All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1981 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Fred always regretted __________ because an education beyond high school would have helped him get a better job.
not checking out more books from the school library
hanging out with his friends
not studying for his major exams
not eating breakfast
not going to college
not going to college
In this sentence, we know that Fred always regretted something connected to the fact that he did not have education beyond high school. Given that going to college would have helped him to get a better job, the correct answer is "not going to college."
Example Question #1982 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
Despite being very thorough in his studies, Juan did not _________, and was very shocked to see his grade.
forget his bagged lunch
perform very well on his exam
felt very nervous
enjoy his relaxation period
feel very confident about his test
perform very well on his exam
Given that Juan was very thorough studying for his exam and was shocked to see the results, the facts of the sentence suggest that the blanks should be filled by the fact that he did not do very well. The answer choice telling us that he did not "perform very well on his exam" satisfies this, and so should be used to complete the sentence.
Example Question #1983 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
While the chef loves to cook with red pepper, he has to be mindful that not everyone enjoys the spiciness __________.
of the pepper, which he thinks is disgusting
to the same extent that he does
more than him
as little as he does
unlike his family
to the same extent that he does
The sentence here makes clear that the chef loves to cook with red pepper. However, he has to be mindful to keep himself in control with the red pepper for a certain reason. That reason fills the blank. The only answer choice that makes sense is one that would explain that not everyone likes red pepper as much as the chef. Therefore, the best answer is "to the same extent that he does."
Example Question #1984 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
Jenny’s term paper was _________; every other phrase had a grammatical problem.
turned in early
well written
overflowing with errors
full of advanced vocabulary
above average
overflowing with errors
Given that every other phrase in the sentence had problems, the best answer would be "overflowing with errors." This is the only phrase that is negative in connotation, reflecting the problems that exist with the sentence.
Example Question #1985 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
Jenna likes _________, enjoying everything from Japanese sushi to Indian curry and Mexican tacos.
trying new modern restaurants
traveling to a variety of countries
different cultures
a diversity of foods
few types of cuisine
a diversity of foods
The sentence explains all the different types of foods that Jenna likes to eat. Given that the focus is on the wide variety of food that Jenna likes to eat, the best answer choice is "a diversity of food."
Example Question #1986 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
While most people like bananas when they are yellow, my father is different and __________.
likes apples
always slips on the peels
is allergic to bananas
is color blind
likes to eat them when they are green
likes to eat them when they are green
The word "while" is used to indicate contrast, so the phrase that goes in the blank should be something different from the first part of the sentence, which is eating bananas when they are yellow. The best phrase that is in direct contrast to this is "likes to eat them when they are green."
Example Question #891 : Sentence Completions
Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence.
Because he __________, Mr. Walters avoided dining at restaurants that only served one type of cuisine.
disliked being confused by an array of options
liked tacos better than steak or hamburgers
preferred to cook at home
preferred a spectrum of choices
owned and managed his own restaurant
preferred a spectrum of choices
The first word in this sentence, "because," immediately tells us that we are looking for a cause or reason: why does Mr. Walters avoid eating at the restaurants that are described? The second key is that these restaurants only serve one type of food, or "cuisine." In other words, Mr. Walters dislikes eating at establishments where his options are limited. The best answer, then, is that Mr. Walters "prefer(s) a spectrum of choices," which explains why he doesn't like restaurants that do not offer this range. If he "disliked being confused by an array," or too many, choices, Mr. Walters would like the restaurants that the second part of the sentence mentions. Finally, both owning his own restaurant and preferring one type of food over another are irrelevant pieces of information.
Example Question #1987 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although his voice was weary __________.
the singer kept going
the artist could no longer perform
the man decided to rest
the rockstar was rushed to the hospital
the musician had to stop playing
the singer kept going
The key to solving this sentence completion is to recognize the word "although." "Although" means in spite of this fact, even though this is true. So, for example "although I am tired, I am not going to sleep." So in this instance "although" the singer's voice was weary (tired) he keeps singing.
Example Question #1988 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After our parents passed away I have a(n) __________ to look after my two little sisters.
obligation
proposal
permission
procedure
ambition
obligation
The speaker of this sentence has lost his parents, so it makes sense that he would feel responsible for the care of his two younger sisters. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a noun that means an action that someone feels they have to do, a duty, a moral responsibility. The correct answer is therefore "obligation." Additionally, "permission" means consent, the condition of being allowed to do something; a "procedure" is a course of action, a way of doing something; a "proposal" is a plan, a suggestion, a formal or written scheme; "ambition" means a strong desire to achieve something.
Example Question #1989 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The view is supposed to be spectacular, but __________.
I can see for miles
everyone has time to properly enjoy it
I came with my family
at least I brought my sunglasses
today there are too many clouds
today there are too many clouds
To begin with "spectacular" means dazzling, something worth seeing, a beautiful sight. In this sentence you are told that the view is "supposed" to be something "but" it is not. The use of these two words tell you that the correct answer must be something negative that impacts the spectacular view. The correct answer is therefore ". . . today there are too many clouds."
All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
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