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 “market”:
A — bazaar. “market” means n. a place where people buy and sell goods. Study “market” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “capability”:
A — capacity. “capability” means n. the ability to do something. Study “capability” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “multiple”:
A — numerous. “multiple” means adj. having or involving several parts, elements, or members. Study “multiple” →
Select the best synonym for the word “mumble”:
A — mutter. “mumble” means v. to speak quietly and not clearly. Study “mumble” →
Select the best synonym for the word “glowing”:
B — radiant. “glowing” means adj. producing a steady light or heat. Study “glowing” →
Select the best synonym for the word “decorative”:
A — ornamental. “decorative” means adj. serving to make something look more attractive. Study “decorative” →
Select the best synonym for the word “detain”:
B — restrain. “detain” means v. to hold back or keep someone from leaving. Study “detain” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “cure”:
D — heal. “cure” means v. to make someone with an illness healthy again. Study “cure” →
Select the best synonym for the word “arrival”:
D — advent. “arrival” means n. the act of coming to a place. Study “arrival” →
Select the best synonym for the word “observer”:
A — spectator. “observer” means n. a person who watches something. Study “observer” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “foresight”:
D — prescience. “foresight” means n. the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future. Study “foresight” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “calm”:
A — serene. “calm” means adj. not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions. Study “calm” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “less”:
C — fewer. “less” means adj. a smaller amount of; not as much. Study “less” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dig”:
A — excavate. “dig” means v. to break up and move earth with a tool or machine. Study “dig” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “surplus”:
B — excess. “surplus” means n. an amount that is more than what is needed. Study “surplus” →
Their long, quiet talk was ______ and helped them understand each other.
D — meaningful. “meaningful” means adj. having a serious, important, or useful quality or purpose. Study “meaningful” →
She closed her eyes to make a secret ______ before blowing out the candles.
C — wish. “wish” means v. to want something to happen or be true. Study “wish” →
She carefully checked off each ______ on her long shopping list.
D — item. “item” means n. a single thing in a list or collection. Study “item” →
Her main ______ was to finish the whole race before the sun set.
A — goal. “goal” means n. an aim or desired result. Study “goal” →
Wearing a warm winter coat can ______ the risk of catching a bad cold.
C — reduce. “reduce” means v. to make something smaller or less. Study “reduce” →
The old wooden drawer was ______ and would not open no matter how she pulled.
C — jammed. “jammed” means adj. stuck and unable to move. Study “jammed” →
The old soldier finally received the ______ he truly deserved for his bravery.
D — recognition. “recognition” means n. the act of identifying someone or something. Study “recognition” →
Green plants grow ______ toward the bright, warm sunlight.
B — naturally. “naturally” means adv. in a natural manner; as expected. Study “naturally” →
Only a ______ number of tickets were still left for the popular show.
A — limited. “limited” means adj. restricted in size, amount, or extent. Study “limited” →
After much gentle ______, he finally agreed to join the whole trip.
B — persuasion. “persuasion” means n. the act of convincing someone to do or believe something. Study “persuasion” →
The old proverb reminds us that ______ is truly believing.
B — seeing. “seeing” means n. the act of perceiving with the eyes. Study “seeing” →
The worried doctor warned that the ______ cat needed to lose some weight.
D — obese. “obese” means adj. very overweight. Study “obese” →
She spoke with a refreshing ______ that nearly everyone quietly admired.
C — frankness. “frankness” means n. the quality of being open, honest, and direct. Study “frankness” →
The wise old ______ ruled the whole land with fairness and kindness.
B — queen. “queen” means n. a female ruler of a country. Study “queen” →
The shop offered the old bike at a fair, ______ price that anyone could afford.
B — reasonable. “reasonable” means adj. fair and sensible. Study “reasonable” →
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.