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

Right away, you may have noticed that both the question and the answer choices are extremely emotional! Words like "vehement," "superiority," "love," and "passion" all imply strong feeling. Our task is simply to figure out what type of emotion is being conveyed. We know that the science teacher "vehemently," or very intensely, believes that science is the best school subject. She would certainly never prefer a different subject! Likewise, we can guess that she does not deeply love mathematics, and we certainly know her passion for math would not be "unsurpassed." We're left with only one potential answer. The science teacher must have a "general distaste," or dislike, for mathematics.

In the first part of the sentence, it is revealed that it is Becky’s brother’s birthday, so in order to celebrate it properly, Becky “surprised him with a big gift at dinner.” “Playing soccer with her best friend,” “bought herself a new backpack” and “remembered to wash the dishes” have nothing to do with celebrating a birthday. Because the birthday is described as “exciting,” Becky would celebrate properly by doing more than giving her brother “a high five and walking way.”

To properly complete this sentence, choose a completion that would be a reason to drive slowly out of a driveway. Meeting her brother for lunch downtown and buying a new laptop today are not relevant answers. Sandra would not drive slowly to “hit the mailbox on the way out” or “ignore other cars around her,” so the correct answer is that she would “look both ways on the street”.

Here, we are looking for “issues regarding eating too much unhealthy food,” meaning that the answer must be a negative side effect of eating unhealthy food. “Having too much fun eating junk food” and “making new friends when going out to eat” are not negative side effects. “Being unable to pass a driving test” and “always being late for appointments” are negative side effects, but not related to eating unhealthy food. Therefore, the correct answer is “having a heart problems later in life,” which is a possible negative side effect of eating unhealthy food.

Here, we are looking for a response to the first part of the sentence, in order to complete it properly. We need to decide what Bailey would do if her soda loses all of its “carbonation” (what makes soft drinks fizzy or bubbly). We can automatically knock out “enjoys the refreshing feeling of bubbles in her soda” as an answer, since it is the opposite of what has happened. Bailey would not congratulate the soda on a job well done, since losing carbonation is a negative characteristic, and the soda is an inanimate object. Hugging her mom and finding her cowboy hat are entirely unrelated actions to the soda losing carbonation. The correct answer is Bailey “pours it out and gets a new drink."

This sentence insinuates a positive connotation by indicating that Jessica likes being with her friends. Thus, the blank should be occupied by a phrase that is also positive. The only positive phrase from the answer choices is: "enjoys the connection of being with them."

In this sentence you are told that the doctor was "forced to bring an umbrella." The main reason why someone would bring an umbrella is to prevent them from getting wet. If the doctor was wet or had just gotten out of the pool and umbrella would not really make sense.

A "deadline" is a date by which something has to be finished. So, if the "deadline" for your homework is tomorrow you need to finish it by tomorrow. In this sentence the girl finds out there is no deadline for her homework so it makes sense that she would "feel no need to hurry (rush)."

To begin with "dreadful" means terrible. The team lost their biggest game of the season and played terribly. So, it makes sense that they would be criticized severely or "crucified" by the media. To "crucify" means to criticize severely, to attack the reputation of. Additionally, "exhibited" means showed, displayed; "devised" means came up with (a plan); to "compromise" means to work together to find an agreement that is pleasing to both parties, to resolve a dispute by each side giving something up; "consolidated" means combined into one whole.

To begin with "parched" means thirsty, needing water. So, if the plant looked like it did not have enough water it makes sense that the subject would feel the need to water it. The correct answer is therefore " . . . so she poured water on it."

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answers contains words that might be used to describe mountains. The correct answer is therefore " . . . a timeless and daunting quality." "Timeless" means eternal, lasting forever and "daunting" means impressive. Additionally, "miniscule" means tiny; "stingy" and "parsimonious" mean not generous with money; "fecund" means fertile, capable of producing a lot of food; "pliant" means flexible, bendy.

You are told that the girl "made more mature friends." The word "mature" means grown-up, behaving like an adult. So, you are looking for a reason why someone might look for more grown-up friends. The correct answer is therefore "She found her old friends juvenile . . . " Juvenile means childish, immature, behaving like a child.

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these is a reason why someone would need to bring a jacket. The correct answer is therefore "It is frigid outside . . . " "Frigid" means very cold. Additionally, "stifling" means uncomfortably hot.

"Fables" are stories meant to give some sort of lesson, usually a moral lesson. So, to solve this problem you have to determine which of these answers is a positive result of reading fables to children. The correct answer is " . . . they teach valuable lessons."

To solve this problem you need to know the meaning of the word "refreshing." It means stimulating, providing something energizing or enjoyable. So, on a hot day a cool glass of water would be refreshing.

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices matches with something that a ship might do. The correct answer is therefore "transporting goods." To "transport" means to move from one place to another. Additionally, "consuming" means eating, using completely; "manufacturing" means making, making in a factory; "platitudes" are insincere comments meant to flatter; "philosophy" is the love of wisdom, studying the nature of things; "psychology" is the study of the human mind.

To begin with "authority" means power, so the "authorities" are people in power. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these might get someone in trouble with people in power. The correct answer is therefore "His nonconformist beliefs . . . " Someone who is a "nonconformist" does not follow the rules. All the other answer choices are positive attributes that would be unlikely to land someone in trouble. Additionally, "industrious" means hard-working; "charming" means pleasing, agreeable, delightful; "dashing" means attractive and charming; someone's "demeanor" is the way they carry themselves, how they act and behave.

The boy got into a fight at school so it makes sense that he would face negative consequences. "Consequences" are the results of actions taken. The correct answer is "He was prohibited from leaving the house . . . " because this is a negative consequence. "Prohibited" means forbidden, not allowed. Additionally, "acclaimed" means celebrated, praised; "peers" means social equals, people in the same social group; "revered" means deeply respected.

It is difficult for someone to be alone it makes sense that that person would want to spend time with other people. The correct answer is therefore " . . . they spend all their time with others." All of the other answer choices are actions that might be taken by someone who does like to be alone. Additionally, "neglect" means abandon, refuse to pay attention to; "forsake" means abandon, leave; "venture" means undergo a risky or exciting journey.