All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
The teacher generally wished for each day to be unique and exciting, but sometimes she welcomed a little bit of__________.
amusement
distinctiveness
variety
anticipation
monotony
monotony
Let's divide this sentence into two parts. First, we're told that the teacher usually wanted her days to be "unique and exciting." However, the conjunction "but" lets us know that we're looking for the opposite. In other words, sometimes the teacher looks forward to days that arenotunique or exciting. Of the answer choices, a little bit of "variety" is similar touniqueness; "distinctiveness" can be eliminated for the same reason. Even "amusement" is too close in meaning to "excitement," so we are left with "monotony," a word that refers torepetition of tedious or boring tasks. So, the teacher generally wished for excitement, but occasionally looked forward to a dull or "monotonous" day.
Example Question #1 :Word Based Sentence Completions
Ariel refused to cheat on the test, as she believes that it is important to be ______ and honest.
authentic
polite
unusual
straight
obvious
authentic
Here, Ariel is being authentic by deciding not to cheat. To be authentic means to be true and honest to oneself. Cheating is the opposite of this. Therefore,authenticis the best answer choice.
Example Question #1 :Sentence Completions
Choose the word or phrase that best completes the following sentence.
While Andrew is very good at sports, Mary is by contrast rather__________.
interesting
unathletic
talented
bookish
kind
unathletic
在这个句子中,话说,表明“相反”e that there will be a difference between the phrase preceding those words and the adjective that comes afterwards. The opposite of the phrase "good at sports" would be "bad at sports." Someone who is "unathletic," ornot athletic, is most likely bad at sports. Therefore, "unathletic" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 :Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I have a very strong__________of spiders, so whenever one crawls into my room I have to go get my dad.
sorrow
adoration
phobia
attraction
demand
phobia
从context, it sounds like the person speaking isafraidof spiders. The word “phobia” meansfear, so this is the correct answer. The word “adoration” meanslove; the word “sorrow” meansgreat sadness; an “attraction” issomething you want to go see, like the zoo; and a “demand” isa rude or forceful request for something.
Example Question #2 :Sentence Completions
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The__________colors in the painting's foreground contrasted with the dull, muted colors used in its background.
dark
speckled
transparent
vivid
opaque
vivid
The sentence contrasts the word describing the colors used in the painting's foreground with the "dull, muted" colors used in its background. This means that we need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "dull" and "muted." "Opaque" and "transparent" each refer to how much light can pass through something—light can't pass through "opaque" objects at all, but lots of light can pass through "transparent" objects, like window panes; neither of these answers can be correct because they are not opposites of "dull" and "muted." Similarly, "speckled" refers to somethingspotted in appearanceand so describes an arrangement of colors, not if they are the opposite of "dull." "Dark" colors can be "dull" and "muted" or rich and vibrant, so "dark" cannot be the correct answer either. This leaves us with the correct answer, "vivid," a word that meansbright and lively in appearance. Colors that are "vivid" can be contrasted with colors that are "dull" and "muted."
Example Question #1 :Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Andrew was__________when he heard that his brother had gotten in a fight at school; his brother was the most peaceful and nonviolent person he knew.
speechless
outraged
grumpy
afraid
anxious
speechless
Given that Andrew's brother was "the most peaceful and nonviolent person he knew" and his brother got into a fight at school, it's most reasonable to infer that Andrew would be shocked by this news. "Speechless" meansextremely shocked to the point where you can't say anything, so it is the best answer choice.
Example Question #1 :Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
He is__________ready on time, and as a result, his friends often start playing basketball without him.
always
reliably
invariably
frequently
seldom
seldom
Because the subject’s friends usually start playing basketball without him, it is obvious that he mustneverorrarelybe ready on time. The word “seldom” is the only answer choice that conveys that the subject of the sentence is rarely ready on time; all of the other answer choices emphasize how often he is ready on time, and so don't make sense in the sentence.
Example Question #11 :Sentence Completions
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Unless Lisa__________the required material, she will probably earn a good grade on the Spanish exam.
completes
practices
forgets
studies
masters
forgets
To complete this sentence, it is important to note its first word, "unless." This conjunction has a similar meaning to the phraseexcept when. In other words, Lisa will probably get a good grade on the Spanish test,exceptwhen she has done something specific in relation to the required material. So, we're looking for the one verb that would lead Lisa to dopoorly. If Lisa "masters" the material, she'll likely earn a good grade, not a poor one; the same goes for "practices" and "completes." Our answer, then, must be "forgets." If Lisa forgets the material, she won't earn that good score on the test.
Example Question #11 :Sentence Completions
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The apple was mushy from being overly__________, and its texture made it no longer appetizing.
crunchy
large
ripe
picked
red
ripe
An apple becomes mushy when it is too mature. The words that best describes an apple being so old that its texture changes is the word "ripe,"which meansfully developed. The stage following ripeness is rottenness.
Example Question #1 :Word Based Sentence Completions
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
In order to__________how much money I had, I had to get a job.
increase
decrease
protect
spend
discover
increase
You get paid to do your job, so if the author had to get one, it makes sense that he would get more money. The answer is therefore “increase,” which meansto go up in amount.It is the opposite of “decrease.” The prefix "in-" in this context meansupand the prefix "de-" meansdown."Inspire” meansto get someone to do something by making them feel they want to do it.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor