ISEE Analogies Question 226: Answer and Explanation

Home > ISEE Test > ISEE Sentence Completion Practice Tests

Test Information

Question: 226

16. Patrick insisted that his hurtful statement was unintended rather than ------, but his effort to ------ the situation ended in failure when he repeated his offensive statement.

  • A. considerate … mitigate
  • B. involuntary … assess
  • C. malicious … ameliorate
  • D. spiteful … aggravate

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The first blank must mean hurtful, while the second blank must reflect Patrick's intent (ending in failure) to convince people he didn't mean to offend, thus requiring malicious (hateful) and ameliorate (improve) as the answer.

Do one blank at a time. The first blank, which might seem easier, must mean hurtful, so you can eliminate choices (A) and (B). The second blank must reflect Patrick's intent (ending in failure) to convince people he didn't mean to offend, so you can eliminate choice (D). The Latin root mal means bad.

Previous       Next