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.
Select the best synonym for the word “next”:
A — subsequent. “next” means adj. immediately following in time or order. Study “next” →
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” →
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” →
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” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “construction”:
D — building. “construction” means n. the act of building something. Study “construction” →
The little wooden cabin was ______ from the nearest town or road.
D — far. “far” means adv. at a great distance. Study “far” →
Select the best synonym for the word “disconnected”:
A — unrelated. “disconnected” means adj. not connected or joined. Study “disconnected” →
Because of the storm, the strict deadline was ______ by a whole week.
D — extended. “extended” means adj. made longer or larger. Study “extended” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “mentally”:
A — psychologically. “mentally” means adv. in a manner relating to the mind. Study “mentally” →
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” →
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” →
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” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lay”:
D — place. “lay” means v. to put something down. Study “lay” →
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” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “hungry”:
C — famished. “hungry” means adj. feeling the need to eat. Study “hungry” →
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” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “tryout”:
B — audition. “tryout” means n. a test of the potential of someone or something. Study “tryout” →
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” →
Select the best synonym for the word “overcome”:
A — conquer. “overcome” means v. to successfully deal with a problem. Study “overcome” →
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” →
Select the best synonym for the word “sneering”:
A — scornful. “sneering” means adj. showing contempt or mocking. Study “sneering” →
His rude, ______ joke made several of the dinner guests very upset.
B — offensive. “offensive” means adj. causing someone to feel hurt or upset. Study “offensive” →
Select the best synonym for the word “dare”:
C — venture. “dare” means v. to have the courage to do something. Study “dare” →
A good coach knows exactly how to ______ her players to try even harder.
A — motivate. “motivate” means v. to provide someone with a reason to do something. Study “motivate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “timid”:
A — shy. “timid” means adj. shy and lacking in confidence. Study “timid” →
After the hard fall, he sat up looking confused and ______.
A — dazed. “dazed” means adj. unable to think clearly. Study “dazed” →
Select the best synonym for the word “claim”:
D — assertion. “claim” means n. statements that something is true or a demand for something. Study “claim” →
She looked at the cheap, fake plastic jewels with obvious ______.
D — scorn. “scorn” means n. a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval; v. to show scorn. Study “scorn” →
Select the best synonym for the word “hunt”:
A — pursue. “hunt” means v. to chase and kill animals for food or sport. Study “hunt” →
His ______ reply of just one single word made her feel quite unwelcome.
D — curt. “curt” means adj. rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner. Study “curt” →
Select the best synonym for the word “apex”:
B — summit. “apex” means n. the top or highest part of something. Study “apex” →
Drivers who ______ the posted speed limit will have to pay a heavy fine.
D — exceed. “exceed” means v. to go beyond a set limit. Study “exceed” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “decide”:
D — determine. “decide” means v. to make a choice or judgment. Study “decide” →
The mayor's inspiring ______ moved the whole crowd to cheer loudly.
A — speech. “speech” means n. a formal talk given to an audience. Study “speech” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unlikely”:
C — improbable. “unlikely” means adj. not likely to happen. Study “unlikely” →
The two families felt a close ______ after living side by side for years.
C — kinship. “kinship” means n. the state of being related to others. Study “kinship” →
Select the best synonym for the word “chaotic”:
B — disorderly. “chaotic” means adj. in a state of complete confusion or disorder. Study “chaotic” →
The tired soldiers were ordered to ______ at the edge of the wide river.
C — halt. “halt” means v. to stop moving or doing something. Study “halt” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “replace”:
D — substitute. “replace” means v. to take the place of something or someone. Study “replace” →
The office machine can quickly ______ hundreds of copies of the document.
B — reproduce. “reproduce” means v. to make a copy of something. Study “reproduce” →
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.