30 Verbal Reasoning questions — Part 1: 15 synonym, Part 2: 15 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.
Note: The real ISEE Primary Level (for applicants to grades 2–4) is Auditory Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and a writing sample — it has no Verbal Reasoning section, so the real Primary-level test never asks a synonym or sentence-completion question. This practice test borrows that question style from the Lower/Middle/Upper Verbal Reasoning format purely to help younger students build vocabulary early, ahead of the level where it is actually tested that way.
Choose the best synonym for the word “unskilled”:
B — inexperienced. “unskilled” means adj. not having or requiring special skill or training. Study “unskilled” →
Select the best synonym for the word “brainwash”:
B — indoctrinate. “brainwash” means v. to make someone believe something by repeatedly telling them it is true. Study “brainwash” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “aesthetics”:
A — taste. “aesthetics” means n. the study of beauty and taste. Study “aesthetics” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “blocking”:
A — obstructing. “blocking” means n. the act of stopping something from moving or flowing. Study “blocking” →
Select the best synonym for the word “range”:
D — scope. “range” means n. the extent or scope of something. Study “range” →
Select the best synonym for the word “next”:
A — subsequent. “next” means adj. immediately following in time or order. Study “next” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “debater”:
B — disputant. “debater” means n. a person who argues about a subject, especially in a formal manner. Study “debater” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “construction”:
D — building. “construction” means n. the act of building something. Study “construction” →
Select the best synonym for the word “disconnected”:
A — unrelated. “disconnected” means adj. not connected or joined. Study “disconnected” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “mentally”:
A — psychologically. “mentally” means adv. in a manner relating to the mind. Study “mentally” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “generous”:
B — charitable. “generous” means adj. willing to give more of something, especially money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected. Study “generous” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lay”:
D — place. “lay” means v. to put something down. Study “lay” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “hungry”:
C — famished. “hungry” means adj. feeling the need to eat. Study “hungry” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “tryout”:
B — audition. “tryout” means n. a test of the potential of someone or something. Study “tryout” →
Select the best synonym for the word “overcome”:
A — conquer. “overcome” means v. to successfully deal with a problem. Study “overcome” →
The kind older woman had a warm, ______ way with all the young children.
A — motherlike. “motherlike” means adj. resembling or characteristic of a mother. Study “motherlike” →
The ______ island had no people, no trees, and no fresh water at all.
D — desolate. “desolate” means adj. empty and lonely. Study “desolate” →
The new ______ office handles all of the taxes for the whole city.
B — governmental. “governmental” means adj. relating to the government. Study “governmental” →
The doctor said that his very high temperature was ______ and needed checking.
C — abnormal. “abnormal” means adj. not usual or typical. Study “abnormal” →
During the sudden storm, the hikers found ______ inside a small dry cave.
B — shelter. “shelter” means n. a place giving protection from bad weather or danger. Study “shelter” →
The deep ______ of the old oak tree held it firmly in the ground.
D — root. “root” means n. the part of a plant that grows underground. Study “root” →
The patient coach will ______ the new players on how to hold the bat.
C — instruct. “instruct” means v. to teach or tell someone how to do something. Study “instruct” →
The little wooden cabin was ______ from the nearest town or road.
D — far. “far” means adv. at a great distance. Study “far” →
Because of the storm, the strict deadline was ______ by a whole week.
D — extended. “extended” means adj. made longer or larger. Study “extended” →
The choir's ______ voices blended beautifully into one lovely sound.
C — harmonious. “harmonious” means adj. having parts that are related or combined in a pleasing way. Study “harmonious” →
Each new model of the phone showed a small ______ over the last one.
B — refinement. “refinement” means n. the process of improving something. Study “refinement” →
The two rivals were ______ quietly to take over the whole company.
B — conspiring. “conspiring” means v. planning secretly with others to do something bad. Study “conspiring” →
The whole team looked up to their wise coach with very deep ______.
A — respect. “respect” means n. a feeling of admiration; v. to admire someone or something. Study “respect” →
The huge crane was carefully ______ by a single highly skilled operator.
B — controlled. “controlled” means adj. under the power or influence of someone or something. Study “controlled” →
The old box held a colorful ______ of buttons of every shape and size.
B — assortment. “assortment” means n. a collection of different things or people. Study “assortment” →
Score:
Every question below is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted in red, and any option you picked that was wrong is highlighted in blue.
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.
The real ISEE Primary Level (for applicants to grades 2–4) is Auditory Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and a writing sample — it has no Verbal Reasoning section, so the real Primary-level test never asks a synonym or sentence-completion question. This practice test borrows that question style from the Lower/Middle/Upper Verbal Reasoning format purely to help younger students build vocabulary early, ahead of the level where it is actually tested that way.
30 — Part 1 is 15 synonym questions, Part 2 is 15 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.
No. Every Primary 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.