Sentence Completions: Verbs

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ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Sentence Completions: Verbs

Questions 1 - 10
1

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Wrapped in a tight bundle of cords, the prisoner was unable to __________ herself.

Extricate

Constrict

Compact

Abduct

Censor

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is a tied-up prisoner trying to escape, so we can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like escape. "Constrict" may look like a potentially correct answer choice, but "constrict" actually means hamper the movement of or restrict, so it is an antonym of escape and cannot be the correct answer. "Extricate," however, means to release from difficulty or entanglement, and because it best fits the sentence's context, it is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "compact" means to make smaller, "abduct" means kidnap, and "censor" means remove any potentially offensive material from.

2

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

His opponent used a simple trick to __________ him and win the match.

outfox

cater

dissuade

originate

admonish

Explanation

The subject was tricked, outwitted by his opponent so the correct answer is "outfox." To "outfox" means to outwit, to trick, to think of a way to beat someone. Additionally, "cater" means bend to the whim of or provide food for; "dissuade" means persuade someone to change their mind; "originate" means come from; "admonish" means scold, punish, yell at.

3

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

He won a small fortune on the lottery, but he quickly __________ it and was left destitute again.

squandered

bellowed

masticated

ameliorated

confined

Explanation

To begin with "destitute" means very poor, without possessions. So, if the man won some money but became poor again it makes sense that he wasted, recklessly spent, or "squandered" the money. Additionally, "masticate" means chew; "confine" means lock up, imprison; "bellow" means shout, yell; "ameliorate" means relieve, soothe, calm, make a situation better.

4

ISEE Sentence completions: Fill in the blank(s) to complete the sentence.

The criminal was swiftly __________, following many phone calls to the police with information as to the criminal’s whereabouts.

apprehended

tenuous

undermined

comprehended

mythical

Explanation

In this sentence the police are alerted to the location of the criminal this suggests he was swiftly caught or captured so the correct answer is “apprehended.” The suffix -prehend is often used in the English language to mean seize, as in “apprehended,” or grasp, as in “comprehend_._” To provide further help, “tenuous” means unstable; “mythical” means based on legend; “undermine” means to weaken.

5

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The cunning chess player swiftly __________ her less capable opponent.

outfoxed

harangued

deplored

circumscribed

wounded

Explanation

The context of the sentence suggests that the cunning chess player got the better of her less capable opponent. This means that the blank word must mean something like "outwitted." "Outfoxed" means outwitted, so "outfoxed" is the correct answer. To help you, "deplore" means hate, "harangue" means criticize verbally, "wounded" means injured, and "circumscribed" means limited or bordered.

6

Each sentence completion question is made up of a sentence with one blank. Each blank indicates that a word is missing. The sentence is followed by five answer choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Unable to _____ her thirst with the meager amount of bottled water she brought with her on the hike, Heidi was parched at the end of the hike.

quench

pacify

halt

endure

increase

Explanation

Since Heidi was parched at the end of the hike, this indicates that she drank too little on the hike. During the hike, she tried to quench or satisfy her thirst, but she could not with the amount of water she brought with her.

7

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

When the delicious scent of baking cookies __________ in from the kitchen, my mouth began to water.

wafted

gusted

colided

pranced

ambled

Explanation

We can infer that we need to find a verb that means something like drifted and can refer to air and smells. "Wafted" and "gusted" appear to be our best choices. Since "gusted" refers to wind and means blew in gusts, it seems a bit strong for our sentence's context. (It doesn't seem like there was any wind blowing out of the kitchen.) "Wafted," however, means passed through the air gently and fits the context of the sentence very well, so "wafted" is the best answer.

8

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

Driving around the rural town, he __________ his body's constant insistence that he quit the search for the elusive cow to rest.

spurned

stoked

absconded

formulated

elided

Explanation

The most appropriate answer is "spurned" because it means rejected or refused, which is what the sentence's subject is doing. "Absconded" means ran away, "elided" means omitted, "stoked" means encouraged, and "formulated" means fashioned, planned or systematically created.

9

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

The ship struck an iceberg and promptly __________.

capsized

decreed

celebrated

ordered

renowned

Explanation

Having struck an iceberg, it is logical that the ship would break and sink. The answer choice that most closely resembles that definition is “capsize,” which means to overturn or to sink and is usually used to refer to a boat or ship. To help you, "decreed" means ordered, and "renowned" means famous and well-regarded.

10

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The gas __________ through the air causing the place to smell terrible.

diffused

adjourned

originated

endured

impaled

Explanation

Based on the context of this sentence, which describes the movement of gas, you are looking for a verb that means spread. So, the correct answer is "diffused." Additionally, "originated" means came from; "impaled" means stabbed by; to "adjourn" means to end a meeting; to "endure" means to put up with, to survive and tolerate.

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