Sentence Completions: Nouns - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

When something is "elusive", it is difficult to catch or even to find. If you spend a long time looking for a "snipe" in the forest and never see it, you will likely think that it does not exist at all. Therefore, you will doubt its very existence—not merely its lack of speed or its "idiocy". (A snipe is, in fact, a real creature—a type of bird. However, many people trick friends into going "snipe hunting" by trying to do something that can't be done, such as look in the forest for a snipe where one won't find one.)

Clearly, the sentence wants to say that traveling on the mount provides a great challenge. Therefore, it might be tempting to think of this in a general sense as "overcoming the mountain." In some cases, this would perhaps be an okay answer. However, we do know that the sentence is talking about how difficult it is to go up the mountain. (It could be hard even to come down.) We know this because of the second half of the sentence, "but once you reach the top, the view is spectacular." The word "ascent" can be used to mean the process of going up. It describes the act of climbing upward. (To "descend", on the contrary, is to go down.) Among the options, this best fits our sentence clues and should therefore be chosen.

Based on the context of this sentence you know that you are looking for a noun that means something like insincere talk that should not be taken seriously or accepted as true. The correct answer is therefore "bombast." Someone who is "bombastic" is pompous and sounding smarter than they actually are. Additionally, "umbrage" is offense; a "tome" is a lengthy book; "frailty" is weakness; "brutality" is violence and cruelty.

The general idea of this sentence is that Nigel is going to recommend some changes to the book. Whenever we change a text (or anything that we make) so as to improve its overall quality, we make "revisions" to the text. Really, any kind of general change of something can be called revisions. Hence, there can be revised styles of cars and revisions in the color of a line of clothes.

This sentence indicates that the child needed a reason to do his work. Whenever we do something that helps to give a reason in this way, we offer an "incentive" for that person. An "incentive" is something that encourages us to undertake and complete a given task.

You likely know the word "operation" in its medical meaning. In this sense, an "operation" is a specific kind of task—the sort of thing done by doctors and surgeons. The word can have a more general meaning as well. An "operation" is any particular activity. In this sentence, it is hinted that the visitor was impressed by the overall process of the manufacturing. The word "operation" is the only general term that indicates such a process.

The key expression in the sentence is "every single day." This little phrase indicates that the sentence is discussing a kind of character trait that leads us to do something continuously and devotedly. "Discipline" is just this kind of character trait.

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a noun that describes a departure from the norm, an anomaly, a deviation from what is expected. Also, usually the word "aberration" suggests that whatever departure from the norm that has occurred was unwelcome. Additionally, "dissent" is disagreement with authority, refusal to follow the rules; "potential" is possible ability; a "feint" is a trick, a deceptive attack meant to distract from the main attack; an "objection" is a point of disagreement, some issue raised in opposition to something.

Based on the context of this sentence you need to determine which of these is a noun that describes a crime for which someone might be imprisoned. The correct answer is "perjury" which is lying under oath, lying in court. Additionally, "lassitude" is a state of exhaustion or weariness; "ferment" is a state of agitated excitement and passion; "semblance" means likeness, having the appearance of something else; "banter" is playful teasing, making fun of someone in a friendly manner.

In this sentence the subject is eager to go to college so it makes sense that she would greet the end of high school with eagerness, willingness, readiness, or "alacrity." Additionally, "contemplation" is a state of introspection and thinking deeply about something; "ferocity" is fierceness; "solitude" is the state of being alone; "affirmation" is the action of affirming something, the action of stating something is true and offering support for it.

An old saying meant to impart a lesson is known as an "adage." Additionally, an "adherent" is someone who follows something, someone who sticks to the rules or guidelines; a "conundrum" is a problem, a difficulty; a "disruption" is something that hinders the progress of, something that interrupts the progress of and serves as an obstacle; an "excursion" is a leisurely trip.

The context of this sentence suggests that the correct answer is a noun that means dangers, things to be wary of. So, the correct answer is "hazards." A "hazard" is a danger, an obstacle. Things can also be "hazardous," which means dangerous, unsafe. Additionally, a "hearth" is either a fireplace or a spiritual home; a "dock" is a port, a harbor, a place for ships to anchor; an "editor" is someone who reads other people's work and edits it; a "catacomb" is an underground cemetery, a crypt.

Based on the context of this sentence you know you are looking for a noun that means something like watchman, guard, military guard. So, the correct answer is "sentry." Additionally, a "refugee" is someone who flees danger in their own country to seek safety in another country; an "academic" is someone who studies, learns, and teachers for a living, a professor; a "hermit" is a person living alone who avoids human contact; a "merchant" is a trader, someone who sells goods for a living.

The sentence gives a clue for you in referring to the water as being "crystal clear." This implies that it is lacking in anything that would cloud it, meaning that it has no "impurities." It is therefore "pure." The word "pure" means many things, but its general sense is lacking mixture. Pure gold does not have any lead (or copper, iron, or anything else) in it. The water's clarity made it appear pure. It therefore drew people to it in order that they might drink it.

The sense of the sentence means to convey that even though you cannot learn all of a topic, you can learn at least some part of it. An "aspect" is one particular "look" at something. The "-spect" part of the word is related to "spectator," and both words deal with looking at something. An "aspect" provides a particular look at a topic or thing. For instance, the American Revolution can be considered from its military aspect or its political aspect. The first focuses on the army conflicts, while the latter focuses on the various political meanings of the Revolution.

The new computer is apparently much better than the previous types of technology in a number of ways. Such an improvement is an "advance" in technology. To "advance" is to go forward. We often use this word in a physical sense: "He advanced down the hallway toward the classroom." However, it can be used in a more general way to mean any sort of improvement or "forward motion" in a metaphorical sense.

A "sprite" is a tiny, fictional creature with wings, similar to a fairy, so "sprite" is the correct answer.

Since we know that the neighbors had to go to court to settle their differences, we can infer that we're looking for a noun that means something like disagreement. Of the listed answer choices, only three are nouns—"adage," "mettle," and "dispute." Since "adage" means proverb or saying, it does not mean disagreement and is not the correct answer. Similarly, "mettle" means courage or fortitude and does not mean disagreement either. "Dispute," however, means a disagreement, so it is the correct answer.

We know from the context of the sentence that Emily was socially sensitive—while she could have pointed out the toilet paper in a more overt way, she did it in a way that did not embarrass her friend. We have no reason to suspect that Emily was absentminded, and "comfort" and "hurry" have nothing to do with the situation either. "Jubilance" is a noun meaning triumph, so "jubilance" does not fit the context of the sentence either. "Tact," however, is a noun meaning sensitivity in dealing with potentially embarassing or awkward issues, so "tact" is the answer choice that best fits the sentence and the correct answer.