Nouns in One-Blank Sentences - ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning

Here, the best term is “exponent” because this term implies that one promotes a given idea—not necessarily defensively but with a certain devotion and zeal. The word often is used in mathematics, but here, it shows its relationship to its Latin roots very clearly. The composite ex+ponent literally means “to place out” (in the sense of expressing outwardly). The “-ponent” portion is related to numerous words related to the Latin base “to place or put,” not only those like “postpone” and “component” but also words that have “-pos-” such as “propose,” “expose,” and “exposition” (among many others).

The key term in the second sentence is “burden.” The roommate’s request is not burdensome, which means that it does not “impose” on William or, in our sentence, that it is not an “imposition.” The composite im + position literally means to place upon (the “im” being a form of “in”). The “-position” portion of the word is clearly related to a number of words like “propose,” “expose,” and “exposition” but is also related to certain “-pon-” words such as “postpone,” “component,” and “exponent.” All of these words (and many others) are derived from Latin roots that mean to place or put.

The key thing to note here is that Mark is a “deserter” from having been a faithful citizen. Although perhaps he is a troublemaker and even a misfit, the word “renegade” best expresses the idea of deserting that to which one once was devoted. In this word the “re-” prefix does not mean “again” but instead merely strengthens the main portion of the word—the “-negade” portion of the word. This portion comes from the same roots as “negative” and “deny.” Here, the sense is to deny forcefully one’s former attachment.

Although a number of options might be tempting, the emphasis of the sentence is merely on the fact that the children will repeat the actions of their parents. It does not necessarily say anything about multiple trials or the mode by which the learning occurs. In general, “mimesis” means imitation. It is derived from Greek roots that are likewise reflected in words like “mime” and “mimic.”

Do not be fooled into thinking either that the student’s manner of thinking is overbearing (i.e. imperialist) or that it is detached because of certain stereotypes about mathematics. Instead, the sentence expresses that the student gives her thoughts of reality a certain “coloring” because of her mathematical work. Such a “coloring” could be called a “cast” in the sense of being the general character of something. Think of the word as a metaphorical usage of “cast” in the strong sense of “physical mold” but becoming somewhat loosened in meaning to mean much more generally the “character” (i.e. the physical, emotional, intellectual, etc. shape) of something.

The key point to note is that academic positions were seen to be limited to the members of the clergy, who were the specific group to whom this work fell. A “preserve” is used at times to describe a place set aside for private hunting. More generally, we can think of it as a given activity (or group of activities) that are reserved for a specific group. In our example, it is as though the academic world was a preserved location for the clergy to do their supposed jobs.

The key phrase that helps to discern the closest term from the less proper ones is “with great east.” If someone can do something with facility, they are able to do so well and with ease. The word is related to others like “facile” and “facilitate” that are derived from the Latin for to do or make, but the sense of “facile” includes the notion of being easily accomplished.

"Hypocrisy" means affectation or false pretense of behaving in a good way. Naturally, a religious man or woman's affected belief would be unsettling.

"Maledictions" are curses. A punk musician who screams maledictions at his fans is cursing them.

"Insolence" means rudeness and arrogance, while "ingratiate" means make someone else see you positively. A performer whose fans love rudeness would bring himself into their good graces by being arrogant and rude.

"Quandary" means difficulty or problematic situation. A chess player would be in a difficult situation if he or she lost his or her most powerful piece early on in a game.

The students view their professor as out of touch, indicating that he is perceived in a negative light. Four of the possible answer choices are very positive. Only "bigot" is sufficiently negative.

"Negligence" is a noun which means act of choosing not to (neglecting to) do something. Here, it is clear that not tending the garden is what has led it to become chaotic.

Falling down the stairs and awaking the neighborhood implies that there was a lot of loud noise, and so "clamor" is the only answer choice that fits.

"Pulchritude" means physical beauty. An artist who prefers to depict ugliness would not depict physical beauty.

"Paradigm" means that which serves as a pattern or model. The model's once uncommon beauty eventually became the standard by which the beauty of other models was determined.

"Guile" means deceitful and cunning behavior. A wicked stepmother tricking her husband, like those found in old fairy tales, would certainly brim with guile_._

“Enfranchisement” means the granting of voting rights to a group of people. Since Susan B. Anthony was a "suffragist," someone who fought for women’s right to vote, "enfranchisement" is the only logical answer choice.

"Vignettes" (short sketeches) is the only answer that provides an illustration (either via words or otherwise) from which students can learn. "Veneers" is entirely unrelated, as "verneers" means a surface coating or surface appearance that doesn't accurately characterize the whole; "superlatives" may be used in speech, but they do not alone illustrate potential difficulties; and "lexicons" are also related to words, but again, they do not illustrate difficulties.