ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Word-Based Sentence Completions

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #224 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The __________ man had been eating too much and ruined his health. 

Possible Answers:

pitiless

tart

merciful

portly

absurd

Correct answer:

portly

Explanation:

You are told that the man ate too much and made himself unhealthy, so he could probably best be described as fat, chubby, plump. The correct answer is therefore "portly." Additionally, "tart" means sharp tasting, acidic; "absurd" means ridiculous; "merciful" means forgiving, showing mercy; "pitiless" means showing no pity, mean and cruel, merciless.

Example Question #225 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

At the hospital the doctor's determined that the tumor was __________ and the lady was going to make a complete recovery.

Possible Answers:

frigid

benign

enclosed

special

blatant

Correct answer:

benign

Explanation:

If the lady is going to make a complete recovery then the tumor must be harmless, not dangerous. So, the correct answer is "benign." A person can also be described as "benign" in which case it means kindly, good-natured. Additionally, "frigid" means very cold; "special" means unique, not common, individual; "enclosed" means surrounded by something else, trapped inside; "blatant" means obvious, not well-hidden.

Example Question #226 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The invention of the __________ music player allowed people to listen to music wherever they went.

Possible Answers:

portable

defective

toxic

robust

improper

Correct answer:

portable

Explanation:

Something that you can take with you wherever you go is called "portable." Other synonyms of "portable" include movable, mobile, able to be moved. Additionally, "robust" means strong and healthy; "improper" means not proper, not right, not correct; "toxic" means poisonous; "defective" means broken, not working as it should.

Example Question #227 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

"If you get the chance," she said, "you simply have to go to the Grand Canyon, the views are __________."

Possible Answers:

spectacular

obsolete

sufficient

mundane

flawed

Correct answer:

spectacular

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an answer choice that means something like exciting to witness, incredible. So, the correct answer is "spectacular." Synonyms of "spectacular" include beautiful, breathtaking, incredible to look at. Additionally, "mundane" means ordinary, normal and boring; "obsolete" means no longer in use, no longer needed because something more useful has been invented; "flawed" means imperfect, containing errors or imperfections; "sufficient" means good enough

Example Question #228 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Rocks and sand are two examples of __________ objects.

Possible Answers:

cordial

depraved

unappealing

inanimate

imaginary

Correct answer:

inanimate

Explanation:

Rocks and sand are both non-living things, so to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices means non-living. The correct answer is "inanimate." Additionally, "unappealing" means not attractive; "cordial" means friendly and polite; "imaginary" means not real, invented in the mind; "depraved" means wicked or sleazy.

Example Question #229 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Their __________ relationship had lasted with barely a disagreement for almost three decades.

Possible Answers:

stable

skeptical

exquisite

inferior

hybrid

Correct answer:

stable

Explanation:

The relationship being described is obviously a very reliable and enduring relationship if it has lasted so long with hardly any fights. The correct answer is therefore "stable." "Stable" means secure, long lasting and unlikely to change, reliable. Additionally, "inferior" means worse than, not as good as; "exquisite" means beautiful, lovely, delightful; "hybrid" means mixed from two things, combined; "skeptical" means doubtful, not believing something is true.

Example Question #230 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The pool was too __________ and the children were prohibited from jumping in.

Possible Answers:

drenched 

prickly 

shallow 

spacious 

dapper

Correct answer:

shallow 

Explanation:

First of all "prohibited" means forbidden, not allowed. So, the children were not allowed to jump in the pool. The correct answer is therefore "shallow" which means not deep, an area of water where the level of water is not deep. Additionally, "spacious" means roomy, containing lots of space; "dapper" means well dressed, sophisticated; "prickly" means easily offended, quick to get irritated; "drenched" means soaking wet, covered in water.

Example Question #591 : Parts Of Speech In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

"This table is __________," she exclaimed, "I simply have to get one for myself."

Possible Answers:

juvenile 

exquisite

alike

scandalous 

elderly 

Correct answer:

exquisite

Explanation:

If the speaker wanted to get a similar table for herself then it makes sense that she would use a positive adjective to describe the table. The correct answer is therefore "exquisite," which means lovely, well crafted, beautiful. Additionally, "juvenile" means childish, immature; "elderly" means old; "alike" means similar to; "scandalous" means shocking, shameful, causing a scandal, causing public outrage.

Example Question #592 : Parts Of Speech In Word Based Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

She refused to sell the family heirloom, claiming that it was __________.

Possible Answers:

dysfunctional

dubious

invaluable

obtainable

biased

Correct answer:

invaluable

Explanation:

First of all, an "heirloom" is an item handed down from one family member to another. Based on the context of this sentence the correct answer must be an adjective that means extremely important to the point where the owner is unwilling to sell. The correct answer is therefore "invaluable" which means crucial, critical, so important that the owner does not put any monetary value on it. Additionally, "obtainable" means able to be obtained, able to be got; "dysfunctional" means not working properly, not functional; "dubious" means doubtful, unlikely to be true; "biased" means subjective, influenced by personal opinion, not fair or equal.

Example Question #231 : Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Camels are famously __________ and are able to survive for a long time in harsh conditions. 

Possible Answers:

feeble

hardy

charming

lithe

paltry

Correct answer:

hardy

Explanation:

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for an adjective that describes a camel's ability to endure hardships and survive in difficult situations. The correct answer is therefore "hardy," which means robust, strong and able to survive in difficult circumstances. Additionally, "feeble" means weak; "charming" means pleasant, attractive and likable; "lithe" means graceful, agile, able to move one's body in an efficient and flexible manner; "paltry" means small, an insufficient amount of, meager

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