ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning › Nouns in One-Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The actor missed his __________ and entered the scene a bit later than planned, but luckily it didn't affect the plot of the play.
cue
summons
jump
tardiness
project
We know that the actor missed some direction telling him to enter the scene, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "signal." While "summons" might seem like the correct answer, "cue" fits the context of the sentence better; while "summons" means "an authoritative or urgent call to someone to be present or to do something" or "an order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or the writ containing it," "cue" means "a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance." Because "cue" best fits the theatrical context of the sentence, "cue" is the correct answer.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The couple didn't like the food at the restaurant very much, but nonetheless frequented it merely due to its __________ to their apartment.
displacement
taste
appearance
proximity
atmosphere
"Proximity" means simply nearness to something. Here, we are given contextual clues that tell us that their restaurant choice had something to do with their apartment. All the answers would be reasons to choose the place, but "proximity" is the only one that has to do with their apartment.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Due to the __________ of protein in his diet, Theodore was often sick due to malnutrition.
paucity
reduction
diminution
curtailment
restricting
The sentence does not say anything about changes in Theodore’s diet. We do not know if his protein intake was reduced or if it always was this low. The only thing that is known is that he was always sick because of insufficient nourishment; therefore, the best word is “paucity,” which means scarce amounts. It is derived from the Latin for few, which can be found in the related Spanish expression “un poco,” meaning a little.
The image of the apple was starkly visible in the __________ of the painting, standing out from the coffee shop portrayed behind it.
foreground
scenery
stillness
details
background
The contrast expressed in this sentence is between the apple and the coffee shop, which is apparently behind the apple (as implied by “portrayed behind it \[the apple\]”). When something sits “in front” of other things so as to be very visible, it is said to be in the “foreground,” literally the “front ground” of the image, view, or painting.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His direct and somewhat offensive speech ably demonstrated a complete lack of __________.
nuance
bluntness
boorishness
obviousness
forcefulness
The man's direct, offensive speech is placed in contrast with the correct answer choice. Look for the word that is the best antonym for "direct" or "offensive." "Nuance," indicating subtlety or a fine meaning, is the closest antonym among the answer choices.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The jurors were awed by the assailant’s coldness; he completly lacked __________ for the family members of those he murdered.
empathy
indulgence
ingratitude
misery
candor
"Coldness," in an emotional sense, is synonymous with a lack of empathy, pity, or compassion.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After mowing the lawn in the summer heat, Mary found herself suffering from _________ and requiring a cold bath in order to regulate her body temperature.
hyperthermia
hypertrophy
exhaustion
hyperactivity
tepidity
The implication in this sentence is that the summer heat had modified Mary’s body temperature extremely (clearly by increasing it). Since she needed to cool herself, it is arguable that her condition was one of “hyperthermia.” The “hyper-” prefix means “beyond or above,” as when one is “hyperactive,” he or she is “beyond” being merely active. The “-thermia” portion is related to other English “temperature” words like “thermal,” “geothermal,” and “hypothermia.”
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The Mongol Empire was the largest collection of territory that the world has ever seen; yet the __________ of Mongolian hegemony means it is scarcely remembered today.
brevity
predictability
transmission
petulance
enforcement
The construction of this sentence implies that the Mongolian Empire is scarcely remembered because of some quality attributable to it. Predictability means happening in an expected way; petulance means ill-temper or sulkiness; transmission means the act of broadcasting something; enforcement means to compel obedience. Of these four possible answer choices predictability is the only word that could possibly fit, brevity is however a much neater fit. Brevity refers to how brief an event is. The briefness of Mongolian hegemony (hegemony means regional dominance) is a logical reason why it would be scarcely remembered today.
Each sentence completion question is made up of a sentence with one or two blanks. One blank indicates that one word is missing. Two blanks indicate that two words are missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word or pair of words that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is the solitary figure onstage in Act 5 Scene I and she delivers a(n) _____ in which she mourns the deaths of Lady Macduff and Banquo.
monologue
epilogue
prologue
prelude
anecdote
Lady Macbeth delivers a monologue or a long speech given by one person that allows the character to express hidden thoughts and emotions. She indeed expresses her innermost thoughts and the fact that she is distraught due to the recent deaths of Lady Macduff and Banquo.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
To sailors, a red sky has always been a __________ of harsh weather to come.
harbinger
pariah
nuance
reprieve
epicure
The red sky is a warning or a sign, so we need a word that fits the definition of something that could be considered a warning. "Harbinger" is the only answer choice that fits.