All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #341 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
The two armies worked together to __________ the threat of insurgency.
denude
abdicate
allude
deduct
combat
combat
In the English language, the prefix "co-" suggests working together. Because of the way the sentence is framed, “combat” is the only possible answer. To “combat” means to battle against something else. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “deduct” means figure out; “denude” means uncover or lay bare; “allude” means hint at or suggest; and “abdicate” means give up the throne.
Example Question #342 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
It is a form of bullying to __________ someone from participating simply because they seem weird or timid.
exalt
portray
include
exclude
depict
exclude
Based on the context of the sentence and its references to bullying based on people being different, we can assume that the blank word must mean something like "not include." The correct answer is therefore “exclude,” which means not include. To provide further help, “exalt” means praise or celebrate, and “portray” and “depict” both mean show.
Example Question #343 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
I didn't do well on the test, so I asked the teacher if I could __________ it to see if I could improve my score.
comprehend
ruse
adorn
redo
unfurl
redo
Because the student didn't do well on his first test but wants to try again, you could also say he wants to “redo” his test. The prefix "re-" is often used to refer to something done again. To provide further help, “unfurl” means unfold, roll out; “adorn” means decorate; a “ruse” is a scheme designed to trick someone; “comprehend” means understand.
Example Question #344 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
It makes me very angry when people abuse or __________ their pets.
defend
deny
love
mistreat
Protect
mistreat
The author suggests that people abusing their pets makes him very angry. This suggests that the answer is a synonym for "abuse," so the best answer choice is "mistreat," which means treat poorly. The prefix "mis-" is a negation prefix. To provide further help, “protect” and “defend” are synonyms and both mean look after, stop harm from coming to; “deny” is to say something is not true.
Example Question #345 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
He loved his house and did not wish to sell it, so he __________ the offer to move to a new city for work.
deplored
enamored
declined
accepted
received
declined
Since the subject did not want to sell his house, we can infer that he did not accept the offer to move to a new city. The correct answer is therefore “declined.” To provide further help, “deplored” means hate; “enamored” means in love with; “accepted” means established, allowed; “received” means given.
Example Question #346 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
My car wouldn't start this morning since the ignition was __________.
malfunctioning
interposing
benign
suggestive
abrasive
malfunctioning
The author of this sentence tells us that his car wouldn't start because a problem with the ignition. The best answer choice is “malfunctioning,” which means not working properly or functioning poorly. The prefix "mal-" means bad or wrong. To provide additional help, “interposing” means getting involved in; “abrasive” means rude; “suggesting” means hinting; “benign” means not harmful.
Example Question #347 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.
The psychic __________ that I would win some money and four days later, I won $200 playing bingo!
characterized
elected
predicted
beleaguered
antiquated
predicted
A “psychic” is a person who makes predictions. “Predicting” something is to say that something will happen in the future. To provide further help, “antiquated” means old and out of date; “elected” means chosen or selected; “beleaguered” means under pressure; “characterized” means defined as.
Example Question #348 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
The sled was hard to navigate on the snowy slope, so Tim nearly __________ with a tree at the bottom of the hill.
veered
collided
crashed
slid
jumped
collided
If the sled was hard to steer, it makes sense that Tim might nearly hit or crash into a tree, so you need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "hit." "Collided" is a verb that means impacted while moving, so "collided" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: "veered" means turned sharply while moving, and while one might talk about someone on a sled "veering away" from a tree, one would not "veer with" a tree. "Crashed" may look like a good answer, but one does not "crash with" a thing; one "crashes into" a thing. Neither "jumped" (hopped or leapt off of the ground) nor "slid" (glided or skated) make sense in the sentence's blank either.
Example Question #349 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
He's short-tempered enough as it is, so try not to __________ him to violence.
Dispel
Assert
Incite
Presume
Incite
The word "incite" means stir up angry or unlawful behavior. It makes sense within the context of this sentence, because if a person is already short-tempered, one would not want to encourage, or "incite," him to violent behavior. "Dispel," which means make something go away or disperse, means almost the opposite of what we need. "Presume," which means assume without evidence, and "assert," which means state something confidently, do not make sense in this sentence, and are therefore incorrect.
Example Question #350 : Word Based Sentence Completions
Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
In order to __________ her children to finish their chores in a timely manner, Kelly offered to take them to the beach after they finished their chores.
demand
ask
invite
entice
entice
Kelly appears to be offering her children a reward in order to convince or encourage them to finish their chores, so we need to pick out a verb for the blank that means something like "offer a reward in order to convince or encourage." "Entice" means tempt or convince and makes the most sense in the blank of all the available answer choices, so it is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "ask" means request or put a question to, "invite" means extend an invitation to something; and "demand" means command.
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