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 “environment”:
B — surroundings. “environment” means n. the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives. Study “environment” →
The grand marble mansion belonged to a wealthy ______ family.
D — upper-class. “upper-class” means adj. belonging to the highest social class. Study “upper-class” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “impulse”:
A — urge. “impulse” means n. a sudden strong desire to do something. Study “impulse” →
You can always ______ a loyal friend to keep your secrets perfectly safe.
D — trust. “trust” means v. to believe in the reliability of someone or something. Study “trust” →
Select the best synonym for the word “fake”:
C — counterfeit. “fake” means adj. not real; made to look like something else. Study “fake” →
The young prince chose to ______ his claim to the throne and live simply.
D — renounce. “renounce” means v. to formally give up or reject something. Study “renounce” →
Select the best synonym for the word “bitter”:
B — acrid. “bitter” means adj. having a sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling. Study “bitter” →
The very unfair decision caused a huge ______ among the angry home fans.
C — uproar. “uproar” means n. a loud and impassioned noise or disturbance. Study “uproar” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “middle”:
A — center. “middle” means n. the central point or part. Study “middle” →
The little rabbit escaped through a small ______ in the wooden fence.
D — opening. “opening” means n. a hole or space that something can pass through. Study “opening” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “certify”:
C — verify. “certify” means v. to confirm or verify something as true. Study “certify” →
He was filled with heavy ______ after telling the hurtful, needless lie.
A — guilt. “guilt” means n. a feeling of having done something wrong. Study “guilt” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “honesty”:
B — sincerity. “honesty” means n. the quality of being honest. Study “honesty” →
Good schools work very hard to ______ children about the wider world.
B — educate. “educate” means v. to teach or train someone. Study “educate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “contemplative”:
C — reflective. “contemplative” means adj. deeply thoughtful. Study “contemplative” →
The patient artist used a small knife to ______ a bird from the block of wood.
C — carve. “carve” means v. to cut something into a shape. Study “carve” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “straightforward”:
D — simple. “straightforward” means adj. easy to understand or simple. Study “straightforward” →
Her whole plan rested on the ______ that prices would keep rising forever.
B — supposition. “supposition” means n. an idea or theory that you believe is true even though you do not have proof. Study “supposition” →
Select the best synonym for the word “designing”:
A — scheming. “designing” means adj. planning with a specific purpose. Study “designing” →
The ______ singer drew a huge cheering crowd wherever she went.
A — famous. “famous” means adj. known about by many people. Study “famous” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “overcharge”:
A — overbill. “overcharge” means v. to charge too much money. Study “overcharge” →
The excited puppy ran ______ around the yard chasing its own tail.
A — energetically. “energetically” means adv. in a manner showing energy or enthusiasm. Study “energetically” →
Select the best synonym for the word “inside”:
B — within. “inside” means adv. or prep. in or into the inner part of something. Study “inside” →
Herds of wild zebras grazed across the wide, open ______.
D — grassland. “grassland” means n. a large open area of country covered with grass. Study “grassland” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “exploiting”:
D — manipulating. “exploiting” means v. using someone or something unfairly for one''s own benefit. Study “exploiting” →
The magician's ______ final trick left the whole audience gasping loudly.
B — shocking. “shocking” means adj. causing intense surprise or disgust. Study “shocking” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “inactive”:
A — idle. “inactive” means adj. not doing anything; not active. Study “inactive” →
She took a few very careful ______ across the slippery, icy path.
D — steps. “steps” means n. movements made by lifting your foot and putting it down in a different place. Study “steps” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “raise”:
C — lift. “raise” means v. to lift or move something to a higher position. Study “raise” →
The careful scientist paused to ______ the exact temperature every hour.
A — record. “record” means v. to write down or store information. Study “record” →
Select the best synonym for the word “internal”:
A — interior. “internal” means adj. located on the inside. Study “internal” →
It was very hard to ______ just one dessert from the huge menu.
B — choose. “choose” means v. to select from a number of possibilities. Study “choose” →
Select the best synonym for the word “regret”:
A — lament. “regret” means v. to feel sorry about something. Study “regret” →
The recipe was so ______ that even a young child could easily follow it.
C — simple. “simple” means adj. easy to understand or do. Study “simple” →
Select the best synonym for the word “wipe”:
C — mop. “wipe” means v. to clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth or one''s hand. Study “wipe” →
The two fastest runners lined up at the very start of the big ______.
B — race. “race” means n. a competition of speed. Study “race” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “movie”:
A — film. “movie” means n. a film or motion picture. Study “movie” →
Through every hardship, her ______ courage and hope never once faded.
D — unwavering. “unwavering” means adj. steady and resolute. Study “unwavering” →
Select the best synonym for the word “forthcoming”:
A — upcoming. “forthcoming” means adj. about to happen or appear. Study “forthcoming” →
The whole family waved sadly at his ______ on the late night train.
A — departure. “departure” means n. the act of leaving. Study “departure” →
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.