Correct answer:

collaborate

Explanation:

The three companies needed to work together, and while this might seem to be an alliance or agreement, it is best described as a case of “collaboration.” The word is derived from Latin roots meaning to work. Related words would be “labor,” “laborious,” and “elaborate.”

The “col-” is derived from the Latin preposition “cum,” which becomes “col-” for phonetic reasons. The preposition means “with,” so in this sentence, “collaborate” means to work with or to work together.

Example Question #135 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Out of pure spite for his shift supervisor, Vernon would daily add lead to the steel mixture in order to __________ the batch of steel, making it fail its purity inspections.

Possible Answers:

mar

sabotage

ruin

adulterate

destroy

Correct answer:

adulterate

Explanation:

We tend to think of the word “adulterate” as though it were directly linked to “adultery.”  While the latter does imply impurity, this usage is secondary to the sense of making impure, which is the primary meaning of the word’s Latin root; therefore, to “adulterate” is to make impure, which is the case with what Vernon is doing to the steel.

Example Question #136 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

After thirteen years of resisting Patricia’s hints about possible marriage, John finally __________ to her desires and proposed to marry her.

Possible Answers:

reacted

scaled

capitulated

responded

seized

Correct answer:

capitulated

Explanation:

The key thing to note is that John finally “gives in.” The word “capitulate” comes from early French words that are ultimately related to the Latin for head, because legal documents for ending a conflict (giving in) would be arranged under headings.

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