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 “shame”:
C — humiliation. “shame” means n. a feeling of guilt or embarrassment. Study “shame” →
The explorers hoped to ______ a hidden green valley beyond the hills.
D — discover. “discover” means v. to find or learn something for the first time. Study “discover” →
Select the best synonym for the word “comradeship”:
A — camaraderie. “comradeship” means n. the company and friendship of others with common aims. Study “comradeship” →
Winning the gold medal was the ______ moment of her whole life.
C — greatest. “greatest” means adj. superlative of great; most excellent or most important. Study “greatest” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “awful”:
A — terrible. “awful” means adj. very bad or unpleasant. Study “awful” →
Of all the boxes, this tiny one holds the ______ amount of candy.
C — least. “least” means adj. smallest in amount or degree. Study “least” →
Select the best synonym for the word “tasteful”:
C — elegant. “tasteful” means adj. showing good aesthetic judgment. Study “tasteful” →
The ______ stone castle towered high above the small village below.
B — imposing. “imposing” means adj. grand and impressive in appearance. Study “imposing” →
Select the best synonym for the word “workable”:
A — feasible. “workable” means adj. capable of being done or put into action. Study “workable” →
She made him ______ that he would never tell anyone the big secret.
B — promise. “promise” means v. to tell someone you will definitely do something. Study “promise” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “quick”:
B — fast. “quick” means adj. happening or done with speed. Study “quick” →
The tall glass towers of the city made a beautiful ______ at sunset.
A — skyline. “skyline” means n. the outline of buildings, mountains, etc., against the sky. Study “skyline” →
Select the best synonym for the word “ground”:
C — terrain. “ground” means n. the solid surface of the earth. Study “ground” →
The busy doctor's ______ carefully scheduled all of her appointments.
A — assistant. “assistant” means n. a person who helps or supports someone else. Study “assistant” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “fabric”:
B — textile. “fabric” means n. material made by weaving or knitting fibers. Study “fabric” →
A ______ crowd gathered in the streets to watch the famous parade.
B — great. “great” means adj. very large in size, amount, or degree. Study “great” →
Select the best synonym for the word “recap”:
B — summarize. “recap” means v. to summarize or repeat the main points. Study “recap” →
The ______ kitten knocked the vase off the high shelf on purpose.
D — mischievous. “mischievous” means adj. causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way. Study “mischievous” →
Select the best synonym for the word “peak”:
A — summit. “peak” means n. the highest point. Study “peak” →
Every single citizen deserves fair ______ in the national government.
A — representation. “representation” means n. the act of speaking or acting on behalf of someone. Study “representation” →
Select the best synonym for the word “critical”:
D — disapproving. “critical” means adj. expressing disapproval or finding fault. Study “critical” →
A warm evening bath is her favorite form of ______ after a very long day.
B — relaxation. “relaxation” means n. the state of being free from tension and anxiety. Study “relaxation” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “healing”:
C — recovery. “healing” means n. the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. Study “healing” →
The tired workers dug deep down into the ______ to search for gold.
A — mine. “mine” means n. a type of excavation in the earth for extracting coal or other minerals. Study “mine” →
Select the best synonym for the word “greatly”:
A — considerably. “greatly” means adv. to a large extent or degree. Study “greatly” →
The workers came early to ______ a new washing machine in the kitchen.
A — install. “install” means v. to put a piece of equipment somewhere and make it ready to use. Study “install” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “notorious”:
A — infamous. “notorious” means adj. famous for something bad. Study “notorious” →
The calm, still lake began to ______ the tall mountains perfectly.
C — reflect. “reflect” means v. to show an image of something on a surface. Study “reflect” →
Select the best synonym for the word “naturally”:
A — instinctively. “naturally” means adv. in a natural manner; as expected. Study “naturally” →
She was so very tired that she ______ fell asleep at her school desk.
C — nearly. “nearly” means adv. almost; not quite. Study “nearly” →
Select the best synonym for the word “double”:
B — twofold. “double” means adj. twice as much or as many. Study “double” →
Be very careful not to ______ your ticket before the show begins.
D — lose. “lose” means v. to fail to keep or maintain something. Study “lose” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “kinship”:
A — family ties. “kinship” means n. the state of being related to others. Study “kinship” →
The gentle old horse had a calm, patient ______ that the children loved.
B — temperament. “temperament” means n. a person''s nature or disposition. Study “temperament” →
Select the best synonym for the word “history”:
B — chronicle. “history” means n. the study of past events. Study “history” →
She wisely packed one ______ pair of socks in case her feet got wet.
A — extra. “extra” means adj. more than what is usual or necessary. Study “extra” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “sufferer”:
D — victim. “sufferer” means n. a person who experiences pain or hardship. Study “sufferer” →
The constantly ringing phone was a real ______ during the long meeting.
A — distraction. “distraction” means n. something that takes your attention away from what you are doing. Study “distraction” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “tradition-breaker”:
B — nonconformist. “tradition-breaker” means n. a person who does not follow traditional practices. Study “tradition-breaker” →
By ______ the wild birds for many hours, the scientist learned their habits.
A — observing. “observing” means v. watching carefully. Study “observing” →
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.