40 Verbal Reasoning questions — 20 synonym, 20 sentence completion — in the ISEE's own four-option format. Every answer is explained, and every question links to its word's full study page.
Choose the best synonym for the word “detective”:
A — investigator. “detective” means n. a person who investigates crimes. Study “detective” →
A loyal captain would never ______ his brave crew during a storm.
D — desert. “desert” means v. to abandon; n. a dry, barren area. Study “desert” →
Select the best synonym for the word “feature”:
D — characteristic. “feature” means n. distinctive attributes or aspects of something. Study “feature” →
A brief ______ broke out between the two boys over the very last seat.
C — scuffle. “scuffle” means n. a short, confused fight or struggle at close quarters; v. to engage in a scuffle. Study “scuffle” →
Select the best synonym for the word “distant”:
A — remote. “distant” means adj. far away in space or time. Study “distant” →
The tiny mouse could squeeze through a very ______ hole in the wall.
C — small. “small” means adj. little in size, amount, or degree. Study “small” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “element”:
D — component. “element” means n. a basic part of something. Study “element” →
The magician's assistant seemed to have completely ______ from the stage.
D — vanished. “vanished” means adj. disappeared suddenly. Study “vanished” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “broken”:
C — shattered. “broken” means adj. damaged or in pieces. Study “broken” →
The fisherman used a very sharp knife to clean and ______ the large fish.
D — gut. “gut” means n. the internal organs of an animal; v. to remove the internal organs. Study “gut” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “everyday”:
B — ordinary. “everyday” means adj. common or ordinary; happening daily. Study “everyday” →
The bold explorers set out to ______ a hidden city deep in the jungle.
C — seek. “seek” means v. to look for or try to find something. Study “seek” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “consist”:
D — comprise. “consist” means v. to be made up or composed. Study “consist” →
She used the money from her ______ to buy a small house by the sea.
C — inheritance. “inheritance” means n. money or property received from someone after they die. Study “inheritance” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “scholar”:
C — academic. “scholar” means n. a person who studies and has a lot of knowledge. Study “scholar” →
After getting the vaccine, she was fully ______ to the dangerous disease.
C — immune. “immune” means adj. protected from disease or harm. Study “immune” →
Select the best synonym for the word “building”:
B — structure. “building” means n. a structure with walls and a roof, such as a house or factory. Study “building” →
By early morning, the deep snow had ______ covered the whole quiet garden.
A — totally. “totally” means adv. completely; absolutely. Study “totally” →
Select the best synonym for the word “mock”:
A — ridicule. “mock” means v. to make fun of someone or something. Study “mock” →
The town gave away the ______ of food left over from the huge feast.
B — excess. “excess” means n. an amount that is more than necessary. Study “excess” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “tap”:
D — pat. “tap” means v. to hit lightly. Study “tap” →
The balloon will ______ if you keep blowing more air into it.
A — burst. “burst” means v. to break open or apart suddenly. Study “burst” →
Select the best synonym for the word “polished”:
D — gleaming. “polished” means adj. made smooth and shiny by rubbing. Study “polished” →
The neat, ______ rows of desks filled the very tidy little classroom.
A — ordered. “ordered” means adj. arranged in a neat or organized way. Study “ordered” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shade”:
D — shadow. “shade” means n. an area that is dark and cool because the sun''s light is blocked. Study “shade” →
The navy set up a tight ______ to stop any ships from entering the port.
C — blockade. “blockade” means n. an act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving. Study “blockade” →
Select the best synonym for the word “roll”:
A — tumble. “roll” means v. to move by turning over and over. Study “roll” →
The talented singers blended their voices together in perfect ______.
D — harmony. “harmony” means n. a pleasing combination of different things. Study “harmony” →
Select the best synonym for the word “inspiring”:
B — uplifting. “inspiring” means adj. making you feel enthusiastic or excited about something. Study “inspiring” →
The ______ cave was so pitch black that they needed a bright torch.
D — dark. “dark” means adj. having little or no light. Study “dark” →
Select the best synonym for the word “commit”:
B — execute. “commit” means v. to carry out or do. Study “commit” →
There is a very close ______ between eating well and staying healthy.
C — relation. “relation” means n. the ways in which two or more people or groups behave towards each other. Study “relation” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “people”:
A — humans. “people” means n. human beings in general. Study “people” →
A tiny seed can grow into a ______ plant with the right care and water.
C — living. “living” means adj. having life; not dead. Study “living” →
Select the best synonym for the word “past”:
A — history. “past” means n. the time before now. Study “past” →
The school ______ swept the empty halls and locked up every night.
A — custodian. “custodian” means n. a person who takes care of a building or property. Study “custodian” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “optimistic”:
A — hopeful. “optimistic” means adj. hopeful and confident about the future. Study “optimistic” →
His knowledge of the topic was only ______, missing all the deeper details.
A — surface-level. “surface-level” means adj. relating to the outermost layer or appearance. Study “surface-level” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “performance”:
A — execution. “performance” means n. the act of performing a task or function. Study “performance” →
In autumn, the busy squirrels ______ nuts for the long, cold winter.
B — gather. “gather” means v. to collect or bring together. Study “gather” →
No. These are original synonym and sentence-completion questions written from the iSEE Vocab word bank, in the ISEE's own four-option Verbal Reasoning format. No retired or copyrighted ISEE/SSAT questions appear anywhere on this site.
40 — 20 synonym questions and 20 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.
No. Every Basic Level practice test on this site draws from a disjoint slice of the word bank, so Test 1, Test 2 and every other numbered test at this level use entirely different questions.
Yes. The ISEE gives no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank scores the same as a wrong guess, which is zero — so answer every question even when you have to guess.