All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2091 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
__________ landed him in trouble with the authorities.
His nonconformist beliefs
His perfect work ethic
His industrious personality
His charming demeanor
His dashing attitude
His nonconformist beliefs
To begin with "authority" means power, so the "authorities" are people in power. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these might get someone in trouble with people in power. The correct answer is therefore "His nonconformist beliefs . . . " Someone who is a "nonconformist" does not follow the rules. All the other answer choices are positive attributes that would be unlikely to land someone in trouble. Additionally, "industrious" means hard-working; "charming" means pleasing, agreeable, delightful; "dashing" means attractive and charming; someone's "demeanor" is the way they carry themselves, how they act and behave.
Example Question #12 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The two boys were boisterous and rowdy, so the babysitter __________.
was able to take a nap
gave them a reward
tried to calm them down
was able to help them finish their homework
abandoned them in the house
tried to calm them down
To solve this problem you need to know the definition of "boisterous" and "rowdy." "Boisterous" means noisy and full of energy, cheerful and lively and "rowdy" means noisy and out of control. So, if the babysitter had two small children who were hard to control and noisy she would most likely have " . . . tried to calm them down." The other answer choices reflect actions the babysitter might have taken if the boys had been "tranquil" (calm) or "serene" (peaceful).
Example Question #13 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The audience thought the comedian was hilarious and __________.
applauded him warmly
jeered at his performance
were bored by the show
left the theatre during the performance
mocked him the next day
applauded him warmly
To begin with "hilarious" means very funny. So, if the audience found the comedian very funny which of these answer choices represents their most likely reaction? The correct answer is " . . . applauded him warmly." "Applauded" means clapped and "warmly" means done with kindness and affection. Additionally, "jeered" means booed, shouted abused at; "mocked" means made fun of. As you can see, all the other answer choices are negative and would be reactions to a bad performance in which the comedian was not hilarious.
Example Question #14 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The old man's health declined so __________.
he went on a long trip
he managed to inherit a fortune
they took him to the hospital
he made a lot of money
he was permitted to leave the hospital
they took him to the hospital
To solve this problem you first need to know that "declined" means decreased, went down, diminished. So, if the old man's health "declined" or got worse he would be most likely be taken " . . . to the hospital." Additionally, "inherit" means be given money or property after someone dies; a "fortune" is a large sum of money; "permitted" means allowed.
Example Question #15 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
I neglected to eat properly and __________.
improved my health
experienced many benefits
my family thinks it is boring
excelled in school
now I have become sick
now I have become sick
To solve this problem you first need to know that "neglected" means failed to do, ignored a responsibility. So, if the speaker failed to eat properly what consequence (result) could they expect? The correct answer is " . . . now I have become sick." Additionally, "improved" means got better; "excelled" means did very well; "benefits" means positive outcomes, things that help.
Example Question #991 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
__________ when I saw his true generous nature.
I trembled with fear
I fled
My love for him deepened
The people cheered
The animals suffered
My love for him deepened
To solve this problem you have to determine what the speaker was most likely to do when she saw the man's true generous nature. "Generous" means kind, giving so it is a positive adjective. The correct answer then is "My love for him deepened . . . " To provide help, "deepened" means became deeper, became more intense. Additionally, "fled" means ran away from; "trembled" means shook (with fear); "suffered" means experienced pain. Finally, you might have thought that the people cheering would be a reasonable reaction, but the pronoun used in this answer choice does not match the pronoun used in the sentence completion problem.
Example Question #1001 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
She was already annoyed, but __________ when she realized I was lying.
she seemed cheerful
she became furious
her mother called
she forgave me
it did not matter to her
she became furious
In this problem you are told that the subject was "already annoyed" and that something happened when she found out the speaker was lying. Based on the context it is probable that her feelings became more intense. So, to solve this problem you need to figure out which of these answer choices contains something that is like a more intense form of being annoyed. The correct answer is " . . . she became furious . . . " "Furious" means very angry, irate. Additionally, "cheerful" means happy, in a good mood.
Example Question #1002 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
She moves __________; sluggish and plodding.
without pain or suffering
as if connected to the whole universe
like a jungle cat
like a turtle
with speed and agility
like a turtle
To solve this problem you need to know what "sluggish" and "plodding" mean. "Sluggish" means slow and "plodding" means slow-moving or boring. So, which of these answer choices fits with something slow-moving? The correct answer is " . . . like a turtle . . . " Additionally, "agility" is balance; "suffering" is prolonged pain, lasting mental or physical pain.
Example Question #1003 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
__________ he became lonely.
Despite being alone
Although he was alone
Having never been to a forest
After his best friend moved
When he fell in love
After his best friend moved
To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is an action that might lead to someone becoming lonely. "Lonely" means feeling sad that one is alone. So, the correct answer is "After his best friend moved . . . " The other answer choices all contain conjunctions that do not make sense within the context of the sentence.
Example Question #1004 : Sentence Completions
Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
__________ she made a great ballerina.
Because she was so flexible
Because she was gigantic
Although she loved to perform
Despite being very flexible
Hostile towards dancing
Because she was so flexible
Obviously to solve this problem you need to know that a "ballerina" is a type of dancer, often female, who has great balance, body control, and flexibility. So which of these answer choices describes a reason why someone might become a ballerina? The correct answer is "Because she was so flexible . . . " "Flexible" means bendy, able to bend one's body. The other answer choices either use illogical conjunctions or are nonsensical. Additionally, "hostile" means aggressive, angry towards; "gigantic" means very large.
All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
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