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 “assure”:
C — guarantee. “assure” means v. to tell someone something confidently to remove doubt. Study “assure” →
The heavy days of rain caused ______ flooding across many low towns.
B — widespread. “widespread” means adj. found or distributed over a large area. Study “widespread” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “amusement”:
C — entertainment. “amusement” means n. the state of finding something funny or entertaining. Study “amusement” →
Every single ______ of the exciting show sat on the very edge of their seat.
B — viewer. “viewer” means n. a person who watches something, especially television. Study “viewer” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “brighten”:
C — illuminate. “brighten” means v. to make or become more light or cheerful. Study “brighten” →
She tied a bright red ribbon at the very end of her long ______.
A — braid. “braid” means n. a length of hair or other material interwoven together. Study “braid” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “matching”:
A — coordinated. “matching” means adj. having the same color, pattern, or style. Study “matching” →
The strict new law changes some of the ______ rules about parking.
D — existing. “existing” means adj. currently present or in use. Study “existing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “affix”:
C — attach. “affix” means v. to attach or stick something to something else. Study “affix” →
By ______ calm during the fire, she helped everyone escape safely.
D — staying. “staying” means v. remaining in a place or situation. Study “staying” →
Select the best synonym for the word “momentous”:
A — significant. “momentous” means adj. very important or significant. Study “momentous” →
The two cars crashed in a terrible ______ on the icy road.
C — accident. “accident” means n. an unexpected event, often causing harm or injury. Study “accident” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “difficult”:
C — challenging. “difficult” means adj. needing much effort or skill to do or understand. Study “difficult” →
Try hard to ______ the rude comment and simply walk calmly away.
D — ignore. “ignore” means v. to pay no attention to something or someone. Study “ignore” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “murmur”:
A — whisper. “murmur” means v. to say something in a soft, quiet voice. Study “murmur” →
The slightest ______ of the deer made the quiet hunter freeze in place.
B — movement. “movement” means n. an act of changing physical location or position. Study “movement” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “perfect”:
A — flawless. “perfect” means adj. having all the required elements or qualities. Study “perfect” →
The ______ red curry was so hot that his eyes began to water.
A — spicy. “spicy” means adj. having a strong, hot flavor. Study “spicy” →
Select the best synonym for the word “boring”:
D — dull. “boring” means adj. not interesting; dull. Study “boring” →
The stingy old ______ refused to spend even a single coin on himself.
D — penny-pincher. “penny-pincher” means n. a person who is unwilling to spend money. Study “penny-pincher” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unidentified”:
C — unknown. “unidentified” means adj. not recognized or known. Study “unidentified” →
Remember to ______ your shoelaces tightly before you go out to run.
C — tie. “tie” means v. to fasten things together with a string or rope. Study “tie” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “sorrow”:
D — grief. “sorrow” means n. a feeling of deep distress caused by loss or disappointment. Study “sorrow” →
The ______ man disagreed with almost everything that anyone said.
C — argumentative. “argumentative” means adj. prone to arguing or disputing. Study “argumentative” →
Select the best synonym for the word “distract”:
A — divert. “distract” means v. to take someone''s attention away from something. Study “distract” →
A large ______ of rain fell during the heavy summer thunderstorm.
B — amount. “amount” means n. a quantity of something. Study “amount” →
Select the best synonym for the word “signal”:
A — cue. “signal” means n. a gesture or sound used to convey information. Study “signal” →
Because he ran so fast, his friends gave him the ______ Rocket.
B — nickname. “nickname” means n. a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing. Study “nickname” →
Select the best synonym for the word “income”:
C — earnings. “income” means n. money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments. Study “income” →
Each ______ at the party received a small gift to take home.
B — guest. “guest” means n. people who are invited to visit or stay in someone''s home. Study “guest” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unlimited”:
D — boundless. “unlimited” means adj. without any limits or restrictions. Study “unlimited” →
The main ______ at the big event talked for nearly a whole hour.
A — speaker. “speaker” means n. a person who talks or gives a speech. Study “speaker” →
Select the best synonym for the word “onto”:
A — upon. “onto” means prep. moving to a position on a surface. Study “onto” →
It is very ______ to swim in the deep river during a heavy storm.
A — dangerous. “dangerous” means adj. likely to cause harm or injury. Study “dangerous” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “thorough”:
D — meticulous. “thorough” means adj. complete and detailed. Study “thorough” →
The sudden ______ of her steady job was a great shock to the family.
A — loss. “loss” means n. the state of no longer having something. Study “loss” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “supportive”:
B — encouraging. “supportive” means adj. providing encouragement or emotional help. Study “supportive” →
There was great ______ when the lights suddenly went out in the theater.
B — confusion. “confusion” means n. a state of being unclear or not understood. Study “confusion” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “revision”:
C — amendment. “revision” means n. the act of changing or correcting something. Study “revision” →
The firefighters worked very quickly to ______ the roaring flames.
D — extinguish. “extinguish” means v. to put out a fire or light. Study “extinguish” →
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.