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 #201 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The activists, hoping to generate popular support, __________ their pamphlets throughout the community.

Possible Answers:

obfuscated

concealed

dissembled

disseminated

dismembered

Correct answer:

disseminated

Explanation:

"Disseminate" means spread widely. Activists, intent on building popular support, would likely wish to spread their message widely throughout a community.

Example Question #202 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Benjamin __________ about his new girlfriend; his excessive enthusiasm was grating.

Possible Answers:

rhapsodized

quibbled

downplayed

objurgated

complained

Correct answer:

rhapsodized

Explanation:

"Rhapsodized" means engaged in excessive and enthusiastic praise of someone or something. The speaker finds this excessive enthusiasm quite annoying.

Example Question #186 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

When all the calculations were finally done, it was revealed the broker had __________ his clients out of millions in a Ponzi scheme.

Possible Answers:

imported

fractured

bilked

awarded

joined

Correct answer:

bilked

Explanation:

Even if Ponzi scheme, a fraudulent investment scam, is an unfamiliar term, the tone and structure of the sentence indicate the broker did something illegal or dishonest. Look for an answer choice that indicates cheating or defrauding, which is the very definition of "bilked."

Example Question #187 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Her mother had little idea that her lax rules about computer use _________ the acts of open rebellion the teenager performed.

Possible Answers:

hampered

nullified

refused

engendered

inured

Correct answer:

engendered

Explanation:

The teenager's rebellious acts and her mother's unawareness both indicate the computer is somehow helping the teenager's rebellion.  "Engendered," which means caused or enabled, is the only answer choice which indicates help, while all the other choices indicate an active harm.

Example Question #203 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Many rivers will __________ a larger body of water such as a lake, sea, or ocean.

Possible Answers:

emulate

empty into

enervate

elude

annul

Correct answer:

empty into

Explanation:

Rivers will flow into larger bodies of water. Only "empty into" fits as an answer choice.

Example Question #204 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

His previous sloppy work led his professor to ___________ his reports more thoroughly.

Possible Answers:

anticipate

contemplate

inoculate

scrutinize

dismiss

Correct answer:

scrutinize

Explanation:

The sloppy element of the work indicates the professor needs to review more carefully the work of the student. “Dismiss,” “inoculate,” and “anticipate” do not have the appropriate sense of review, while "contemplate" does not convey enough seriousness to the sentence.

Example Question #205 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

In an effort to __________ his mother's desire to have long conversations with him, Taylor would multitask while he talked to her on the phone.

Possible Answers:

satiate

mollify

defragment

apprehend

machinate

Correct answer:

satiate

Explanation:

That he finds things to do while talking on the phone gives us a hint that this word will somehow mean he is fulfilling his mother's wish to have conversations with him. "Satiate" means to satisfy, and this is a perfect fit.

Example Question #206 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Albert’s grandfather sat the terrified boy down and tried to __________ his fears about his first day of school.

Possible Answers:

bolster

justify

allay

abscond

augment

Correct answer:

allay

Explanation:

"Allay" means soothe or ease. Naturally, Albert's grandfather would want to ease the boy's fears about his first day of school.

Example Question #517 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Young Bryce __________ his Grandpa Dan for his wonderful bedtime stories and his cuddly belly.

Possible Answers:

appeased

revered

impugned

assuaged

 piqued 

Correct answer:

revered

Explanation:

Well, what young child does not like grandpas, bedtime stories, and a cuddly place? So, this sentence needs a word that means he really loved his grandpa. 

The word “revered” might remind you of Paul Revere, reverence or reverie. Maybe we cannot relate colonial Paul Revere too well to the sentence but where have you heard the words reverence or reverie? Maybe in songs, maybe in church, maybe in a school classroom? It sounds like a positive and honoring type word so let’s keep it for now.

The word “impugned” might sound negative like impossible or improbable and the “pugn” part of the word contains the root “pug” which is found in words like pugnacious and pugilistic which are related to fighting or a negative meaning. Let’s not chose impugned since it does not seem like it has anything to do with honoring or loving.

How about “assuaged”? This word sounds and looks like assured but that meaning does not fit so how about “appeased” which sounds like appealed or pleased but we need a better fit.

So what about “piqued”? It sounds and looks like it might mean sharp like a “peaked roof”.

The word “revered” seems to work best in the sentence since it is more than positive and shows the feeling of valuing another person.

Example Question #2031 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Evidence that early life in the Americas first came from Siberia is __________ by the recent findings of ancient canoes along the coastal areas of western Canada.

Possible Answers:

 contradicted

 shrouded

befuddled

obfuscated 

validated

Correct answer:

validated

Explanation:

This single-blank sentence needs your logic. Try putting your own words into the blank first to get the sense of the meaning: proven, shown, provided. 

So, does “contradicted” work? No, since it does not provide the evidence.

How about “validated”? What does valid mean? If you have a valid driver’s license is it legal? Yes…so validated must mean to make it become real…this one might work.

“Obfuscated” sounds like obnoxious, obtuse or obstruct. The prefix “ob-” means against and to obstruct does not work here.

The word “shrouded” sounds like clouded and may mean something similar but “validated” seems like a better fit. And then “befuddled”; what does it sound like? Maybe a nonsense word, have you ever heard “befuddled”? It means muddled, confused, perplexed but even if you did not know the meaning, “validated” works well as an answer.

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