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 “troublemaking”:
B — mischief. “troublemaking” means n. the act of causing problems. Study “troublemaking” →
It is very kind to ______ your toys with your little brother.
D — share. “share” means v. to have or use something with others. Study “share” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “farming”:
C — agriculture. “farming” means n. the activity of growing crops and raising animals. Study “farming” →
Cold, wet, and hopelessly lost, the tired hikers felt utterly ______.
B — miserable. “miserable” means adj. very unhappy or uncomfortable. Study “miserable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “humid”:
D — damp. “humid” means adj. having a lot of moisture in the air. Study “humid” →
The public school offered a ______ education with no religious classes at all.
D — secular. “secular” means adj. not connected with religious or spiritual matters. Study “secular” →
Select the best synonym for the word “block”:
B — chunks. “block” means n. plural of block; large solid pieces of hard material. Study “block” →
The loud, clear ______ of the church bell rang across the whole village.
A — sound. “sound” means n. vibrations that travel through the air and can be heard. Study “sound” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “arouse”:
A — provoke. “arouse” means v. to awaken or provoke a feeling or response. Study “arouse” →
Do not pile too many blankets on the baby, or you might ______ her.
C — smother. “smother” means v. to cover completely and prevent from breathing. Study “smother” →
Select the best synonym for the word “engage”:
D — participate. “engage” means v. to participate or become involved in. Study “engage” →
In sheer strength, the young wrestler was more than a ______ for his rival.
B — match. “match” means n. a person or thing that is equal to another in quality or strength. Study “match” →
Select the best synonym for the word “showy”:
C — gaudy. “showy” means adj. very noticeable or flashy. Study “showy” →
The mighty stone fortress on the high cliff seemed completely ______.
A — unconquerable. “unconquerable” means adj. impossible to defeat or overcome. Study “unconquerable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “laws”:
B — statutes. “laws” means n. plural of law; systems of rules. Study “laws” →
She was still ______ about whether to go to the party or stay home.
B — undecided. “undecided” means adj. not having made a decision. Study “undecided” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “settle”:
B — resolve. “settle” means v. to resolve or reach an agreement about an argument or problem. Study “settle” →
With courage and hard work, she finally managed to ______ her deep fear.
B — overcome. “overcome” means v. to successfully deal with a problem. Study “overcome” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unsettling”:
A — disturbing. “unsettling” means adj. causing anxiety or uneasiness. Study “unsettling” →
The very bad news seemed to greatly ______ her, and she began to cry.
D — upset. “upset” means v. to disturb or overturn; adj. feeling unhappy or worried. Study “upset” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “spiteful”:
D — malicious. “spiteful” means adj. showing a desire to harm or annoy. Study “spiteful” →
A heavy wave of ______ washed over her after the very long, hard day.
D — tiredness. “tiredness” means n. the state of being tired. Study “tiredness” →
Select the best synonym for the word “relief”:
A — comfort. “relief” means n. a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress. Study “relief” →
Despite all the setbacks, the whole team stayed ______ about winning the cup.
B — hopeful. “hopeful” means adj. feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event. Study “hopeful” →
Select the best synonym for the word “carry”:
B — transport. “carry” means v. to hold and move something from one place to another. Study “carry” →
The airline offered some money as ______ for the very long delay.
C — compensation. “compensation” means n. something given to make up for a loss. Study “compensation” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “caring”:
A — compassionate. “caring” means adj. showing kindness and concern for others. Study “caring” →
She carefully wrapped a beautiful ______ for her mother's birthday.
B — gift. “gift” means n. something given willingly to someone without payment; a present. Study “gift” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “postpone”:
A — delay. “postpone” means v. to delay something until a later time. Study “postpone” →
The acrobat kept perfect ______ as she walked along the thin rope.
C — balance. “balance” means n. a state where things are of equal weight or force. Study “balance” →
Select the best synonym for the word “twist”:
C — spin. “twist” means v. to turn something in a circular motion. Study “twist” →
The gentle nurse treated every single patient with real ______.
A — care. “care” means n. the process of protecting someone or something. Study “care” →
Select the best synonym for the word “model”:
A — replica. “model” means n. a small copy of something; a person who poses for artists or photographers. Study “model” →
The ______ orange embers of the campfire kept them warm all night long.
D — glowing. “glowing” means adj. producing a steady light or heat. Study “glowing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “formless”:
D — shapeless. “formless” means adj. without a clear or definite shape or structure. Study “formless” →
She ______ ignored his rude comment and calmly walked away.
A — deliberately. “deliberately” means adv. done on purpose. Study “deliberately” →
Select the best synonym for the word “journey”:
B — voyage. “journey” means n. the act of traveling from one place to another. Study “journey” →
The ______ carpenter built the whole oak table without a single mistake.
A — skilled. “skilled” means adj. having the ability to do something well. Study “skilled” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “aim”:
A — direct. “aim” means v. to point or direct at a target. Study “aim” →
The very busy factory can ______ thousands of cars every single week.
C — produce. “produce” means v. to make or create something. Study “produce” →
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.