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 “immediate”:
C — instant. “immediate” means adj. happening or done without delay. Study “immediate” →
The big surprise party was carefully ______ many weeks in advance.
D — planned. “planned” means adj. arranged or thought out in advance. Study “planned” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “happened”:
A — occurred. “happened” means v. past tense of happen; took place or occurred. Study “happened” →
Please write your full name and ______ clearly on the envelope.
B — address. “address” means n. the details of the place where someone lives or works. Study “address” →
Select the best synonym for the word “judgement”:
C — discernment. “judgement” means n. the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. Study “judgement” →
The hungry little puppy seemed to ______ for a scrap of food.
D — beg. “beg” means v. to ask for something earnestly. Study “beg” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unwavering”:
A — steadfast. “unwavering” means adj. steady and resolute. Study “unwavering” →
The two events were closely ______, though it took a while to see how.
A — related. “related” means adj. connected by a relationship. Study “related” →
Select the best synonym for the word “steal”:
A — pilfer. “steal” means v. to take something without permission. Study “steal” →
Water suddenly began to ______ from the broken pipe onto the kitchen floor.
C — gush. “gush” means v. to flow out quickly and in large amounts. Study “gush” →
Select the best synonym for the word “phrase”:
A — expression. “phrase” means n. a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit. Study “phrase” →
Wearing a seatbelt can ______ serious injury in a sudden car crash.
B — prevent. “prevent” means v. to stop something from happening. Study “prevent” →
Select the best synonym for the word “especially”:
D — particularly. “especially” means adv. particularly; more than others. Study “especially” →
The strange cloud, ______ a huge dragon, drifted slowly across the sky.
B — resembling. “resembling” means v. looking or being like someone or something. Study “resembling” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “late”:
C — overdue. “late” means adj. doing something or taking place after the expected, proper, or usual time. Study “late” →
Wearing a helmet is ______ for everyone who rides a bicycle around here.
C — obligatory. “obligatory” means adj. required by a rule or law. Study “obligatory” →
Select the best synonym for the word “spirit”:
A — soul. “spirit” means n. the non-physical part of a person. Study “spirit” →
The teacher used a bright yellow pen to ______ the most important words.
C — highlight. “highlight” means v. to emphasize or make something stand out. Study “highlight” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “invention”:
B — creation. “invention” means n. something that has been created, especially a device. Study “invention” →
You can always ______ on a true friend to keep all of your secrets.
D — rely. “rely” means v. to depend on with full trust or confidence. Study “rely” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “found”:
D — establish. “found” means v. to establish or set up something, such as an organization. Study “found” →
Runners from many different countries came to ______ in the great race.
D — compete. “compete” means v. to try to win against others. Study “compete” →
Select the best synonym for the word “strengthen”:
A — reinforce. “strengthen” means v. to make stronger. Study “strengthen” →
The soldiers began to ______ the old stone fortress with cannon fire.
D — bombard. “bombard” means v. to attack continuously with bombs or words. Study “bombard” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “educational”:
A — instructive. “educational” means adj. related to education. Study “educational” →
Lifting weights each day will slowly ______ the muscles in your arms.
B — strengthen. “strengthen” means v. to make stronger. Study “strengthen” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unprincipled”:
B — unscrupulous. “unprincipled” means adj. not having or showing moral principles. Study “unprincipled” →
The proud lioness carefully watched over her playful ______ in the grass.
C — offspring. “offspring” means n. a person''s child or children. Study “offspring” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “plead”:
A — beg. “plead” means v. to ask for something in a serious and emotional way. Study “plead” →
Please write today's full ______ at the top of your test paper.
B — date. “date” means n. a particular day of the month or year. Study “date” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “pillar”:
A — column. “pillar” means n. a strong column that supports a building. Study “pillar” →
Collecting old stamps was his favorite ______ on quiet, rainy weekends.
A — pastime. “pastime” means n. an activity done for enjoyment. Study “pastime” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “flexible”:
A — pliable. “flexible” means adj. able to bend easily without breaking. Study “flexible” →
His stubborn ______ made it completely impossible to reach a fair deal.
B — inflexibility. “inflexibility” means n. unwillingness to change or compromise. Study “inflexibility” →
Select the best synonym for the word “warn”:
C — caution. “warn” means v. to inform someone of a possible danger. Study “warn” →
Without any allies at all, the tiny nation felt completely ______.
B — powerless. “powerless” means adj. without ability, influence, or power. Study “powerless” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “continues”:
C — persists. “continues” means v. to keep happening or doing something without stopping. Study “continues” →
Please ______ the small key into the lock and turn it very gently.
C — insert. “insert” means v. to put something into something else. Study “insert” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “regional”:
B — local. “regional” means adj. relating to a specific area or region. Study “regional” →
The ______ toddler tried to copy everything that his older brother did.
D — imitative. “imitative” means adj. copying someone or something. Study “imitative” →
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.