All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
例子问题# 62:Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the inside of the house was immaculately clean, its___________appearance was quite untidy by contrast.
garage's
external
kitchen's
decorative
actual
external
For any sentence with a contrast like this one, you need to stayas close as possibleto the direct meaning of the sentence. The first part of the sentence talks about the inside of the house and its "cleanness" (ortidiness). The contrast is with something that is untidy. All we are given to help us determine the opposite word is "inside." Therefore, the sentence must be contrasting the inside to the outside—not to the garage, nor even (if it were an option) to the lawn. It is to the "exterior," which meansrelated to or visible on the outside of something.
Example Question #63 :Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The baked chicken was not__________to the toddler, who spit it out and screamed for pizza.
disgusting
美味
tepid
unacceptable
intolerable
美味
"Palatable" meansacceptable to the taste. The todler found the baked chicken inedible (unacceptable to the taste). The wrong answers are antonyms of "palatable," and while they may initially look correct, the "not" in the sentence tells us that we need to pick out a word that means "tasting good" or at least "acceptable to the taste," not "tasting bad."
Example Question #51 :Sentence Completions: Context Clues
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Skeptical scientists predicted that the researcher's experiments would fail, but the researcher herself felt__________.
poor
doubtful
expressive
indifferent
optimistic
optimistic
Since the researcher disagrees with the skepticism of the scientists, she would be "optimistic" -hopeful and confident- about her experiments. None of the other answer choices make sense in the sentence's context: "indifferent" meansapathetic, "doubtful" meansskeptical, "expressive" meansexpressing emotion, and "poor" meanslacking money.
Example Question #74 :Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The magician amazed the spectators by making the rabbit disappear, although it was merely__________under the table.
concealed
compiled
visible
discovered
drenched
concealed
In order to appear to have disappared, the rabbit must behidden from sightunder the table. The correct answer is "concealed," which is a synonym of "hidden." None of the other answer choices make sense in the sentence's context: "discovered," when used as an adjective, is an antonym of "concealed" and meansrevealedorexposed; "compiled" meansput together; "drenched" meanssoaked; and "visible" is another antonym of "concealed," and meansable to be seen.
Example Question #71 :Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
George did not like to admit the fact that he was completely__________in mathematics and instead pretended to be quite able at performing calculations.
incompetent
excellent
unbecoming
accepted
proficient
incompetent
自从乔治假装他能够穿孔orm calculations, we can assume that he must not actually be able to do such calculations. This is implied both by the fact that he is pretending as well as the use of "instead," which likewise indicates that there is a contrast occurring. In contrast to being able to do something, someone can be called "incompetent." This means that someone lacks a given "competency," oran abilityorskill. This is the only option that expresses such a lack of ability.
Example Question #76 :Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In contrast with the superficial book review written for last month’s literary journal, Robert’s article this month offered a__________evaluation of the new book being reviewed.
cursory
thorough
passing
supportive
scholarly
thorough
This sentence is very direct regarding the contrast that it expresses. The word "superficial" meanssurface levelornot complete or thorough. Already, you can see that the best contrast will be "thorough." Still, consider the wrong answers. "Cursory" means meansnot detailed—it is basically a synonym of "superficial." "Passing" likewise is a relative synonym of "superficial." While "scholarly" might appear to be detailed, this really expresses something else, namely the fact that something is being written for a specific type of audience (i.e. an academic audience). There can be superficial "scholarly" works. Finally, we do not know whether or not the review was "supportive," merely that it was not a superficial review. (Perhaps it was a thorough critique!)
Example Question #72 :Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the prediction rested on a rather improbable premise, it still was__________that the event could occur.
possible
certain
unlikely
unbecoming
doubtful
possible
The word "still" can be used to mean "nevertheless." In this sentence, this means that, in spite of the fact that the prediction had an improbable premise, it was still not completely improbable. The implication is that while improbable, it was still possible (not completely ruled out by the improbability that was mentioned). Without a doubt, it would not be fair to say that it was "certain." The improbability mentioned above needs to be recognized. Likewise, the use of "still" indicates that it is not completely out of the question either.
Example Question #78 :Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The rock contains minerals not usually found on Earth, so the scientists theorized that it is likely to be__________in origin.
volcanic
extraterrestrial
sedimentary
urban
subterranean
extraterrestrial
Because "the rock contains minerals not found on Earth," it is likely that it comes from space. This means that it must be “extraterrestrial” in origin, where the prefix "extra-" meansfrom beyondand the root word "terrestrial" meanshaving to do with the Earth. (The word "terrestrial"derives from the root "terra," which is Latin forearth.) To provide further help, “volcanic” meanshaving to do with volcanoes or deriving from a volcano; “subterranean” meansexisting or having to do with undergroundareas.(It is derived from the prefix "sub-" meaningbelowand "terra," Latin forearth.) "Sedimentary" refers to a type of rock which iscomposed of sediment, and "urban" meanshaving to do with cities as opposed to rural areas.
Example Question #61 :Sentence Completions: Context Clues
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While many students gathered huge piles of books to flip through in the library, Gary chose one interesting one and slowly__________it.
perused
pet
filtered
skimmed
lingered
perused
Because of the comparative structure of the sentence, we can tell that we need to pick out a verb that has to do with reading and books, but means the opposite of "flip through." So, "skimmed" cannot be the correct answer because to "skim" a book means "to read (something) quickly or cursorily so as to note only the important points," and that is not what Gary is doing in the sentence, since he is going "slowly." "Peruse," however, is a verb that means either "read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way" or "examine carefully or at length," and because it best describes Gary's actions in the sentence, "peruse" is the correct answer.
例子问题# 62:Sentence Completions: Context Clues
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
萨曼莎有充分的理由相信这是戒烟e __________ that Ronald would take her to the dance, though she believed it to be only a remote possibility.
unlikely
debatable
hilarious
probable
understandable
probable
This sentence is based upon a contrast that is implied by the conjunction "though." A "remote possibility" is a "distant" or unlikely possibility. In contrast to such unlikeliness, Samantha actually had good reasons to believe that Ronald actually would take her to the dance; therefore, it is fair to say that she had good reasons to think it to be probable, meaning it was likely.
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