ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #511 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The new law was an effort to __________ certain hunting practices, but many outdoorsman believe the new prohibitions could not be enforced.
unencumber
undermine
proscribe
promote
enable
proscribe
The law’s effort, as mentioned in the second part of the sentence, is to prohibit certain actions. Of the given answer choices, only “proscribe” is a synonym for prohibit.
Example Question #512 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor’s lectures had a tendency to __________, often taking on topics that bore little relation to his initial subject.
pinpoint
pontificate
meander
narrow
finesse
meander
The professor’s habit of discussing topics not related to his subject shows he wanders around various topics. Of the answer choices, only “meander” is a synonym for wander.
Example Question #181 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While her grandchildren often used their cell phones at the table, she __________ such behavior.
celebrated
abhorred
approved
enjoyed
ignored
abhorred
The structure of the sentence indicates that the grandmother did not like her grandchildren's behavior. Look for an answer that means dislike or even hate. Of the answer choices, only "abhorred" has the appropriate meaning.
Example Question #182 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The nonprofit's work focused on ___________ people in emerging democracies, but questions remained about its effectiveness.
harming
suppressing
nullifying
negating
enfranchising
enfranchising
The best clue for the answer lies in the word "democracies," as "enfranchising" means enabling voting rights. Another clue is the fact that the other four answer choices all indicate some sense of hurting people; identifying synonyms among answer choices is a good way to eliminate some choices.
Example Question #601 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Not wanting to see a rival succeed, he sought to __________ every promotion opportunity she received.
complement
hamper
enable
ensure
assist
hamper
The key word in the sentence is "rival." With rival in mind, look for a word that would indicate a sense of harm or impairment. Of the answer choices, only "hamper" has the appropriate meaning.
Example Question #611 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her lifelong love of cars began with a trip to an automotive museum as a young girl, which __________ her passion at a young age.
slowed
tempered
hampered
repulsed
kindled
kindled
The museum trip started and encouraged her love of cars. "Kindled," literally meaning started a fire, but here used metaphorically to mean ignited an interest, is the only answer choice that appropriately completes the sentence.
Example Question #602 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The gunman would not __________ to the policeman's demands to step out of his car, so he was forced to tase him.
acquiesce
husband
vindicate
concur
spurn
acquiesce
The sentence tells us that the police had to tase the gunman, from which we can infer that he didn't cooperate. Because the omitted word is preceded by "not," the proper choice should be something similar in meaning to "cooperate." "Acquiesce" means accept, consent or give in, so "acquiesce" best fits the context of the sentence and is the correct answer.
Example Question #613 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The city councilman __________ the virtues of building a waterfront business park to attract companies to their city, but he was generally opposed because the boardwalk currently located there was very popular.
caucusing
espoused
extricated
deliberated
obliterated
espoused
"Espouse" means support, promote or advocate. It is clear that this is what the city councilman was doing, as the opposite involved people opposing the waterfront business park.
Example Question #603 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The activists, hoping to generate popular support, __________ their pamphlets throughout the community.
obfuscated
dismembered
dissembled
concealed
disseminated
disseminated
"Disseminate" means spread widely. Activists, intent on building popular support, would likely wish to spread their message widely throughout a community.
Example Question #604 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Benjamin __________ about his new girlfriend; his excessive enthusiasm was grating.
quibbled
downplayed
rhapsodized
objurgated
complained
rhapsodized
"Rhapsodized" means engaged in excessive and enthusiastic praise of someone or something. The speaker finds this excessive enthusiasm quite annoying.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
