Word-Based Sentence Completions - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

Notice that the boy wants the bird to eat the cherry out of his hand. Therefore, he is not going to toss it above his head nor throw it. Instead, he is just going to lift it above his head. The word "elevate" describes this kind of lifting. The "elevation" of a mountain is its height. The verb "to elevate" means "to lift upward."

The sentence doesn't tell us much about the hikers' states of mind. Thus, we don't know if the boulder might have annoyed or even frightened them. What we do know is that it seems that it was unable to stop them from proceeding onward in their journey. Therefore, the boulder did not hinder their progress. When something is a "hindrance," that thing is an obstacle, preventing the accomplishment of a task.

The general idea of this sentence is that the road didn't get better after the work was done. It seems to have remained just as bad—quickly returning to its former state with potholes causing problems. Therefore, the best option is the simple word "improve." The work didn't help to make the road better—that is, it didn't help to improve its condition.

For this question, it is critical that you have the appropriate vocabulary. To "lament" something is to cry and moan greatly about that thing. We are told that Sebastian wept and wailed for the passing of his cat. Therefore, we are sure that he was "lamenting" the death of the animal.

The key clue for this question is the word "teach." Paul wants his father to teach him how to repair the mower. This means that he would like to be "instructed" on how to repair it. "Instructions" explain the steps needed for doing something. The verb "to instruct" means to teach or explain.

Mayor de Blasio won the election by a substantial number of votes, so the best answer choice is "landslide," defined as an overwhelming majority of votes for one candidate in an election.

We can infer that because the CDs are arranged "beginning with the artist's earliest works and concluding with his most recent albums," they are arranged according to the time at which they were released. So, we need to pick out an adjective for the blank that means "having to do with time." While "timely" might look like a potentially correct answer, "timely" actually means "done or occurring at a favorable or useful time; opportune," not "having to do with time." So, "timely" cannot be the correct answer. "Chronological," however, can mean "starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred" when referring to a record or events; one can tell that the meaning of "chronological" has to do with time because of the root "chrono-", which means "relating to time." Because "chronological" is the answer choice that best describes the order of the CDs and best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

We can infer that because the artist created sketches before picking one to use "as the model for the final work," the artist must have created the sketches before the final work. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "occurring before something else." So, "subsequent" cannot be the correct answer because "subsequent" means "coming after something in time; following," and is an antonym of a word meaning "occurring before something else." "Preliminary," however, is an adjective that means "denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important." Because "preliminary" is the answer choice which best describes the artist's sketches and best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

We can infer that the salesman expected the homeowners to be "friendly and personable," but was surprised because they were not. So, we need to pick out an adjective to describe the homeowners that means something like "not friendly" or "not personable." "Amiable" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "amiable" is a synonym of "friendly." "Hostile," however, is an adjective that means "unfriendly; antagonistic," and it is the correct answer because it best describes the reception that the salesman received and best fits the context of the sentence.

We can infer from the sentence's structure that we need to pick out an adverb that means something like "in a way where words mean exactly what they say." While "symbolically" might look like a potentially correct answer, we can tell that because "metaphorically" interpreting poetry "considers…symbolism," the missing adverb is not likely to consider symbolism as well, so "symbolically" cannot be the correct answer. "Literally," however, is an adverb that means "in a manner in which one takes words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory," and because it best describes a way of interpreting poetry that in which "words mean exactly what they say" and best fits the sentence's context, "literally" is the correct answer.

We can infer that the duchess's ordeal was not pleasant and probably scary, so we need to pick out an adjective to describe it that means something like "unpleasant" or "scary." So, "pleasant" cannot be the correct answer because it is an antonym of "unpleasant." "Harrowing," however, is an adjective that means "acutely distressing," and because it is the answer choice that best describes the duchess's experience and best fits the context of the sentence, "harrowing" is the correct answer.

Other than "enjoying," all of the options are the proper part of speech, adjectives, and would fit grammatically in the sentence; however, happier is a comparative adjective, and nothing is being compared in this sentence, and nonchalant and bored both have the wrong meaning for the context; therefore, we're left with "ecstatic" as the best answer, which means overjoyed or thrilled.

We can infer from the sentence that the word in the blank needs to describe a medicine's side effects, specifically unwanted or bad side effects, because cataloguing the side effects that the blank refers to results in doctors being "aware of all \[a medicine's\] potentially damaging side effects." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "harmful." So, "beneficial" cannot be the correct answer because "beneficial" means the opposite of "harmful." "Adverse," however, is an adjective that means "preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable," and because it is the answer choice that best describes the "potentially damaging side effects" the sentence discusses and best fits the context of the sentence, "adverse" is the correct answer.

We know that the art historian was able to "carefully \[review\]" a painting and "discern whether it was authentic or a fake" due to her "insight"; so, we need to pick out a word that means something like "discerning." "Dull" can't be the correct answer, then, because when "dull" is used to describe a person, it means "slow to understand; stupid," a description which does not fit the art historian. "Insightful," however, is an adjective that means "having or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive," and because it is the answer choice that best describes the art historian and best fits the context of the sentence, "insightful" is the correct answer.

We can infer that we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "disgusting" or "gross" and can refer to scents because the sentence is describing the smell of rotting garbage. "Enjoyable," then, cannot be the correct answer, because the smell of rotting garbage is typically perceived by most people as gross, not enjoyable. "Putrid," however, is an adjective that means either "decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell" when referring to organic matter, or "of or characteristic of rotting matter," or, informally, "very unpleasant; repulsive." Because "putrid" is the answer choice that best describes the smell of the rotting garbage, "putrid" is the correct answer.

We can infer that Francine should feel warm and cozy because she was "\[w\]rapped in a large scarf, a pair of thick mittens, a wool coat, thick boots, and a warm hat" on her walk home. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "warm and cozy." "Exposed" cannot be the correct answer, then, because being wrapped in all that winter gear, it wouldn't make sense for Francine to feel exposed, or "not shielded or protected; also : not insulated." "Snug," however, is an adjective that means "comfortable, warm, and cozy; well protected from the weather or cold," and because "snug" best describes Francine on her walk home in her scarf, mittens, coat, boots, and hat, "snug" is the correct answer.

We can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "uncomprehending," because Jenny did not pick up on her sister's hint and spoiled the surprise. "Clever," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "clever" means "quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent," and would not make sense in the sentence's context. "Obtuse," however, is an adjective that means "annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand," and because "obtuse" is the answer choice that best describes how Jenny did not pick up on her sister's hint, "obtuse" is the correct answer.

The sentence suggests that he was ready to get going after waiting a long time. The only answer choice that makes sense in that context is “eager," which means ready and excited to do something. To help you, "reluctant" means unwilling to do something and is an antonym, or opposite, of "eager," "enamored" means in love with, and "perplexed" means confused.

Because the sentence is comparative and begins, "Though all of the flowers smelled wonderful," we can infer that we need to pick out a word that means smelling good. While "fragrant," "rank," and "fetid" all describe smells, "rank" and "fetid" describe disgusting smells, so they wouldn't make sense in the sentence, comparing hyacinths to other "flowers \[that\] smelled wonderful." "Fragrant," however, is an adjective that means having a nice smell, and because "fragrant" best describes the smell of a flower, "fragrant" is the correct answer.