ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Verbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Verbs

Which of the following words best completes the sentence below?

Since I did not __________ to the directions on the package, the recipe did not turn out as expected.

Possible Answers:

appeal

adhere

conserve

recount

collide

Correct answer:

adhere

Explanation:

"Adhere" is defined as to stick to, or follow the practices of. In the context of this sentence, not sticking to or following the practices of a recipe could result in the recipe not turning out as expected.

Example Question #2 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Stranded in the desert with insufficient water, her plight was unfortunate; she _____ the thought of being in the safety of her home.

Possible Answers:

loathed

endured

summoned

relished

discarded

Correct answer:

relished

Explanation:

Due to her dire situation, she is probably wishing she was home safe and sound; thus, she relished the thought.

Example Question #3 : Verbs

When Jake decorated his party hat, he cut out circles and zigzags cut from construction paper and used glue to make the paper shapes __________ to the hat and not fall off.

Possible Answers:

welcome

avoid

adhere

loosen

magnetic

Correct answer:

adhere

Explanation:

We know that Jake used glue to make the paper shapes not fall off of the hat, so we can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "stick." While "magnetic" shapes could stick to certain objects, construction paper is not magnetic, so "magnetic" cannot be the correct answer. "Adhere," however, is a verb that can mean "stick fast to a surface or substance." Because "adhere" is the answer choice which best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

If an athlete---in training, they can improve their athletic ability.

Possible Answers:

concludes

despairs

pauses

retreats

persists

Correct answer:

persists

Explanation:

If an athlete is diligent or hard working in their training, they can improve their ability. Thus, the best answer choice is persists which indicates that athletes are determined in their training.

Example Question #5 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The---of shopping was too great and caused Elisa and Heather to spend the money they made at work on clothing.

Possible Answers:

appeal

displeasure

guilt

charm

distraction

Correct answer:

appeal

Explanation:

The best answer choice indicates that shopping was favorable to both girls; thus, appeal is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Over the years, Jen---medals from winning gymnastics competitions.

Possible Answers:

stashed

decreased

pursued

accumulated

increased

Correct answer:

accumulated

Explanation:

Since Jen won many medals over the years, it means that she has accumulated medals from her wins.

Example Question #1 : Verbs

After __________ the results of their experiment by reviewing the data they gathered and interpreting the patterns it formed, the scientists determined that they had indeed discovered a new element.

Possible Answers:

misunderstanding

bringing

seeing

losing

analyzing

Correct answer:

analyzing

Explanation:

We can infer from the context of the sentence that we need to pick out a word that means something like "interpreting" or "reviewing," because we know that is what the scientists did to their data, and the missing word also described what they did to their data. "Seeing" may seem like a potentially correct answer because the scientists probably needed to see their data to interpret or review it, but "seeing" does not mean the same thing as "interpreting" or "reviewing," so "seeing" cannot be the correct answer. "Analyzing," however, means "examining methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of something, especially information, typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation." Because "analyzing" is the answer choice that makes the most sense in the sentence's context, "analyzing" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Verbs

When the thieves were apprehended, they had to __________ the money they had stolen to the authorities so that it could be returned to the victims.

Possible Answers:

persuade

interest

repeat

bury

relinquish

Correct answer:

relinquish

Explanation:

Because we know that the thieves had to return the money to the authorities, we can infer that we need to pick out a word for the blank that means something like "return." Because "relinquish" means "voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up," it best fits the sentence's context and is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Verbs

The two students asked for permission to __________ one science project together instead of generating two individual projects while each worked by herself.

Possible Answers:

justify

delete

copy

collaborate on

mention

Correct answer:

collaborate on

Explanation:

We know that the word that fits the blank describes a science project that the students want to work on together, so we need to pick out a word that can refer to academic projects and means "work together on something." While "collaborate on" and "copy" could both be used in relation to academic projects, "copy" cannot be the correct answer because copying a project would be cheating, and so we can infer that the students wouldn't ask their teacher's permission to cheat. However, "collaborate on" makes sense in the sentence's context because "collaborate" means "work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something," so "collaborate" is the correct answer.

Example Question #10 : Verbs

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The car __________ forward when the new driver put his foot on the gas pedal.

Possible Answers:

eased

tilted

slid

lurched

slithered

Correct answer:

lurched

Explanation:

The key to this sentence is noting that the driver was new and therefore presumably jerky in his movements. Thus, the new driver probably lurched foward.

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