ISEE Lower Level Verbal : ISEE Lower Level (grades 5-6) Verbal Reasoning

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

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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.

Possible Answers:

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

Correct answer:

not going to college

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

forget his bagged lunch

perform very well on his exam

felt very nervous

enjoy his relaxation period

feel very confident about his test

Correct answer:

perform very well on his exam

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

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

Correct answer:

to the same extent that he does

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

turned in early

well written

overflowing with errors

full of advanced vocabulary

above average

Correct answer:

overflowing with errors

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

trying new modern restaurants

traveling to a variety of countries 

different cultures

a diversity of foods

few types of cuisine

Correct answer:

a diversity of foods

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

likes apples

always slips on the peels

is allergic to bananas 

is color blind 

likes to eat them when they are green

Correct answer:

likes to eat them when they are green

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

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

Correct answer:

preferred a spectrum of choices

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

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 

Correct answer:

the singer kept going 

Explanation:

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.

Possible Answers:

obligation

proposal

permission

procedure

ambition

Correct answer:

obligation

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

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 

Correct answer:

today there are too many clouds 

Explanation:

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." 

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