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ISEE Basic Level Practice Test 39

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.

Question 1 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “weird”:

  1. A normal
  2. B bizarre
  3. C ordinary
  4. D typical
Show answer

B — bizarre. “weird” means adj. strange or unusual. Study “weird” →

Question 2 · Sentence Completion

It took three long weeks to ______ the difficult jigsaw puzzle.

  1. A complete
  2. B begin
  3. C start
  4. D abandon
Show answer

A — complete. “complete” means adj. having all parts; v. to finish. Study “complete” →

Question 3 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “principle”:

  1. A tenet
  2. B consequence
  3. C detail
  4. D exception
Show answer

A — tenet. “principle” means n. a fundamental truth or proposition serving as the foundation for belief or action. Study “principle” →

Question 4 · Sentence Completion

The ______ growth of the young city surprised everyone in just a few years.

  1. A slow
  2. B gradual
  3. C sluggish
  4. D rapid
Show answer

D — rapid. “rapid” means adj. happening in a short time or at a fast pace. Study “rapid” →

Question 5 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “unnecessary”:

  1. A necessary
  2. B essential
  3. C required
  4. D needless
Show answer

D — needless. “unnecessary” means adj. not needed or required. Study “unnecessary” →

Question 6 · Sentence Completion

The ______ old judge was widely known for her fairness and deep wisdom.

  1. A hated
  2. B despised
  3. C respected
  4. D ignored
Show answer

C — respected. “respected” means adj. admired and considered important. Study “respected” →

Question 7 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “enumerate”:

  1. A itemize
  2. B conceal
  3. C obscure
  4. D jumble
Show answer

A — itemize. “enumerate” means v. to list things one by one. Study “enumerate” →

Question 8 · Sentence Completion

Though he was ______, the wise old farmer knew a great deal about the land.

  1. A learned
  2. B uneducated
  3. C schooled
  4. D scholarly
Show answer

B — uneducated. “uneducated” means adj. lacking education or knowledge. Study “uneducated” →

Question 9 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “disapprove”:

  1. A favor
  2. B endorse
  3. C object
  4. D approve
Show answer

C — object. “disapprove” means v. to have a negative opinion about something. Study “disapprove” →

Question 10 · Sentence Completion

After the very long march, the soldiers felt deep ______ in every muscle.

  1. A energy
  2. B vigor
  3. C freshness
  4. D fatigue
Show answer

D — fatigue. “fatigue” means n. extreme tiredness. Study “fatigue” →

Question 11 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “unexpectedly”:

  1. A predictably
  2. B suddenly
  3. C gradually
  4. D deliberately
Show answer

B — suddenly. “unexpectedly” means adv. in a way that was not expected. Study “unexpectedly” →

Question 12 · Sentence Completion

They agreed to ______ at the corner coffee shop right after work.

  1. A meet
  2. B avoid
  3. C ignore
  4. D part
Show answer

A — meet. “meet” means v. to come together with someone. Study “meet” →

Question 13 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “badger”:

  1. A mammal
  2. B reptile
  3. C insect
  4. D bird
Show answer

A — mammal. “badger” means n. a burrowing animal with a broad back and thick fur. Study “badger” →

Question 14 · Sentence Completion

Bright stars slowly began to ______ in the darkening evening sky.

  1. A vanish
  2. B disappear
  3. C fade
  4. D appear
Show answer

D — appear. “appear” means v. to become visible. Study “appear” →

Question 15 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “provider”:

  1. A consumer
  2. B borrower
  3. C supplier
  4. D recipient
Show answer

C — supplier. “provider” means n. a person or thing that supplies something. Study “provider” →

Question 16 · Sentence Completion

It was very ______ of him to spread the cruel rumor about his rival.

  1. A spiteful
  2. B kind
  3. C gentle
  4. D generous
Show answer

A — spiteful. “spiteful” means adj. showing a desire to harm or annoy. Study “spiteful” →

Question 17 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “represent”:

  1. A symbolize
  2. B ignore
  3. C conceal
  4. D oppose
Show answer

A — symbolize. “represent” means v. to act or speak for someone or something. Study “represent” →

Question 18 · Sentence Completion

It was a truly ______ idea to try to fly across town using an umbrella.

  1. A sensible
  2. B ridiculous
  3. C wise
  4. D reasonable
Show answer

B — ridiculous. “ridiculous” means adj. very silly or unreasonable. Study “ridiculous” →

Question 19 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “remorseful”:

  1. A proud
  2. B indifferent
  3. C unrepentant
  4. D regretful
Show answer

D — regretful. “remorseful” means adj. filled with regret or guilt. Study “remorseful” →

Question 20 · Sentence Completion

The ______ new engine could easily pull a hundred heavy railway cars.

  1. A powerful
  2. B weak
  3. C feeble
  4. D frail
Show answer

A — powerful. “powerful” means adj. having great strength or influence. Study “powerful” →

Question 21 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “gifted”:

  1. A incompetent
  2. B mediocre
  3. C untalented
  4. D talented
Show answer

D — talented. “gifted” means adj. having exceptional talent or natural ability. Study “gifted” →

Question 22 · Sentence Completion

This new little car uses ______ fuel than the old one ever did.

  1. A more
  2. B extra
  3. C less
  4. D greater
Show answer

C — less. “less” means adj. a smaller amount of; not as much. Study “less” →

Question 23 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “used”:

  1. A new
  2. B fresh
  3. C pristine
  4. D secondhand
Show answer

D — secondhand. “used” means adj. not new; having been used before. Study “used” →

Question 24 · Sentence Completion

After the long hike, he had a huge ______ and ate two whole dinners.

  1. A appetite
  2. B fear
  3. C doubt
  4. D sorrow
Show answer

A — appetite. “appetite” means n. a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food. Study “appetite” →

Question 25 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “distrustful”:

  1. A faithful
  2. B trusting
  3. C suspicious
  4. D confident
Show answer

C — suspicious. “distrustful” means adj. feeling or showing distrust of someone or something. Study “distrustful” →

Question 26 · Sentence Completion

At this very high ______, the air is thin and it is hard to breathe.

  1. A depth
  2. B elevation
  3. C weight
  4. D width
Show answer

B — elevation. “elevation” means n. height above a given level. Study “elevation” →

Question 27 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “pretense”:

  1. A honesty
  2. B facade
  3. C sincerity
  4. D truth
Show answer

B — facade. “pretense” means n. a false reason or explanation. Study “pretense” →

Question 28 · Sentence Completion

The wool sweater will ______ if you carelessly wash it in very hot water.

  1. A grow
  2. B shrink
  3. C expand
  4. D stretch
Show answer

B — shrink. “shrink” means v. to become smaller in size. Study “shrink” →

Question 29 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “inferential”:

  1. A factual
  2. B deductive
  3. C literal
  4. D explicit
Show answer

B — deductive. “inferential” means adj. relating to or involving inference. Study “inferential” →

Question 30 · Sentence Completion

The two proud knights prepared to ______ for the honor of the kingdom.

  1. A flee
  2. B surrender
  3. C fight
  4. D hide
Show answer

C — fight. “fight” means v. to use physical force to try to defeat someone. Study “fight” →

Question 31 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “tiredness”:

  1. A fatigue
  2. B energy
  3. C vigor
  4. D alertness
Show answer

A — fatigue. “tiredness” means n. the state of being tired. Study “tiredness” →

Question 32 · Sentence Completion

After many months of training, her arms grew much ______ than before.

  1. A weaker
  2. B stronger
  3. C softer
  4. D frailer
Show answer

B — stronger. “stronger” means adj. more strong. Study “stronger” →

Question 33 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “original”:

  1. A authentic
  2. B fake
  3. C counterfeit
  4. D imitation
Show answer

A — authentic. “original” means adj. existing from the beginning; n. the first form of something. Study “original” →

Question 34 · Sentence Completion

The teacher asked her to ______ all the countries in Europe one by one.

  1. A hide
  2. B forget
  3. C enumerate
  4. D ignore
Show answer

C — enumerate. “enumerate” means v. to list things one by one. Study “enumerate” →

Question 35 · Synonym

Select the best synonym for the word “sharp”:

  1. A keen
  2. B dull
  3. C blunt
  4. D flat
Show answer

A — keen. “sharp” means adj. having a thin edge or point that can cut. Study “sharp” →

Question 36 · Sentence Completion

The ______ design of the new electric car surprised everyone at the show.

  1. A outdated
  2. B old-fashioned
  3. C ordinary
  4. D innovative
Show answer

D — innovative. “innovative” means adj. introducing new ideas or methods. Study “innovative” →

Question 37 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “bone”:

  1. A skeleton
  2. B muscle
  3. C skin
  4. D blood
Show answer

A — skeleton. “bone” means n. the hard parts inside a body that make up the skeleton. Study “bone” →

Question 38 · Sentence Completion

Without any real clues, she could only ______ where the treasure was hidden.

  1. A guess
  2. B prove
  3. C know
  4. D calculate
Show answer

A — guess. “guess” means v. to form an opinion or give an answer about something when you do not know much about it. Study “guess” →

Question 39 · Synonym

Choose the best synonym for the word “rot”:

  1. A grow
  2. B flourish
  3. C decay
  4. D ripen
Show answer

C — decay. “rot” means v. to decay or decompose. Study “rot” →

Question 40 · Sentence Completion

The artist painted a beautiful ______ of the smiling, gray-haired old woman.

  1. A rumor
  2. B melody
  3. C portrait
  4. D machine
Show answer

C — portrait. “portrait” means n. a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person. Study “portrait” →

Practice Test 39 FAQ

Is this a real, previously administered ISEE test?

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.

How many questions are on Basic Level Practice Test 39?

40 — 20 synonym questions and 20 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.

Does this test repeat questions from other iSEE Vocab practice tests?

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.

Should I guess if I don't know an answer?

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.

This test
40 questions
Basic Level · foundation words
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