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 #36 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

__________ is that I am poor and he is wealthy. 

Possible Answers:

One difference between us

Something we have in common

However being from the same family

Notwithstanding our many differences, one likeness we share

In spite of the fact I find interesting

Correct answer:

One difference between us

Explanation:

To begin with "wealthy" means rich, not poor. So, which of these answer choices matches with this comparison that the speaker is making? The correct answer is "One difference between us . . . " The other answer choices either contain incorrect conjunctions or else are related to similarities not differences. Additionally, "likeness" means similarity; "notwithstanding" means not counting, not considering

Example Question #37 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

She took medicine __________.

Possible Answers:

inside of her doctor

under the weather

despite being sick

to feel better

although being sick

Correct answer:

to feel better

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine which of these is a likely reason why someone might take medicine. "Medicine" is drugs used to cure sickness. So, the correct answer is " . . . to feel better." The other answer choices are either illogical or contain improper conjunctions, like "although" and "despite."

Example Question #38 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The plane kept ascending __________.

Possible Answers:

until it crashed into the ground

further from the truth

despite being capable of flying

higher and higher

so they hired a mechanic to fix it

Correct answer:

higher and higher

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to know that "ascending" means going up. So, if the plane keeps going up then it is going " . . . higher and higher." The other answer choices would either make more sense with "descending" (going down) or else contain improper conjunctions or are total nonsense.

Example Question #39 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

__________ so my teacher told me to calm down.

Possible Answers:

I helped out my classmate

I was serene

I practiced art after school

I was overenthusiastic

I worked hard on my paper

Correct answer:

I was overenthusiastic

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices describes a reason why the teacher would tell the speaker to calm down. The correct answer is therefore "I was overenthusiastic . . . " "Enthusiastic" means excited, so "overenthusiastic" means too excited, out of control. All the other answer choices do not seem like actions that would cause a teacher to tell a student to calm down.

Example Question #40 : Style, Intensity, And Connotation In Phrase Based Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

__________ I never want to see her again.

Possible Answers:

My friends are going to the countryside and

Although I absolutely hate her

It seems unlikely because we are enemies, but

Even though she is so mean to me

Because she is so mean to me

Correct answer:

Because she is so mean to me

Explanation:

To solve this problem you have to determine which of these answer choices describes why someone might never want to see someone again. The correct answer is "Because she is so mean to me . . . " But, in this problem you have to be careful because there are several incorrect conjunctions, like "even though" or "although" which might trick you into picking the wrong answer.

Example Question #2111 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

She was already weak __________.

Possible Answers:

however she felt very sick

and it made her stronger

and the hunger made it worse

in spite of feeling very sick

after she got better

Correct answer:

and the hunger made it worse

Explanation:

The use of the word "already" suggests that a certain situation existed and then was intensified as in "I was already poor, and then the thief took all my money." So, which of these answer choices is a continuation of the subject's weakness? The correct answer is " . . . and the hunger made it worse." The other answer choices are either illogical within the context of this sentence or else contain conjunctions that do not make sense, like "however" and "in spite of."

Example Question #1021 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

She is abnormally pretty and compared to her __________.

Possible Answers:

I look plain

people feel sufficient

the world looks glamorous

I feel gorgeous

I play carefully

Correct answer:

I look plain

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that "abnormally" means unusually, weirdly, uncommonly. "Abnormal" means not normal. So, if the girl is particularly pretty it makes sense that compared to her the speaker would feel less pretty. The correct answer is therefore " . . . I feel plain." "Plain," when used to describe someone's looks, means average, not very attractive. Additionally, "sufficient" means good enough; "gorgeous" means very attractive, lovely; "glamorous" means fancy, attractive, beautiful.

Example Question #1022 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

She was feeling sleepy so __________.

Possible Answers:

she was able to run a marathon

she made a cup of coffee

she got lots of work done

they had a rest together

he decided to go to sleep

Correct answer:

she made a cup of coffee

Explanation:

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a normal reaction to being sleepy. The correct answer is therefore " . . . so she made some coffee." Pay careful attention to pronoun continuation. A "pronoun" is a word like "he," "she," and "they" that denotes a type of person that the information in a sentence is related to.

Example Question #1023 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

The comments were harsh and divisive; __________.

Possible Answers:

I thought they were mundane

they fractured our friendship group

they led to a peaceful accord

they liberated my friend

I found them endearing

Correct answer:

they fractured our friendship group

Explanation:

To solve this problem it is first necessary to know what the words "harsh" and "divisive" mean. "Harsh" means overly critical, serious and severe and "divisive" means causing division, leading to conflict. So, comments that are serious and lead to conflict would be likely to "fracture" a group of friends. "Fracture" means split. Additionally, "endearing" means attractive, appealing, inspiring love; "liberate" means free; an "accord" is an agreement; "mundane" means boring, ordinary.

Example Question #1024 : Sentence Completions

Sentence completion: Select the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.

Life can be arduous in the desert because __________.

Possible Answers:

many animals live there

there are few threats

food is scarce

it is usually cold and wet

working hard is very important

Correct answer:

food is scarce

Explanation:

To solve this problem you first need to know that "arduous" means difficult, hard to overcome. So, you are told that life is difficult in the desert so now you have to identify a reason. The correct answer is therefore " . . . food is scarce." "Scarce" means rare, in short supply.

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