ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Sentences

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #253 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Although Nestor had been raised in a strictly Lutheran home, with age, he found himself to be rather __________, looking for emotional solace at whatever various religious gathering he would sample at a given time.

Possible Answers:

nihilistic

atheistic

latitudinarian

antireligious

agonistic

Correct answer:

latitudinarian

Explanation:

All that we can tell about Nestor is that he will sample any religion whatsoever. Let us not, therefore, go so far as to imply that he has no religion. The sense is best captured by “latitudinarian,” which means merely to show no preference (generally in religion). It is related to words like “latitude,” implying breadth or freedom for expression.

Example Question #291 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The spirit of a given civilization, while often abstract and difficult to define, is often found reflected in __________ form in the laws of that people.

Possible Answers:

plain

legible

transcribed

readable

reified

Correct answer:

reified

Explanation:

The key here to note is the contrariety implied in the “while . . .” subordinate clause. If it is often abstract, the spirit of a civilization is at least concrete in the laws. To be concrete could be said to be “like something” in the sense of some thing. The word “res” in Latin means thing and is related to “real” and “republic,” which means the public things. The “-fy” is a standard ending meaning to do or to make, and is likewise found in forms like “-fact-” (factor), “-fic-” (artificer), -“-fect” (perfect), or even “-fication” (amplification).   

Example Question #255 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Through many difficulties and many joys, John was a _________ friend, never abandoning Isidore and always supporting him with true affection.

Possible Answers:

superb

reflective

stalwart

superfluous

commendable

Correct answer:

stalwart

Explanation:

Although John might likewise be called an excellent friend, he certainly was unwavering (at least from the description). The word “stalwart” implies this loyalty.

Example Question #292 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

So much of modern science is __________, taking as its starting point the assumption that all knowledge is quantifiable and susceptible to regular measurement.

Possible Answers:

recordable

metrical

irreligious

materialistic

analyzable

Correct answer:

metrical

Explanation:

The key words to note are “quantifiable” and, more importantly, “regular measurement.” The word “metrical” means related to measurement and is used in many words such as “symmetric” (one thing measuring directly with—sym—another) and “econometrics” (the study of economics by statistics and other mathematical / empirical methods).

Example Question #257 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

In his youth, the young philosopher always broke things into couplets like “act and potency” or “essence and existence.” With age, he came to see that the reality needed to be expressed in a more __________ fashion in groups like “being, life, and intellect,” as well as “thesis, antithesis, synthesis.”

Possible Answers:

thorough

confounding

exhaustive

mystical

ternary

Correct answer:

ternary

Explanation:

The key thing to note here are the number of terms involved. A “couplet” (like a “couple”) has only two members in it.  If something is “ternary,” it has three parts, like the “triad” (three part structure): “being, life, and intellect.”

Example Question #258 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Since the local was swampy, hot, muggy, and plagued with mosquitoes, few people desired to risk their health and live in such an __________ environment.

Possible Answers:

unpleasant

appalling

alarming

insalubrious

insupportable

Correct answer:

insalubrious

Explanation:

The key word here is “health,” which is best matched by “insalubrious,” which means unhealthful. Something that is “salubrious” is healthful. The word is related to the simpler Latin root “salus,” meaning health, prosperity, or [even] greeting. It is related to English words like “salvation” and “salutation.” 

Example Question #259 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

After the old man had a successful kidney transplant, he was relieved of his numerous __________ issues.

Possible Answers:

health

fitness

renal

salutary

vigorous

Correct answer:

renal

Explanation:

Although you might be tempted to choose “health,” we can surmise more accurately that the old man had kidney problems—hence the need for a kidney transplant, though certainly this is itself a type of health issue. The adjective “renal” means pertaining to the kidneys. It is found in the word “adrenaline,” now called “epinephrine,” because the “adrenal” glands are on the kidneys: ad + renal.

Example Question #260 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Leo’s friends were quite surprised by his heart attack.  His athletic, muscular build had led them to believe that his __________ muscle matched that which showed on his outer appearance.

Possible Answers:

inner

underlying

interior

organic

cardiac

Correct answer:

cardiac

Explanation:

The thing to be noted here is the contrast between the outer muscle and the inner muscle.  Now, a number of the words are meant to tempt you into this simple form of reasoning, but you must always choose the best word. Since we are considering a heart attack specifically, the kind of muscle involved (in the heart) is “cardiac.” When someone has a “cardiac arrest,” that person’s heart has stopped its regular beating and no longer effectively delivers blood.

Example Question #261 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Although Albert’s talk presented prolific details from his research, many listeners found the structure of the argument to be rather haphazard and the conclusions __________ in their claims.

Possible Answers:

tedious

dubitable

insignificant

repetitious

dull

Correct answer:

dubitable

Explanation:

Since the argument was haphazard, the conclusions would seem very unlikely in their final claims. To be “dubitable” is to be “doubtful.” It comes from the Latin word for “doubt.” The latter (“doubt”) is close to “dubitable” in English form, but other related words are “indubitably” and “dubious.”

Example Question #262 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

John’s shy demeanor led him to prefer __________ locations at parties, far removed from the sight of the general crowd.

Possible Answers:

remote

inconspicuous

distant

taciturn

quiet

Correct answer:

inconspicuous

Explanation:

Although a number of the options given for this question are tempting, the key point is that John does not want to be in others’ sight. Do not be tricked by the expression “far removed” as though it necessarily implies distance. It merely indicates that he wishes to be out of vision of the general crowd. The word “inconspicuous” means not in general visibility. If something is “conspicuous,” it is readily seen and obvious. The “-spic-” root is likewise found in other “-spec-” words that are legion in the English language, coming from the Latin roots for to look. Such words include (among many others): “spectator,” “prospective,” “perspective,” “specific,” “spectacular,” and so forth.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors