Practice Test 4 - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning
20 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.
- In the passage, how does the author differentiate between courage and bravery? Maya stands outside the auditorium, holding a folded paper with her speech. She feels her stomach twist as she hears the crowd settling into seats. Her teacher reminds her that nerves are normal, even for strong students. Maya thinks about walking away, because no one would force her to speak. Then she remembers why she joined the debate club in the first place. She wants to share ideas clearly, even when her voice shakes. She steps onto the stage and looks at the bright lights. For a moment, she cannot see her friends, only dark rows of faces. She takes a breath and begins, slowly at first, then stronger. Halfway through, her note cards slip from her hand and scatter. A few people gasp, and someone laughs softly. Maya kneels, gathers the cards, and stands again without rushing. She continues, even though her cheeks burn and her hands tremble. Afterward, a classmate says it was bold to keep going after the mistake. Maya answers that she was still afraid, but she did not let fear decide. Her teacher adds that some people act fearless for a moment, but others keep moving forward while scared. Maya walks offstage, still shaky, yet proud of finishing. She realizes that showing up matters, but staying steady matters too. On the way back to class, she thinks about the next speech and feels ready to try again.
- Read the passage and select the sentence that aligns with the overall mood of the passage. When my older sister left for boarding school, the house did not get quieter all at once. It happened in small ways. Her shoes were no longer by the door, and her favorite mug stayed clean on the shelf. At first I told myself I did not care, but my thoughts kept drifting to her empty room. I tried sitting at her desk, as if a different chair could make me braver. The afternoon light fell across her notebooks, and I traced the edges of her neat handwriting. I missed her advice, even when it annoyed me. Still, as I folded her last forgotten sweater, I realized something surprising: the space she left was also space for me to grow. Which sentence should come next?
- The novel was praised for its ------- plot, which was full of unexpected twists, and its profound character development.
- GREGARIOUS
- Based on the context, which word fits in the blank? The puzzle is ______, but we keep trying until it's done.
- The politician's speech was so -------, filled with unnecessary repetitions and irrelevant points, that the audience soon lost interest.
- MEANDER
- The cheetah's long legs, flexible spine, and large nostrils are all ------- that allow it to run at incredible speeds.
- SUPERFLUOUS:
- ABSTAIN
- COMPEL
- DEFT:
- Because the new software was designed to be -------, even users with no technical background could master it in a short amount of time.
- OMINOUS
- Given the ------- evidence against him, including witness testimony and physical proof, a guilty verdict was all but certain.
- FORTITUDE
- The initial report on the new species was merely -------; a more thorough and definitive study was needed to confirm the findings.
- PERPETUAL:
- PRUDENT
- Based on the context, which word fits in the blank? The sky turns dark, and thunder means a ______ is coming.