All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #111 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Each generation will __________Â another; the world repeats its __________Â until the end of time.
proliferate . . . livelihood
deprecate . . . arrogance
outpace . . . doldrums
beget . . . circuit
rebuke . . . discourse
beget . . . circuit
Each generation brings forth a next generation, leading to the mentioned repetition. The best option is therefore âbeget . . . circuit.â To âbegetâ means to bring forth often with the connotation of procreation. A âcircuitâ is a closed loop, therefore well filling the need of the second blank in this sentence.
Example Question #112 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Brandon was never quite sure which of the temperaments his roommate would __________. In spite of this, he cared deeply for the other man, whose self-presentation could be either frank or somewhat secretive, for these characteristics were not a mark of __________ but merely the result of a somewhat antisocial disposition.
evince . . . duplicity
expose . . . exasperation
reveal . . . eruptions
express . . . insanity
decry . . . rashness
evince . . . duplicity
There is something of a play on words in this sentence. The roommate has two sides, and âdupleâ (and related words) imply twoness, hence âduplicity.â This likewise meansâand this is closer to our usage hereâbeing deceitful (as in being âtwo facedâ). To âevinceâ is to reveal a reality. Such an act need not show a heretofore hidden reality. Oneâs (e.g.) body motions âevinceâ (in the sense of âgiving evidence forâ) oneâs caring nature.Â
Example Question #113 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Often, much time is wasted on an undertaking that would be significantly __________Â if every intervening __________Â were first removed.
enjoyed . . . exasperation
eased . . . question
decreased . . . complexity
expedited . . . impediment
simplified . . . annoyance
expedited . . . impediment
Since the concern here is with removing something that seems to increase the time of an undertaking, such an intervening object is an âimpediment,â which means an obstruction. Â To âexpediteâ something is to make it occur more quickly. Both words come from the Latin word for âfootâ (This is reflected in the â-ped-â portion of the stem, not to be confused with the âpedâ in words like âpediatricâ and âpediatrician,â which have different roots). An âimpedimentâ is something placed on (im+) the foot (so to speak), and to âexpediteâ is to remove something from the foot or away from its path (at least taken literally).
Example Question #11 : Nouns And Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After spending twenty years studying metaphysics, Stanley had barely begun to __________ the depths of his subject but instead had barely skimmed its __________.
ponder . . . wonders
plumb . . . superfices
contemplate . . . textbooksÂ
notice . . . texts
consider . . . surface
plumb . . . superfices
To âplumbâ something is to seek out its depths. You might know from chemistry class that the element lead has a symbol Pb. This comes from the Latin word âplumbum,â which was used for the element. âTo plumbâ the depths of some body of water would be to tie a piece of lead to a string in order to see how deep it is. The word âsuperficesâ means âthe surfacesâ and is related to the word âsuperficial.âÂ
Example Question #1161 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The whale-oil merchants in the small village had __________ much influence to themselves by means of their wealth. This state of affairs was so significant that while the legal structures appeared to be purely democratic, in reality the village functioned as a kind of __________, with the merchants being the true ruling body.
wheedled . . . mercantilism
stolen . . . decadence
grasped . . . despotism
embezzled . . . dictatorship
garnered . . . plutocracy
garnered . . . plutocracy
The merchants can be said to have gathered influence to themselves. For this reason, it might be tempting to choose âgrasped;â however, the term âdespotismâ does not apply to this kind of political state of affairs. Perhaps you were tempted by âstolenâ or even âwheedled,â but nothing in the sentence justifies these particular judgments. Also, their coupled words do not fit well grammatically. The word âgarneredâ means âto gatherâ and is therefore the best option. A âplutocracyâ is a form of government run by the wealthy. The prefix âpluto-â comes from the Greek âplutosâ for âwealth.â
Example Question #1162 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
During the __________, the people of the kingdom basically continued to live as though there were a still a king. When the new ruler __________ to the throne, they likewise continued living in a rather unchanged manner.
conflict . . . ascended
wartime . . . rose
interlude . . . acquiesced
respite . . . deferred
interregnum . . . acceded
interregnum . . . acceded
The implication of the first sentence is that the kingdom was without a king for a period (though it continued to function as though it had one). We know not why this occurred, but there is no justification for choosing that this was a time of conflict. The best answer is âinterregnum,â which means âperiod between rulers,â coming from âinter-,â meaning âbetweenâ and â-regnum,â meaning ârule.â The latter is related to words like âreign,â âregal,â and âregent.â When someone assumes a given position, he or she is said to âaccedeâ to it. This is a second meaning of the term, which is literally derived from the Latin for âto give way to.â (The primary meaning of âaccedeâ is therefore âto give way to or agree to a given demand or requestâ).
Example Question #12 : Nouns And Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ holding together the incision from the surgery had loosened, causing the underlying tissue to be __________ to the air.
analgesic . . . vulnerable
curative . . . extruded
bandages . . . unveiled
wrapping . . . gangrenous
suture . . . exposed
suture . . . exposed
The best option for the first blank is âsuture,â which is a stitching used to seal a wound. The other tempting options, namely âwrappingâ and âbandages,â do not fit as exactly as does âsuture.â The word is related to the English âsew.â Since such stitching helps to keep the wound closed, when it loosens, the wound becomes opened and exposed to the air, hence giving us our second option.
Example Question #13 : Nouns And Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Given years of living with mockery in grade school, Jennifer __________ herself on the first day of middle school against the expected __________, hoping to prevent herself from crying by means of adequate preparation.
arranged . . . rudeness
accepted . . . unkindness
convinced . . . derision
hardened . . . onslaught
steeled . . . ridicule
steeled . . . ridicule
The key phrase in this sentence is that Jennifer hoped to prepare herself in order âto prevent herself from crying.â When someone âsteelsâ himself or herself, he or she prepares himself or herself mentally for a difficult situation. Since she fears mockery, it is safe to say that she fears âridicule,â which means âthe act of being mocked or âmade fun of.ââ It is related to words like âridiculousâ and ârisible,â coming from the Latin word for âto smile or laugh.â
Example Question #21 : Nouns And Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Sometimes it is better to let your children make mistakes and learn from them instead of continually __________ them. Such constant protection does little to teach them the __________ of their actions.
observing . . . effects
noting . . . implications
inoculating . . . ramifications
monitoring . . . developments
coddling . . . consequences
coddling . . . consequences
When someone overprotects their child (or someone else in general), such action is known as âcoddling.â This word best matches the key phrase âsuch constant protection.â The second blank is best filled by the word âconsequencesâ because the other options do not capture the sense of âimportanceâ that often is associated with the word âconsequence.â The only really tempting trap word is âeffects,â which does carry the extra moral weight that âconsequencesâ does.
Example Question #1171 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young American republic had to __________Â many potentially fatal Â__________ before the United States would assert itself as a hegemonic world power.
weather . . . catastrophes
eulogize . . . sermons
enrage . . . jubilations
engender . . . notices
counsel . . . disasters
weather . . . catastrophes
The use of the word âfatalâ suggests that the second blank must describe some sort of disastrous incident. So you can rule out jubilations (celebrations) and sermons (religious message). Disasters, catastrophes (disasters) and notices (warnings) could all fit. Of the remaining three options for the first blank weather (to endure) is the best possible fit. Answering this question relies on you knowing the secondary meaning of the word weather. Other secondary word meanings that are commonly used include: table (to suggest something) and champion (to promote).
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
