ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #661 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
The __________ knitter predicted the fashion trend toward homemade goods and started an online store, making a lot of money selling the scarves, hats, and mittens that she made.
undiscerning
portable
wholesome
minute
astute
astute
For this sentence, we can infer that the knitter must have been pretty smart to "[predict] the fashion trend toward homemade goods." So, we need to pick out an adjective to describe the knitter that means something like "smart." "Undiscerning," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "undiscerning" means "lacking judgment, insight, or taste," making it the opposite of the word for which we're looking. "Astute," however, is an adjective that means "having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage," and because "astute" best describes the knitter's profitable assessment of the fashion trend, "astute" is the correct answer.
Example Question #771 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
It typically takes years of __________ practicing in order to become a virtuoso piano player.
astringent
anomalous
austere
assiduous
animated
assiduous
The choice that makes the most sense is assiduous: showing great care and perseverance; diligent.
Example Question #111 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The __________ coach was thrown out of the game by the referee.
captious
callous
contentious
arable
arcane
contentious
The choice that makes the most sense is contentious: quarrelsome; causing or likely to cause an argument.
Example Question #794 : Sentence Completion Questions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The __________ leader’s shaky voice was a signal to the brave troops that they would be on their own for the remainder of the battle.
craven
caustic
cavalier
categorical
cloying
craven
The choice that makes the most sense is craven: contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.
Example Question #792 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
You should be __________ of the perilous journey that lies ahead.
wary
wistful
wry
vicarious
vindictive
wary
The choice that makes the most sense is wary: feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Example Question #776 : One Blank Sentences
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The inmate stopped the flattery and began to speak with a more __________ tone after he realized the guards would never be coaxed into releasing him.
venal
vituperative
valedictory
veritable
visceral
vituperative
The choice that makes the most sense is vituperative: bitter and abusive; scolding.
Example Question #777 : One Blank Sentences
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
Although I enjoyed your essay, it would be better if it were more concise and not as __________.
venerable
veritable
verbose
venial
venal
verbose
The choice that makes the most sense is verbose: using more words than are needed.
Example Question #793 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Pick the best word to complete the sentence.
Children of authoritarian parents are often anxious; they can become __________ easily.
underwhelmed
difficult
stressed
sensitive
antisocial
stressed
The clause that needs filling-in is simply a rephrasing of the first part of the setence—"stressed" is the closest synonym of anxious and therefore makes the most sense in the sentence.
Example Question #681 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Pick the best word to complete the sentence.
The young boy offered her his hand, grinning __________, since he knew it was still covered in mud.
devilishly
playfully
awkwardly
famously
mistakenly
devilishly
The subject of the sentence knows that he is going to cause someone displeasure, therefore he is being mischeivous—"devilish," when used in this context, means the same thing; therefore "devilishly" is the correct answer.
Example Question #961 : One Blank Sentences
Fred's family only realized how __________ he was about failing the math quiz he had studied for when he shouted at the first person to ask him about it.
nimble
prepared
charismatic
famous
touchy
touchy
We can infer that because Fred "shouted at the first person to ask him about [the math quiz he failed]," we need to pick out an adjective to describe Fred that means something like "irritable." "Charismatic" might look like a potentially correct answer, but "charismatic" is an adjective that means "exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others," so it wouldn't make sense in the sentence's context. "Touchy," however, is an adjective that means "oversensitive and irritable" when being used to refer to a person, and because "touchy" best describes Fred's irritable mood, "touchy" is the correct answer.
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