Conjunctions and Sentence Logic in One-Blank Sentences - ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a word that means something like intervene on behalf of, get involved to protect someone. The correct answer is therefore "intercede." To provide further help, "fetter" means to shackle, to tie-up; "prattle" means to talk foolishly at length; "adulterate" means to edit and make impure; "contaminate" means pollute.

The fact that the people who did not support the subject were impatient suggests that the subject was acting in a sluggish, unhurried, or slow fashion. The correct answer is therefore "dilatory" which means acting slowly, sluggish. To provide further help, "disconsolate" means dejected, feeling hopeless; "prodigious" means large, immense; "debonair" means suave and sophisticated; "unrepentant" means not apologetic.

You are told in this sentence that the author is describing an injustice in which an innocent man was convicted whilst another man walked free. Based on this context the other man was the guilty party, or the "culprit." To provide further help, a "pugilist" is a boxer, a fighter; a "devotee" is a committed fan; "guerilla" means rebel; "fallow" means left inactive, inactive soil.

You are told that there is a problem for which a solution has not yet been found. The use of the conjunction "but" provides a big clue as to the nature of the answer choice you are looking for. The word "irreparable" means unfixable, not able to be repaired. So, the problem is not yet "unfixable," but might become that way if progress is not made soon. To provide further help, "equivocal" means unclear, ambiguous; "supercilious" means arrogant and disdainful; "pejorative" means having a derogatory impact; "quiescent" means inactive, at rest.

Based on the context of this sentence it is clear that the underlined word must be a synonym of "wages" or "payment." So, the correct answer is "renumeration" which means money paid to someone for work. To provide further help, "chivalry" was a medieval code of conduct for knights emphasizing honor; a "buttress" is something that offers support; "dogma" is a set of principles or beliefs; "contrition" is the feeling of remorse or wanting to make amends.

In order for the woman to be change her mind and agree to help the man the argument he made must have been convincing, well-reasoned. The correct answer is therefore "cogent" which means (of an argument) reasonable and convincing. Additionally, "venal" means corrupt; "nominal" means insignificant, unimportant; "maudlin" means overly sentimental; "enigmatic" means mysterious, cryptic.

An “ignominy” is shame, disgrace, or humiliation, so because he suffered one final “ignominy” after death, we can infer that his tomb must have been “desecrated,” which means defiled, disrespected, or dishonored. “Absolved” means forgiven or removed blame from; “vitalized” means gave strength and energy to; and “secured” means fixed so something can’t be moved or assured the protection of.

The words “vexed” and “caustic” coupled with the phrase “even more” indicate that the answer choice will reflect similarly negative speech. Only "abrasive" works in this context.

The sense here is that Frowin occupies a “middle position” between these two, balancing their characteristics. The “mean” of a series of numbers is the average. The term is often used to describe any type of average between two or more things.

The sense of the sentence is that Randall wishes to separate the large dogs from the small ones. The word “segregate” best implies separation of this sort. It literally means “to gather apart (or into parts).”

The prefix “se-” here implies the parts or “apart,” while the “-gregate” is derived from the Latin for “flock,” a root found in “congregation” and “gregarious.”

The implication in the contrast formed in this sentence is that Donald does not have superior or extremely noteworthy skills at the organ (though he is adequate). A “virtuoso” is one who has great skills, particularly in artistic or musical areas, so this is better than “expert” for our purposes. The term is related to “virtue,” which is derived from the Latin “virtus,” meaning “strength” or “power.” This word came to be applied to virtue in the sense that we use the term insofar as virtue “empowers” one to act in a truly good manner.

Often, the best approach to a sentence is to try to "fill in the blank" yourself. For this question, consider the fact that the two halves are contrasted. The gadget appeared to be one, single machine. In fact, it actually was "made up" of a number of interrelated ones. The idea is that it was a group of machines, gathered together and interrelated. When you compound things, you mix together (and generally connect) various elements. To "confound" is to cause confusion—don't be confused by this expression of confusion! The other options are likewise quite inappropriate for the purposes of this sentence.

The contrast here is between the types of style under discussion. In the introductory clause, we are discussing Flavia’s ability to write "verse"—poetry. The passage implies that she also had an excellent “non-poetic” style. Prose writing is non-metered writing, and this is the best contrast to “metered verse.” “Writing” is too general, “didactic” means for teaching purposes, and even “essay” does not contrast to “meter” as directly as the word “prose" does.

By looking at the contrast established in this sentence, we can say that Francis must have been something of a womanizer or rather promiscuous during his college days. Such a person is called a “philanderer,” a term almost always applied to men.

This is in because of its literal meaning, “man of (many) love(s)” from “phil+anderer.” The “phil-” portion is found in words like “philosophy,” which means “love of wisdom,” and “Philadelphia,” “(the city of) brotherly love.” The second half comes from the Greek word for man and is found in English words like “android,” and “polyandry” (meaning “having many husbands”).

The contrast here is between excitement and what must be a rather detached and disinterested response from Timothy. When liquid is barely warm, it is said to be “tepid.” By extension, this becomes applied to persons to say that they are “lukewarm” or that they show little interest or passion for a given thing or things.

Here, Peter’s character is contrasted with the taciturnity appreciated by his friends. When one is taciturn, he or she uses words sparingly. Therefore, the best contrasting word would be “prolixity,” a word meaning that one speaks too many words. It is derived from the prefix “pro-” for “forward or outward” and “-lixity” from the same root from which we get “liquid.” Therefore someone who is prolix is one whose words can be said to “pour forth” like too much water.

If someone is the opposite of being understated, he or she would draw too much attention to himself or herself. When one is “ostentatious,” he or she displays things in a gaudy manner, particularly in order to draw attention to himself or herself and be noticed.

The implication here is that the work of astrophysicists has been more capable and effective in bringing forth practical advances (in comparison with theoretical mathematicians). When one can bring forth results in an effective manner, such a person (or institution) is unsurprisingly called “efficacious.” This word has many relatives, as might be surmised, such as “efficient,” “effect,” and “efficacy.”

The contrast that should be noted is that between the needed word and the fact that Edward’s former work was “physically-mobile.” In comparison with such work, his new work was “sedentary,” meaning that it was done while sitting. None of the other options captures the contrast as well as this option. The word “sedentary” is related to other “sitting” words such as “reside”, “preside,” “sedate,” and “resident.”