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 “troubled”:
D — distressed. “troubled” means adj. having problems or difficulties. Study “troubled” →
His bright orange tie and lime green shirt were badly ______.
C — clashing. “clashing” means adj. conflicting or not matching. Study “clashing” →
Select the best synonym for the word “movable”:
A — portable. “movable” means adj. capable of being moved. Study “movable” →
Even when he was very angry, his strong ______ kept him calm and quiet.
C — self-control. “self-control” means n. the ability to control one''s emotions and desires. Study “self-control” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “invitation”:
D — request. “invitation” means n. a request to attend an event. Study “invitation” →
There is a big ______ between saying something and actually doing it.
D — difference. “difference” means n. a way in which people or things are not the same. Study “difference” →
Select the best synonym for the word “rapturous”:
B — ecstatic. “rapturous” means adj. expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm. Study “rapturous” →
The tiny scratch on the car was just a small, ______ bit of damage.
B — incidental. “incidental” means adj. happening as a minor part of something else. Study “incidental” →
Select the best synonym for the word “existing”:
A — current. “existing” means adj. currently present or in use. Study “existing” →
It has been well over a ______ since we last saw our dear old friends.
C — year. “year” means n. plural of year; periods of twelve months. Study “year” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “risky”:
A — hazardous. “risky” means adj. involving the possibility of something bad happening. Study “risky” →
The whole cheering crowd celebrated the ______ of the winning team.
D — arrival. “arrival” means n. the act of coming to a place. Study “arrival” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “eternity”:
A — infinity. “eternity” means n. time without end. Study “eternity” →
The rotten, ______ smell from the drain made everyone gag at once.
A — loathsome. “loathsome” means adj. causing hatred or disgust. Study “loathsome” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “near”:
A — close. “near” means adv. close to someone or something. Study “near” →
A good ______ turns a written plan into real, working results.
B — implementer. “implementer” means n. a person who puts a plan or system into action. Study “implementer” →
Select the best synonym for the word “label”:
A — tag. “label” means n. a piece of paper or material attached to an object to give information about it. Study “label” →
The ______ old bakery has served this small town for over fifty years.
B — established. “established” means adj. having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted. Study “established” →
Select the best synonym for the word “genius”:
C — prodigy. “genius” means n. a person with exceptional intellectual or creative ability. Study “genius” →
On the warm summer evening, they liked to ______ slowly along the beach.
D — stroll. “stroll” means v. to walk in a relaxed way. Study “stroll” →
Select the best synonym for the word “purpose”:
D — aim. “purpose” means n. the reason for which something is done. Study “purpose” →
The professor gave a firm, ______ answer that no one dared to question.
C — authoritative. “authoritative” means adj. having or showing authority. Study “authoritative” →
Select the best synonym for the word “tenacity”:
A — persistence. “tenacity” means n. the quality of being determined. Study “tenacity” →
For a single silent ______, everything in the whole room fell quiet.
A — moment. “moment” means n. a very brief period of time. Study “moment” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “information”:
D — data. “information” means n. facts or details about a subject. Study “information” →
She carefully ______ out her long last name for the new teacher.
C — spelled. “spelled” means v. wrote or named the letters of a word in order. Study “spelled” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “opposite”:
A — contrary. “opposite” means adj. completely different; n. a person or thing that is completely different. Study “opposite” →
Traveling widely slowly changed her whole ______ of the world and life.
B — worldview. “worldview” means n. a particular philosophy or view of life. Study “worldview” →
Select the best synonym for the word “calming”:
B — soothing. “calming” means adj. making someone feel less upset or excited. Study “calming” →
The children began to ______ with their parents for a small new puppy.
C — plead. “plead” means v. to ask for something in a serious and emotional way. Study “plead” →
Select the best synonym for the word “finally”:
A — eventually. “finally” means adv. after a long time. Study “finally” →
She proudly joined a large ______ that helps clean up the local beaches.
C — organization. “organization” means n. a group of people with a particular purpose. Study “organization” →
Select the best synonym for the word “reward”:
C — prize. “reward” means n. something given in return for good work or behavior. Study “reward” →
Please ______ the spilled milk off the table with this clean cloth.
C — wipe. “wipe” means v. to clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth or one''s hand. Study “wipe” →
Select the best synonym for the word “helpful”:
B — useful. “helpful” means adj. providing assistance or serving a useful function. Study “helpful” →
The new medicine brought great relief to every ______ of the disease.
A — sufferer. “sufferer” means n. a person who experiences pain or hardship. Study “sufferer” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unsuccessful”:
B — failed. “unsuccessful” means adj. not achieving the desired outcome. Study “unsuccessful” →
The kneeling prisoner begged the king for ______ and a lighter sentence.
C — mercy. “mercy” means n. compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone. Study “mercy” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “optical”:
A — visual. “optical” means adj. related to sight or vision. Study “optical” →
The weary soldiers defended the mighty stone ______ against the attackers.
C — fortress. “fortress” means n. a large, strong building used for defense. Study “fortress” →
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.