ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #211 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The problematic employees were __________ from their less angry coworkers on a separate floor of the building.
enjoined
encouraged
included
adhered
quarantined
quarantined
The separate floor which houses the problematic employees means that they were taken away and kept apart from their coworker. "Quarantined" means precisely this, therefore it is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #212 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His unease with sports became quite evident when he __________ every time a ball was thrown his way.
lunged
stormed
hustled
leapt
cowered
cowered
The fact he was uncomfortable with sports is a good clue that having a ball thrown his way was something he hated. The correct choice needs to have a negative connotation. Of all the answer choices, only "cowered," which means recoiled or shrunk away in fear, has the appropriate negative sense.
Example Question #213 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chef was praised for his generous use of spices, with one reviewer noting how he __________ the flavor of even the most bland items.
harmed
negated
vilified
enhanced
quantified
enhanced
Because the chef is praised by reviewers, he is doing something to help the flavor of his food. Find the answer choice that means "help" or "improve," which is enhanced. You can also rule out "harmed" and "negated," as they give the same meaning to the sentence.
Example Question #214 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Robert tried to __________ the musician into performing his favorite song, but the young woman was immune to his flattery.
intimidate
deceive
compel
coerce
blandish
blandish
"Blandish" means coax by using flattery. Robert tried to flatter the young musician, but she was not going to fall for it.
Example Question #215 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
__________ by his pacifism, Gandhi knew he had to find another solution for his people, rather than violence.
Incensed
Liberated
Emboldened
Constrained
Envenomed
Constrained
"Constrained" means restricted. Restricted by his belief in nonviolence, Gandhi knew he had to find another way to achieve his goals.
Example Question #216 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The scientist was __________ when it was discovered that he had falsified his research data in order to get results that would make him famous.
substantiated
emulated
discredited
imputed
corroborated
discredited
To "discredit" is to harm the reputation of or to disgrace.
Example Question #217 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The king __________ the throne after his infidelity to the country became public, allowing his son to ascend the throne.
abdicated
tarnished
took
descended
beatified
abdicated
"Abdicate" means give up royal power. Since the king had created a scandal with his infidelity or disloyalty, he would likely given up the crown. “Beatify” means make extremely happy or make a saint, “descend” means lower, and “tarnish” means lessen in value—none of which logically answer the question.
Example Question #218 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The composer was masterfully able to __________ the very different styles of music into a beautiful score.
burden
clash
scramble
integrate
delineate
integrate
"Integrate" means bring together into a unified whole, and in this context we are looking for a word that expresses the merging of the two pieces into one. The contextual clues of "masterfully" and "beautiful" tell us that it should be a positive thing, and this is why "integrate" is chosen over "clash" or "scramble." "Clashing" would imply a bad combination and "scramble" would imply randomness.
Example Question #219 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although he won the election in a landslide vote, the senator soon __________ his constituents by reneging on his campaign promises.
propitiated
appeased
placated
alienated
mollified
alienated
The correct answer refers to how the senator, although initially receiving the support of his constituents in the election, lost that support by not following through on his campaign promises ("alienated"). The incorrect answers refer to how the senator pleased his constituents, the opposite of what occurred.
Example Question #220 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
During the XYZ Affair, President Adams' advisors __________ in favor of war, but Adams wisely refused to listen to their advice.
mitigated
counseled
audited
deplored
exacerbated
counseled
From the second part of the sentence you know that Adam’s advisors were given him some form of advice; this means the blank has to mean to give advice. The correct answer is counseled. Exacerbate mean to exaggerate; audited means to check efficiency or finances; deplored means to find something unacceptable; mitigated means to have partly excused an offense.
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