Style, Intensity, and Connotation in Phrase-Based Sentence Completions - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

To solve this problem you first need to know that "accumulated" means gathered, piled up, collected. So, if the snow was gathering and collecting on the ground which of these answer choices is the most likely result? The correct answer is " . . . and had to be shovelled." The other answer choices all describe something illogical within the context of this sentence. Additionally, "frigid" means very cold; "temperature" means the measure of how hot or cold it is.

To begin with "wealthy" means rich, not poor. So, which of these answer choices matches with this comparison that the speaker is making? The correct answer is "One difference between us . . . " The other answer choices either contain incorrect conjunctions or else are related to similarities not differences. Additionally, "likeness" means similarity; "notwithstanding" means not counting, not considering.

This sentence uses an intensification between the first and the second sentence. This is indicated by the words "did not merely break." The implication is that it did more than break—it completely broke. The only option that has this sense of totally breaking (in a massive way) is "shatter." This is the best option among those given.

To solve this problem you need to pay careful attention to the use of conjunctions. Conjunctions are words like "and," "but," and "although" that connect two parts of a sentence. In this instance the only conjunction and context that makes sense is " . . . so I called someone for help." The word "so" is used in situations where one thing happened which led to another thing happening. For example "I am very tired so I am going to sleep."

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is most likely to represent how two beloved old friends might feel about seeing each other again. To help you "beloved" means loved dearly or deeply. The correct answer then is that they " . . . were very excited to see one another." Additionally, "miserable" means very sad; "disgust" is a feeling that something is gross, unpleasant, or offensive.

To solve this problem you first need to know that "terrified" means very scared. So, which of these answers best represents something that would make someone feel very scared? The correct answer is, of course, " . . . disappointing her parents." To provide further help, "satisfied" means happy enough with, content with.

To solve this problem you need to figure out which of these answer choices describes a reason why someone might feel they need to practice more. The correct answer is therefore "I was frustrated after losing my tennis match . . . " Additionally, "thrilled" means very happy; "delicious" means tasty.

To solve this problem you need to determine in which of these situations would a job be harder to find. The correct answer is therefore "When the economy is bad . . . " The answer choice "The less time you spent working . . . " does not quite fit the tense and structure of the sentence. If this was the correct answer the sentence would read "The less time you spent working the harder it will be for you to find a job." Notice how the difference in tense and word order changes the structure of the second part of the sentence.

To solve this problem you need to consider which of these answer choices best represents something someone might do before driving home. The correct answer is therefore "She got into her car . . . " Some of the other answer choices might seem correct initially, but they either do not make sense in the context or else use the incorrect tense.

To solve this problem you simply need to figure out which of these answer choices is the most likely thing that would happen after someone had lost their dog. The correct answer is then " . . . he was very depressed." "Depressed" means very sad. The other answer choices do not make sense in the context of this sentence. Additionally, "optimistic" means feeling positive and hopeful.

To begin with "freezing" means very cold. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is the most logical reaction to it being very cold in the house. The correct answer then is " . . . so they lit a fire."

To solve this problem you need to consider which of these answer choices makes sense given that you are told the subject of the sentence was not hurt in the accident. The correct answer then is "She felt fortunate . . . " "Fortunate" means lucky. The other answer choices either describe ways she would be unlikely to feel or else are completely nonsensical.

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices is a reason why someone might wear a mask. Masks disguise a person, so the correct answer then is " . . . people would not recognize him."

The key to solving this problem is the use of the word "readers." This should help you choose the correct answer, "The author's writing . . . " because "author," "writing," and "readers" go together better than any of the other answer choices.

To solve this problem you simply need to determine which of these answer choices is the most likely reaction to a game that is boring. The correct answer then is " . . . so we left at halftime." Additionally, "compelled" means forced, pressured; "outcome" means result.

You are told in the second part of the sentence that the subject of this sentence "must have access to water" this tells you that the first part of the sentence is likely about the ability of something to grow when given water. The correct answer is therefore "If you want this tree to grow . . . " The answer choices that read "The plant is likely to perish . . . " and "The tree is slowly dying . . . " could work if there was a semicolon in this sentence, but because there is not they do not fit the context. Additionally, "perish" means die.

To solve this problem you first need to know that "intolerant" means not tolerant, not accepting or patient. So, if the teacher is "intolerant" it makes sense that she would have " . . . little patience for her students." The other answer choices would all make sense if the teacher was described in positive language, not the negative adjective "intolerant."

To solve this problem you simply need to figure out which one of these answer choices best represents a reason why food might "spoil" or be ruined. The correct answer is therefore " . . . the fridge was left ajar." If it helps "ajar" means partially open.

To solve this problem you need to determine what would likely happen if someone kept spending more money than they have. The correct answer is that their " . . . debts \[would keep\] climbing." The other answer choices either contain inappropriate conjunctions, such as "yet" or else contain words that could not be used to describe someone who spends more money than they have. "Miserly" means cheap, stingy, not generous with money; "frugal" means responsible with money, not likely to spend a lot of money.