Verbs - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

A police officer is tasked with making sure that the population respects and follows the law. The correct answer is therefore "enforce" which means to ensure obedience to, to make people follow, respect, and listen to a rule. Additionally, "amend" means edit something by adding to it; "create" means make, come up with; "salvage" means save from ruin; "manipulate" means change or influence to suit one's own desires.

The important clue in this sentence is the word "but." Like most students, Devon wants to receive good grades, but this "but" tells us that this is not happening. In addition, we are told that his hard work isn't helping. So, Devon's grades must be getting worse or, at best, staying the same. The words "improve" and "increase" are opposites of the answer that we want, because they would mean that Devon's grades are getting better. "Hurry," which means rush, is not relevant with regard to academic marks. This leaves us with the final choice, "deteriorate." This word means get worse or fall apart, so it is the perfect choice for this sentence.

The subject of this sentence is unsure how money she has so it makes sense that she would have to guess. So, the correct answer is "estimate" which means guess, roughly calculate. Additionally, "displace" means unsettle, force to move; "abandon" means leave behind, forsake; to "propel" something means to cause something to move forward, to push; "misinform" means lie to, tell incorrect information to.

In this sentence the two boys leapt into the sea. To jump or dive into something quickly, excitedly or forcefully is to "plunge." Additionally, to "tremble" means to shake with fear; "hobbled" means limp, walk uncomfortable due to injury; to "whimper" means to moan, cry, complain quietly; to "boast" means to talk arrogantly about one's accomplishments or positive traits.

If the smaller country was trying to prevent war with the larger country it makes sense that they would give up territory to the larger country. The correct answer is therefore "cede." To "cede" means to surrender, to give up (power or territory). Additionally, "derail" means cause to go off path; "command" means order, tell someone to do something; "drain" means empty, weaken, take the water out of; "guarantee" means ensure that something will happen, make a promise that something will happen.

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a verb that means to mix two or more things together, to join two thing or more things together. The correct answer is therefore "fused." Additionally, to "coddle" means to treat like a baby, to treat in an overly protective manner; to "accuse" means to say someone did something wrong or committed a crime; to "halt" means to stop, to pause; to "provoke" means to cause an argument, to start a fight.

If the speaker was "abroad" (in a foreign country) and was using a translator it makes sense that they would need things explained to them. To "interpret" means to explain the meaning of words or information. Additionally, "ponder" means think carefully about; "deliberate" is a synonym of "ponder," it also means to think carefully about for a long time; "debilitate" means weaken; "offend" means insult.

The context of the sentence tells you that the author was covered in water. To be covered in water is most similar to the definition of the word “saturated,” which means drenched or soaked. To provide further help, “underwhelmed” means disappointed or feeling like something was not very interesting when you expected it to be more interesting, “interpret” means to try and explain something someone else doesn't understand (like a statement or text in a different language) by explaining it in a way they will understand, “mocked” means made fun of, and “supplanted” means replaced.

To solve this problem you are looking for a verb that describes how blood might come out of a body. The correct answer is "oozed." To "ooze" means (of a fluid) to slowly trickle out of something, to come out of something. Additionally, "wept" means cried about, sobbed; "nurtured" means cared for, raised (as in a child); "mingled" means mixed with; "hastened" means hurried.

The context of the sentence suggests that the government destroyed the building so they could build it up again. A word that means to destroy buildings is “raze.” To provide further help, “edify” means build or instruct, and is an antonym of “raze;” “bevy” means many of; “gaunt” means unhealthily skinny; a “catapult” is a tool used to project objects up in the air.

The second clause tells you that the first clause relates to not getting involved with other people’s business. The answer choice that matches this definition is “interfere,” which means get involved in other people’s affairs. To provide further help, “clasp” means grab on to; “ascend” means go up; “descend” means go down; to “compensate” is to give something to partially make up for misfortune.

Based on the aging of the boxer and the fact that he decided to retire, it is reasonable to think that his abilities became worse, which matches the definition of the word “decline.” To provide further help, “improvement” means something that has gotten better; an “enhancement” is something added to make something better; “dismay” is a feeling of sadness and hopelessness; “growth” is the opposite of “decline.”

The context of the sentence tells us that the passengers needed to travel from one side of the river to the other. The answer choice “ferried” means transported across water from one point to another. To provide further help, “criticized” means expressed disapproval; “bungled” means messed up; “deprived” means had something taken away from or kept from; “endangered” means in danger, in trouble.

In this sentence, the rebel leader needs to leave his country for a reason. The best answer choice is "endanger," which means put something in some sort of danger. If the rebel leader stayed in his country, he could have died. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: "persuade" means convince; "function" means work as something is expected to when used as a verb; "provide" means give and often refers to things that are necessary; and "protect" means defend.

In this sentence, Mary is trying to make me believe her. The best word that fits into the blank is "insisted." "Insist" means use emphasis to try to make someone believe that you are telling the truth or do as you request. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank: "lingered" means took one's time; "perished" means died; "restrained" means held back; and "unveiled" means to made visible, often for the first time and to the public.

We need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "create" or "produce" because the sentence tells us that the mitochondria serve as power suppliers for cells. So, "generate," a verb that means produce, is the correct answer choice because it best fits the sentence's context. None of the other answer choices would make sense in the blank space: "destroy" means annihilate or demolish; "change" means become different; and "train" means instruct someone in a particular skill.

In the English language, the prefix "co_-_" suggests working together. Because of the way the sentence is framed, “combat” is the only possible answer. To “combat” means to battle against something else. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “deduct” means figure out; “denude” means uncover or lay bare; “allude” means hint at or suggest; and “abdicate” means give up the throne.

The speaker of this sentence is talking about a time they were out at sea in bad weather. In such conditions it makes sense that a person would have to hold on tight, grasp, grip something to prevent from being swept away by the waves. So, the correct answer is "clench" which means to hold tightly. Additionally, "divert" means to cause something or someone to change direction; "sprint" means run fast; "inspire" means motivate, cause someone to want to do something; "trick" means lie to, mislead, fool, cheat.

The context of the sentence tells us that the doctors worked tirelessly to bring the man back to consciousness, and this is the meaning of the word “revive.” In English, the root "viv" means life or living as in “revive,” “survive,” “vitality,” and “vitamins." None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: when used as a verb, “convict” means successfully bring criminal charges against in court,and when used as a noun, a "convict" is a criminal; “expose” means reveal; to “conjecture” is to guess; and “supplant” means replace.