ISEE Upper Level Verbal : One-Blank Sentences

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

The executive officer sometimes forgot how many __________ were made available to his department; this led him to be unfairly impatient with the slowness of other groups that had far fewer employees and supplies.

Possible Answers:

drones

employees

instruments

resources

servants

Correct answer:

resources

Explanation:

The parallel in this sentence is between the man things that the officer has and the “far fewer employees and supplies” available to the other groups. Note also that the sentence implies that he is impatient because the other groups are not as efficient as his group, which apparently is better endowed. Resources are those materials and people available for someone to accomplish a given task. This is the best option for this sentence, as all the other options are too specific.           

Example Question #62 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

In praise of the speaker’s talk, the crowd gave him a resounding __________.

Possible Answers:

hauteur

ovulation

ovation

yelp

acceptance

Correct answer:

ovation

Explanation:

The two key words in this sentence are “praise” and “resounding.” The sentence implies that the crowd greatly praised the speaker. When someone gives an “ovation,” he or she does just that. Often this signifies that the praise is in the way of applause. We often speak of “standing ovations” when a crowd stands up at the end of a show in order to applaud. Do not be tricked by “ovulation,” which has nothing to do with this sentence. That word has to do with the release of an egg in the female reproductive system.

Example Question #1573 : Sat Critical Reading

The light rainfall left the wooden rowboat glistening, the water giving a slight reflective __________ on the oars stacked on its sides.

Possible Answers:

color

sheen

quantity

feel

texture

Correct answer:

sheen

Explanation:

We can infer that because the rainfall left the rowboat "glistening" and that the noun that will go in the blank will be described by the adjectives "slight" and "reflective," we need to pick out a word that has something to do with shininess, and in particular, slight shininess. While "color" may look like a potentially correct answer, it wouldn't make sense in the blank, because the sentence isn't talking about "color," but shininess. "Sheen," however, is a noun that means "a soft luster on a surface," and because "sheen" best describes the slight shininess that the rowboat acquires after being rained on, "sheen" is the correct answer.

Example Question #251 : One Blank Sentences

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.

The government was held in __________ until the issue of healthcare was resolved.

Possible Answers:

alacrity

ambience

abeyance

affirmation

affinity

Correct answer:

abeyance

Explanation:

The choice that makes the most sense is abeyance: a temporary state of suspended action.

Example Question #1574 : Sat Critical Reading

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.

The assassination of the country’s political leaders led to a period of __________ and turmoil.

Possible Answers:

antipathy

probity

apathy

piety

anarchy

Correct answer:

anarchy

Explanation:

The choice that makes the most sense is anarchy: a state of disorder due to the absence of a governing body.

Example Question #1575 : Sat Critical Reading

Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.

The __________ of the mind seems to wane significantly after a child has passed a certain age.

Possible Answers:

pique

platitude

plasticity

posterity

precept

Correct answer:

plasticity

Explanation:

The choice that makes the most sense is plasticity: ability to be easily shaped or molded.

Example Question #67 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

Pick the word that best completes the sentence

The doctor was stumped: he had no idea what the __________ was for this particular snake bite.

Possible Answers:

antidote

analgesia

antibiotic

myalgia

ceratoid

Correct answer:

antidote

Explanation:

An antidote is a subtance which reverses the effect of poisoning—while "antibiotic" is close, in this context, a snake bite releases poison, not bacteria, so the best word is "antidote."

Example Question #1111 : Psat Critical Reading

Pick the best word to complete the sentence.

Political scientists will debate for years to come about whether Barack Obama's healthcare __________ was the best solution.

Possible Answers:

policies

deployment

institutions

reform

legislations

Correct answer:

reform

Explanation:

Based on the verb in the sentence, this word needs to be singular—so although policy and legislation might make sense based solely on meaning, reform is the best answer.

Example Question #1112 : Psat Critical Reading

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

 

Simon had to resort to trickery and __________ to convince his mother to let him go out on Friday night.

 

Possible Answers:

skepticism

prudence

panacea

respite

chicanery

Correct answer:

chicanery

Explanation:

"Chicanery" means deception or trickery. "Skepticism" means doubt or disbelief. "Respite" means a pause or suspension of activity. "Prudence" means caution or carefullness. "Panacea" means a cure-all or remedy

Example Question #1113 : Psat Critical Reading

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

 

Nobody is perfect; we all have our own __________.

 

Possible Answers:

mendicants

jargons

dictums

foibles

genres

Correct answer:

foibles

Explanation:

"Foible" means a personal imperfection or shortcoming. "Mendicant" means a beggar or vagabond. "Jargon" is a dialect or invented language. "Genre" means a type or category. "Dictum" means a saying or a proverb

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