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 “restrict”:
A — limit. “restrict” means v. to limit or control something. Study “restrict” →
Please ______ all the options carefully before you make your final decision.
A — consider. “consider” means v. to think about carefully. Study “consider” →
Select the best synonym for the word “severe”:
A — harsh. “severe” means adj. very bad or serious. Study “severe” →
The huge gray ______ used its long trunk to spray cool water.
A — elephant. “elephant” means n. a large animal with a trunk. Study “elephant” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “undamaged”:
B — intact. “undamaged” means adj. not harmed or broken. Study “undamaged” →
Being the shortest player was a real ______ in the tall basketball game.
B — disadvantage. “disadvantage” means n. an unfavorable condition or situation. Study “disadvantage” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shameful”:
D — disgraceful. “shameful” means adj. causing shame or disgrace. Study “shameful” →
The huge ______ of the elephant made the small wooden cart tip over.
D — bulk. “bulk” means n. the mass or size of something large. Study “bulk” →
Select the best synonym for the word “anticipation”:
B — expectation. “anticipation” means n. a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen. Study “anticipation” →
Too much ______ from a hard job can make it very hard to sleep at night.
C — stress. “stress” means n. a feeling of worry or tension. Study “stress” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “serve”:
D — assist. “serve” means v. to work for; to provide a service or product. Study “serve” →
It felt deeply ______ to abandon his oldest friend in her time of need.
B — disloyal. “disloyal” means adj. not loyal or faithful. Study “disloyal” →
Select the best synonym for the word “rotate”:
B — revolve. “rotate” means v. to turn around a central point. Study “rotate” →
Look before you leap is a wise old ______ about always being careful.
A — maxim. “maxim” means n. a short statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct. Study “maxim” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “split”:
B — divide. “split” means v. to divide or break into parts. Study “split” →
It took great ______ for the firefighter to run into the burning house.
B — courage. “courage” means n. the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery. Study “courage” →
Select the best synonym for the word “stormy”:
C — tempestuous. “stormy” means adj. characterized by strong winds and rain. Study “stormy” →
The tall glass was so ______ that a little water spilled over the top.
A — full. “full” means adj. containing or holding as much as possible. Study “full” →
Select the best synonym for the word “maze”:
A — labyrinth. “maze” means n. a complex network of paths or passages. Study “maze” →
Despite their many ______, the two old friends always got along well.
A — differences. “differences” means n. plural of difference; ways in which things are not the same. Study “differences” →
Select the best synonym for the word “secret”:
C — mystery. “secret” means n. something that is kept hidden or not known by others. Study “secret” →
The fair judge showed no ______ and treated everyone exactly the same.
D — partiality. “partiality” means n. a special liking for something or someone. Study “partiality” →
Select the best synonym for the word “disorderly”:
D — unruly. “disorderly” means adj. not organized or controlled. Study “disorderly” →
The sudden ______ of the fortress ended the long and bitter war.
C — taking. “taking” means n. the act of gaining possession. Study “taking” →
Select the best synonym for the word “earlier”:
D — previous. “earlier” means adj./adv. before the usual or expected time. Study “earlier” →
The company faced serious ______ trouble after losing its biggest client.
C — financial. “financial” means adj. related to money. Study “financial” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “corrosive”:
D — caustic. “corrosive” means adj. tending to cause corrosion. Study “corrosive” →
The ownership of the small field was ______ by two angry farming families.
B — disputed. “disputed” means adj. argued about or questioned. Study “disputed” →
Select the best synonym for the word “urgently”:
C — immediately. “urgently” means adv. in a way that requires immediate action or attention. Study “urgently” →
The frightened deer stood right at the very ______ of the steep cliff.
D — brink. “brink” means n. the edge or border of something. Study “brink” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “authorization”:
A — permission. “authorization” means n. official permission or approval. Study “authorization” →
Could you please ______ that difficult question in much simpler words?
D — rephrase. “rephrase” means v. to say or write something in a different way. Study “rephrase” →
Select the best synonym for the word “splendid”:
A — magnificent. “splendid” means adj. very impressive or beautiful. Study “splendid” →
Whether the painting is beautiful is a ______ opinion, not a solid fact.
B — subjective. “subjective” means adj. based on personal feelings or opinions. Study “subjective” →
Select the best synonym for the word “ability”:
B — skill. “ability” means n. the power or skill to do something. Study “ability” →
After being badly cheated, she grew ______ of every salesman she met.
B — distrustful. “distrustful” means adj. feeling or showing distrust of someone or something. Study “distrustful” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “countless”:
D — innumerable. “countless” means adj. too many to be counted; innumerable. Study “countless” →
Instead of seeking cruel ______, she wisely chose to forgive her enemy.
A — vengeance. “vengeance” means n. punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense. Study “vengeance” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “version”:
B — variant. “version” means n. a particular form of something differing in certain respects from an earlier form or other forms. Study “version” →
He carefully kept every important document in one neat ______.
B — file. “file” means n. a folder or box for holding papers. Study “file” →
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.