Sentence Completions: Context Clues - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

If the subject had to call his father for help it makes sense that he found the instructions too difficult to understand. The correct answer then is "complex," which means consisting of many different parts and very hard to understand. To provide further help the other four answers are all antonyms of "complex," they all mean easy, easy to understand.

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for something that matches with a "wet" day in which someone might be inspired not to get out of bed by the terrible weather. The correct answer then is "dreary" which means dull, uninspiring, and depressing. To provide further help, "lustrous" means shiny; "voracious" means not easily satisfied, greedy, having an immense desire to eat; "perpetual" means lasting forever; "coherent" means able to be understood.

We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out a word for the first blank that means something like "not realistic," because the type of art that the blank describes is being contrasted against "art which clearly depicts recognizable figures and objects." Given that, the best answer choice is "amorphous," an adjective that means "without a clearly defined shape or form."

The dogs in the shelter are "sick and malnourished" (under-fed), so it makes sense that they would have been treated with a lack of compassion, with cruelty. So, the correct answer is "inhumane," which means without compassion, cruel, malicious. Additionally, "posthumous" means after death; "perpetual" means eternal, lasting forever; "convoluted" means complex and hard to understand; "expensive" means costing a lot of money.

The author is talking about his "failings" so it makes sense that his memory of them would be exasperating, annoying, or frustrating. These words are all synonyms of "vexed," which means annoyed by, confused and frustrated by. Additionally, "encouraged" means supported; "implored" means begged, urged; "beckoned" means summoned, called someone towards; "refuted" means argued against, disputed, proved wrong.

This sentence expresses a kind of intensification in its comparison of Laura and Paula. Paula apparently wants to kill every last bug in the house. A great word for this would be "exterminate," but that option is not given. The word "eradicate" expresses this notion of totally killing as well. (Hence, it is better than "kill" or "destroy.") The word "eradicate" comes from Latin bases that mean, to take out the roots. Imagine if you were to rip out the roots of a tree. This would involve totally eliminating the tree.

Since the sentence says at the end that Vincent wanted to convince Jordan, we know that he must be asking him to stop his smoking and not forcing him to do so. Now, we also know that Vincent is doing this frequently. This hints that he is very worried and is asking his friend to stop in a very devoted manner. Whenever we implore someone to do something, we ask him or her regularly and earnestly to stop. This kind of asking is hinted at by the sentence, so "implore" is the best option.

This sentence indicates on several occasions that the teachers voice itself is very boring. We have words like "boring" and "droned" that make us think of a voice that is very tedious and unchanging. Whenever someone is "monotonous," he or she has a voice that does not change its pitch very much at all. The word comes from the prefix "mono-" and the stem "-tonous", meaning one-sounded. A monotonous voice can become very boring, very quickly, so it is understandable that the students in question fell asleep—even though the topic itself was interesting!

The two men apparently want to destroy the carpet with a fire. Now, it would be acceptable to choose "burn", but the word "incinerate" is just a little bit better of an option. It means, to destroy with fire. This is a little more accurate and detailed about just what the two men are doing.

This sentence implies a contrast between two kinds of facts. On the one hand, there are unimportant facts. There are many of these, and they do not help in solving many investigations. On the other hand, there are facts that are important and do help in solving cases. Whenever something is "crucial," it is very important. This is the only option that expresses this general idea about being "very important."

This sentence indicates that the fire in question did not completely burn the porch. It came to the very edge of the house and only left some minor surface damage on the porch. For this reason, options like "destroy," "incinerate," and "enflame" are all too strong. The word "scorch" is a perfect fit, for it means to burn something's surface. This seems to be what happened to the porch—its surface was burnt, though it was not damaged much more.

For this sentence, you are really just looking for synonyms for "majestic" and "glorious." There is no indication that something else is needed, but this point is repeated again and again: the view is quite marvelous. Therefore, the best option is "sublime." Something that is described as being "sublime" is marvelous, majestic, and glorious.

Notice the implied intensification that happens in this sentence. It is said that Terry "didn't merely complain." This implies that he did something more than merely complain. Put simply, he really complained. Therefore, the best option will be "rant." Whenever someone "rants," he or she talks about something in a very wild (almost uncontrolled) manner. Although this might seem a bit strong, it is the only option that we have that expresses this idea of complaining about political matters with energy.

First of all, note that the old man clearly is sitting on his porch and thinking. Therefore, the options "express" and "discuss" really are not appropriate. Now, be very careful. Notice that he is thinking about these matters carefully and slowly. This means that he is not merely "recalling" them. He is "musing" over them in a deliberate fashion. The best option will be a word that expresses this kind of activity. When we "ponder" something, we do just this—we think over something carefully.

The young man's appetite must be very "big" after the three days without food. Indeed, the sentence does hint at this by saying that he was ready to eat almost anything put in front of him. This kind of increased appetite is really more than a mere manner of being "increased." It was really big. The word "voracious" describes a kind of hunger or desire that is extreme. This matches the strength of the sentence's claim about his hunger and therefore is the best option provided.

Clearly the acid rain is damaging the buildings in question. Indeed, this sentence indicates that they are being very significantly harmed by the rains. This means that they must be completely "falling apart" or "breaking down" from the acid rain. Therefore, the best word is "disintegrating," which describes the process of falling apart and losing all shape. This seems to be what is happening. In any case, the word "disintegrating" is the only option that has the strength needed, given the structure of the sentence, which signals such an intensification by means of the expression "not merely..."

Foggy or rainy weather might well match Isidore's depressed mood. Even if the weather were rainy or foggy, it would be better to describe it as being "dismal," for this describes something that is not only physically dreary but also something is kind of depressing in character.

Due to her quirky way of dressing and the fact that she dances around the classroom, the English teacher is best described as eccentric or unconventional.

In a storm it is logical that people onboard a boat would be worried about the boat turning over in the water and possibly sinking. The correct answer then is "capsize" which means (of a ship) to turn over in the water. To provide further help, "smitten" means in love with; "economize" means make a decision that will save money; "aggrandize" means increase power, wealth, or status; "elevate" means rise up.