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 “relaxation”:
D — ease. “relaxation” means n. the state of being free from tension and anxiety. Study “relaxation” →
Drivers must slow down and go very carefully around the busy ______.
A — roundabout. “roundabout” means n. a circular intersection or road junction. Study “roundabout” →
Select the best synonym for the word “problem”:
A — issue. “problem” means n. a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful. Study “problem” →
The huge, sudden flood was a ______ that destroyed hundreds of homes.
D — disaster. “disaster” means n. a sudden event causing great damage or suffering. Study “disaster” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “whole”:
D — entire. “whole” means adj. complete or entire. Study “whole” →
The ______ winter wind made her shiver inside her thin cotton coat.
D — cold. “cold” means adj. having a low temperature. Study “cold” →
Select the best synonym for the word “similarity”:
A — resemblance. “similarity” means n. the state of being alike. Study “similarity” →
She ______ turned down the exciting job because it was simply too far away.
C — regretfully. “regretfully” means adv. in a way that shows you are sorry. Study “regretfully” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “touched”:
D — moved. “touched” means adj. emotionally affected or moved. Study “touched” →
The young scientist made a ______ discovery that surprised the whole world.
A — notable. “notable” means adj. worthy of attention or notice. Study “notable” →
Select the best synonym for the word “feeling”:
A — emotion. “feeling” means n. an emotional state or reaction. Study “feeling” →
The steep winding road had many sharp ______ as it climbed the hill.
B — turn. “turn” means n. plural of turn; changes in direction or position. Study “turn” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “sign”:
D — symbol. “sign” means n. a symbol or gesture that conveys information. Study “sign” →
The eager young man decided to join the ______ and serve his country.
B — military. “military” means adj. relating to soldiers or the armed forces. Study “military” →
Select the best synonym for the word “compelling”:
B — convincing. “compelling” means adj. very interesting; convincing. Study “compelling” →
The rough player received a ______ for pushing another during the game.
A — penalty. “penalty” means n. a punishment for breaking a rule or law. Study “penalty” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “resident”:
C — inhabitant. “resident” means n. people who live in a particular place. Study “resident” →
She was fully ______ for the exam after many weeks of careful study.
B — ready. “ready” means adj. prepared for what is going to happen. Study “ready” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “district”:
C — region. “district” means n. an area of a country or city, especially one regarded as a distinct unit. Study “district” →
The soft gray mist gave the quiet forest a strange, ______ feeling.
A — dreamlike. “dreamlike” means adj. having a quality of a dream. Study “dreamlike” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unsuitable”:
C — inappropriate. “unsuitable” means adj. not appropriate for a particular purpose. Study “unsuitable” →
A very high fever is often ______ of a serious hidden infection.
A — indicative. “indicative” means adj. serving as a sign or indication of something. Study “indicative” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “none”:
A — nothing. “none” means pron. not any; no part. Study “none” →
The ______ rainforest is warm and very wet throughout the entire year.
A — equatorial. “equatorial” means adj. relating to or near the equator. Study “equatorial” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lethargy”:
D — fatigue. “lethargy” means n. a state of sluggishness or inactivity. Study “lethargy” →
The ancient message was ______ in a strange language no one could read.
B — written. “written” means adj. expressed in writing. Study “written” →
Select the best synonym for the word “exactly”:
B — precisely. “exactly” means adv. in a correct or accurate way. Study “exactly” →
The little stream ______ to flow gently all year long, in every season.
C — continues. “continues” means v. to keep happening or doing something without stopping. Study “continues” →
Select the best synonym for the word “persuasion”:
A — influence. “persuasion” means n. the act of convincing someone to do or believe something. Study “persuasion” →
Because it is so very far away, we visit that old town quite ______.
D — infrequently. “infrequently” means adv. not often. Study “infrequently” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “omit”:
A — exclude. “omit” means v. to leave out or exclude. Study “omit” →
The party balloon was filled with a light ______ that made it float upward.
D — gas. “gas” means n. a substance in a form like air. Study “gas” →
Select the best synonym for the word “suddenly”:
A — unexpectedly. “suddenly” means adv. quickly and unexpectedly. Study “suddenly” →
The lost hikers were quite unsure of which ______ they should walk.
B — direction. “direction” means n. the course or path on which something is moving or pointing. Study “direction” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “watching”:
B — observing. “watching” means v. looking at something attentively. Study “watching” →
The garden looked especially ______ with its neat rows of red roses.
A — attractive. “attractive” means adj. pleasing or appealing to the senses. Study “attractive” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “departure”:
B — exit. “departure” means n. the act of leaving. Study “departure” →
There was a ______ green light glowing in the abandoned old house.
B — weird. “weird” means adj. strange or unusual. Study “weird” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unaffected”:
B — unchanged. “unaffected” means adj. not changed or influenced by something. Study “unaffected” →
She likes to ______ the fresh flowers neatly in a tall glass vase.
B — arrange. “arrange” means v. to put things in a neat, attractive, or required order. Study “arrange” →
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.