ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, and Connotation

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #131 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

Wearing a feather boa with her neon colored outfits and dancing around the classroom while she taught every day, the English teacher could best be described as _____.

Possible Answers:

eccentric

impractical

predictable

spontaneous

agile

Correct answer:

eccentric

Explanation:

Due to her quirky way of dressing and the fact that she dances around the classroom, the English teacher is best described as eccentric or unconventional.

Example Question #2 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

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

For the Thanksgiving holiday, most American families have _____ dishes including turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and apple pie.

Possible Answers:

extraordinary

conventional

plain

unique

lavish

Correct answer:

conventional

Explanation:

The best word to describe the dishes that are typically eaten at an American Thanksgiving dinner is conventional; certain dishes are conventionally or normally served.

Example Question #3 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

The plot of the __________ horror movie involves zombies terrorizing a theatre and gradually eating all of the moviegoers and staff.

Possible Answers:

unlucky

meaningless

gruesome

potential

inveterate

Correct answer:

gruesome

Explanation:

We can infer from the sentence's description of the movie's plot that it is probably gory, or "involves a lot of violence and bloodshed." While we can describe the moviegoers and theatre staff as "unlucky," "unlucky" does not describe the plot of the movie itself, so it cannot be the correct answer. The best answer is "gruesome," an adjective that means "causing repulsion or horror; grisly," or "extremely unpleasant."

Example Question #121 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

The regular sandwich comes with lettuce and tomato on wheat bread, but the __________ sandwich includes caramelized onions, cheese, and spicy mayonnaise on a toasted bun.

Possible Answers:

portentous

deluxe

difficult

miserable

hungry

Correct answer:

deluxe

Explanation:

We can infer that we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "special" because the sandwich our word will describe comes with extra toppings compared to the "regular sandwich." "Hungry" might look like a potentially correct answer because of the sentence's culinary context, but since it wouldn't make sense to describe a sandwich as being "hungry," "hungry" cannot be the correct answer. "Deluxe," however, is an adjective that means "luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind," and because "deluxe" best describes the sandwich that comes with extra toppings, "deluxe" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Harry didn't want to go explore the spooky old mansion because it looked so __________—its windows were broken and dusty, its roof missing most of its tiles, and it looked as if the entire building might come crashing down around anyone who entered.

Possible Answers:

well-maintained

derelict

worn

modern

presumptuous

Correct answer:

derelict

Explanation:

We can infer that whichever adjective goes in the blank, it needs to describe the mansion described when the sentence says, "its windows were broken and dusty, its roof missing most of its tiles, and it looked as if the entire building might come crashing down around anyone who entered." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "run-down" to describe the building. "Well-maintained," then, cannot be the correct answer because the building is clearly not well-maintained if Harry is concerned about it "[coming] crashing down." "Derelict," however, is an adjective that can mean "in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect," and because "derelict" best describes the building described in the sentence, "derelict" is the correct answer.

Example Question #122 : Sentence Completions: Context Clues

Sentence Completions: choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Karen's varied and extensive training in ballet, hip hop, and jazz made her a very ___________ dancer.

Possible Answers:

gifted

versatile

belligerent

ambivalent

pedestrian

Correct answer:

versatile

Explanation:

In this case, "versatile" means multitalented or able to do many things. If Karen has extensive training in several different genres of dance, she is a versatile dancer. While she might be a gifted dancer, that answer choice implies innate talent rather than the versatility extensive training would provide.

Example Question #6 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Sentence Completions: Select the word that best completes the sentence.
Though he worked long hours in the factory, the worker's __________ pay was still not enough to feed his nine children. 
Possible Answers:

lucrative

meager

sufficient

unfortunate 

presumptuous

Correct answer:

meager

Explanation:
This sentence starts with the word "though," and since the blank comes after the comma, we know the answer will contradict the first part of the sentence. "Meager" means small, and because "meager" is the word that most correctly completes the sentence, "meager" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Sentence Completions: Select the word that most best completes the sentence.

When we finally reached the coast, the __________ ocean spread out before us, seeming to go on forever. 
Possible Answers:

Miniscule

Amble

Gape

Blissful

Vast

Correct answer:

Vast

Explanation:
"Seeming to go on forever" is the clue in this sentence. The word that most closely means "seeming to go on forever" is "vast," which means immense, so "vast" is the correct answer. 

Example Question #2 : Sentence Completions: Style, Intensity, And Connotation

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Gregory had always been a strange man, somewhat __________ about even the smallest things, so it was quite surprising to see him calm in the midst of the many stresses he was currently facing.

Possible Answers:

horrendous

raging

unpleasant

agitated

morose

Correct answer:

agitated

Explanation:

The sentence is expressing a contrast. It is surprising that Gregory is calm during a set of circumstances that apparently would be a cause for him not to be calm. This means that he was often—even in small things—agitated or nervous. It does not make sense to say that he was somewhat raging. A "raging" person is someone who is very angry; it is not a matter of many degrees. The other options do not provide an adequate contrast to the calmness. Therefore, the option "agitated" is the best.

Example Question #141 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

William was a particularly __________ individual; he never apologized for always being late to meals, eating more than everyone else, rarely offering to pay for the food, and always talking over everyone else.

Possible Answers:

boisterous

greedy

annoying

generous

inconsiderate

Correct answer:

inconsiderate

Explanation:

From the description of William, it is safe to say that he does not spend much time thinking about other people. In almost every aspect of social interactions, he is self-centered and causes inconvenience for others. Another way to describe this is to say that he does not even consider the other people at all. Therefore, we can fairly say that he is "inconsiderate." While he might be called "greedy" (for not paying) or "boisterous" (for talking over others), the description "inconsiderate" best describes the complete nexus of bad character traits that he shows.

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