Sentence Completions: Context Clues - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

We can tell from the context of the sentence that the detective wants the criminal to stop trying to lie to him since he knows the truth, so we need to pick out a verb that conveys that. While "ignore," "avoid," or "delete" might each all seem like potentially correct answers because they all are words with negative connotations, only "dispense," which in this context means "manage without; get rid of," fits the context of the sentence. So, "dispense" is the correct answer.

We can infer from the subject of the sentence that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "stop." "Start" and "encourage" are antonyms of the word we're looking for, so neither of them can be the correct answer. While "pause" might look like a good answer, "pause" implies only a temporary stop, and it seems pretty unlikely that the vice principal would let the food fight start up again. The best answer choice is "quell," a verb that in this context means "put an end to a rebellion or other disorder, typically by the use of force."

We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out a word for the first blank that means something like "not realistic," because the type of art that the blank describes is being contrasted against "art which clearly depicts recognizable figures and objects." Given that, the best answer choice is "amorphous," an adjective that means "without a clearly defined shape or form."

We can infer that because Sally did not show up to school on Friday with her hair died pink, that it stopped the rumors that she had died her hair. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "stopped." Neither "encouraged" nor "confirmed" can be the correct answer, because Sally did nothing to support the rumors that she had died her hair pink, so neither answer choice makes sense in the sentence's context. "Quash," however, means "put an end to; suppress," so "quashed" is the answer choice that best describes what happened to the rumors, and because "quashed" best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

The structure of the sentence sets up a contrast between the two dinosaurs, so we can infer that we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "enormous" or "slow" and is the opposite of "small" and "speedy." "Swift," then, cannot be the correct answer because "swift" is a synonym of "speedy," and the sentence already tells us that the brontosaurus was "slow." "Lumbering," however, is a great word to describe the brontosaurus, because "lumbering" means "moving in a slow, heavy, awkward way." Because "lumbering" is the answer choice that best describes the "enormous" and "slow" brontosaurus, "lumbering" is the correct answer.

We know that "Jenna does not like spicy foods" and "ordered a plain cheese quesadilla instead" because the nachos were topped with so many spicy ingredients. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that describes Jenna's action of ordering a different dish. "Dreading" might look like a potentially correct answer, but it doesn't quite make sense in the sentence's context; why would someone dread ordering one dish if they could just decide to order something else? Jenna clearly didn't have to order the nachos - no one made her. So, "dreading" can't be the correct answer. "Dissuade," however, is a verb that means "persuade someone not to take a particular course of action," and because "dissuaded from" best describes Jenna's actions of avoiding the spicy nachos in favor of a less-spicy quesadilla, "dissuaded from" is the correct answer.

Because of the comparative structure of the sentence, we can tell that we need to pick out a verb that has to do with reading and books, but means the opposite of "flip through." So, "skimmed" cannot be the correct answer because to "skim" a book means "to read (something) quickly or cursorily so as to note only the important points," and that is not what Gary is doing in the sentence, since he is going "slowly." "Peruse," however, is a verb that means either "read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way" or "examine carefully or at length," and because it best describes Gary's actions in the sentence, "peruse" is the correct answer.

We can infer from the structure of the sentence that we need to pick out a noun that means something like "seller," because "Gareth thought that he was more aptly described as a seller of other people's old junk." "Discarder," then, cannot be the correct answer, because a seller wouldn't discard his merchandise. "Purveyor," however, is a noun that means "a person who sells or deals in particular goods," and because "purveyor" best describes the seller in the sentence, "purveyor" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because the word in the blank occurred "even though" Jeffrey "had practiced his Spanish presentation for hours," we need to pick out a word that means something like "froze" or "was afraid." "Persevered," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "persevere" means "continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success," and wouldn't make sense as describing Jeffrey "saying nothing for almost a full minute." "Quail," however, is a word that when used as a verb, means "feel or show fear or apprehension," and because "quailed" best describes how Jeffrey froze with fear when he got up in front of the class, "quailed" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because Toby's little brother clearly ate the cookies, that Toby was proven innocent when his little brother wandered into the room. So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "proven innocent" for the blank. "Convicted," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "convicted" means "declared to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law," and Toby was not guilty. "Vindicated," however, is a verb that means either "cleared (someone) of blame or suspicion" or "showed or proved to be right, reasonable, or justified," and because "vindicated" best describes how Toby was cleared of suspicion when it was discovered that his brother had eaten the cookies, "vindicated" is the correct answer.

The sentence compares one particular marathon runner to the other runners in the race. They stopped, but she did not. Therefore, she was "steadfast," which means firm and unwavering. None of the other potential answer choices make sense in the blank, so "steadfast" is the correct answer.

Since Donald has "written many books about Greece," we can infer that he knows a lot about that topic. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like knowledgeable. The word that best fits the sentence's blank is "erudite," which means learned and scholarly. As for the other answer choices, "absent" means not present or missing, "enigmatic" means mysterious, "expansive" means extensive or communicative, and "exultant" means triumphant or delighted.

"Palatable" means acceptable to the taste. The todler found the baked chicken inedible (unacceptable to the taste). The wrong answers are antonyms of "palatable," and while they may initially look correct, the "not" in the sentence tells us that we need to pick out a word that means "tasting good" or at least "acceptable to the taste," not "tasting bad."

Since the researcher disagrees with the skepticism of the scientists, she would be "optimistic" - hopeful and confident - about her experiments. None of the other answer choices make sense in the sentence's context: "indifferent" means apathetic, "doubtful" means skeptical, "expressive" means expressing emotion, and "poor" means lacking money.

In order to appear to have disappared, the rabbit must be hidden from sight under the table. The correct answer is "concealed," which is a synonym of "hidden." None of the other answer choices make sense in the sentence's context: "discovered," when used as an adjective, is an antonym of "concealed" and means revealed or exposed; "compiled" means put together; "drenched" means soaked; and "visible" is another antonym of "concealed," and means able to be seen.

Since the book received something that is the opposite of rejection from some critics, the correct choice is "acclaim", which means praise. None of the other answer choices have anything to do with the sentence's context: "frenzy" means panic, "parapet" refers to a short wall that encloses a raised part of a building, "lull" means pause or respite, and "criticism" means censure or denunciation.

From the context of the sentence, you know that the blank word must describe the king’s lack of mercy and compassion. The correct answer is therefore “ruthless," which means showing no mercy or violent. To help you, "benevolent" means good-natured, "supple" means flexible, "intelligent" means smart, and "gregarious" means sociable.

The sentence suggests that the author is feeling nervous walking home alone at night. The answer choice that most closely resembles nervous is “wary,” which means nervous and cautious. To further help you, "enamored" means in love with; "passive" means restrained or not aggressive; "rage" means anger; "effusive" means demonstrative.

The situation described in the second clause is very negative, which means the blank word must mean something opposite to the negative situation. The correct answer is "ideal,” which means perfect. To further help you, "fruitful" and "abundant" are two words that both describe something there is plenty of.