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 “shifting”:
C — variable. “shifting” means adj. changing position or direction. Study “shifting” →
The kind gift came from a secret, ______ donor who wished to stay hidden.
B — unnamed. “unnamed” means adj. not having a name or not named. Study “unnamed” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “onlooker”:
A — bystander. “onlooker” means n. a person who watches something happen but is not involved. Study “onlooker” →
He was so stubborn that he would ______ admit that he was wrong.
A — never. “never” means adv. not ever; at no time. Study “never” →
Select the best synonym for the word “place”:
A — location. “place” means n. a particular position or area. Study “place” →
The dry, cracked field soil was clearly ______ in water and nutrients.
D — wanting. “wanting” means adj. lacking or missing something. Study “wanting” →
Select the best synonym for the word “seeing”:
A — sight. “seeing” means n. the act of perceiving with the eyes. Study “seeing” →
The ______ child stubbornly refused to eat any vegetable that was green.
B — picky. “picky” means adj. very careful or too careful about choosing or accepting things. Study “picky” →
Select the best synonym for the word “eating”:
A — dining. “eating” means n. the act of consuming food. Study “eating” →
The ______ puppy chewed the shoes even after being firmly told to stop.
D — disobedient. “disobedient” means adj. not following rules or instructions. Study “disobedient” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “thoughtful”:
B — considerate. “thoughtful” means adj. showing consideration for others. Study “thoughtful” →
The ice on the pond was far too ______ to safely skate on.
C — thin. “thin” means adj. having a small distance between sides. Study “thin” →
Select the best synonym for the word “emotion”:
D — feeling. “emotion” means n. a strong feeling such as love or anger. Study “emotion” →
The lifeguard blew his whistle as a ______ for everyone to leave the water.
B — signal. “signal” means n. a gesture or sound used to convey information. Study “signal” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unfairness”:
D — injustice. “unfairness” means n. the state of being unjust or unequal. Study “unfairness” →
Countries lying near the ______ are usually very hot all year round.
D — equator. “equator” means n. an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. Study “equator” →
Select the best synonym for the word “paralyze”:
A — immobilize. “paralyze” means v. to make unable to move or act. Study “paralyze” →
The very rare gold coin had a very high ______ to eager collectors.
C — value. “value” means n. the worth of something in money or usefulness. Study “value” →
Select the best synonym for the word “excite”:
B — thrill. “excite” means v. to cause strong feelings of enthusiasm or eagerness. Study “excite” →
The official signed the paper to ______ that all the results were correct.
C — certify. “certify” means v. to confirm or verify something as true. Study “certify” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “prophetic”:
D — predictive. “prophetic” means adj. accurately predicting what will happen in the future. Study “prophetic” →
Please ______ your wet, dripping coat on the hook right by the door.
C — hang. “hang” means v. to attach something so that it is held up without support from below. Study “hang” →
Select the best synonym for the word “without”:
A — lacking. “without” means prep. not having or including something. Study “without” →
The country faced serious ______ problems after all the factories closed.
D — economic. “economic” means adj. related to the economy or money. Study “economic” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “prospect”:
D — possibility. “prospect” means n. the possibility of future success. Study “prospect” →
Parking in that spot is a minor ______ that carries only a small fine.
A — offense. “offense” means n. a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act. Study “offense” →
Select the best synonym for the word “sharpness”:
C — keenness. “sharpness” means n. the quality of being sharp. Study “sharpness” →
The famous museum proudly displayed the ______ painting, not a mere copy.
B — original. “original” means adj. existing from the beginning; n. the first form of something. Study “original” →
Select the best synonym for the word “college”:
D — university. “college” means n. a school for higher education. Study “college” →
The heavy rain caused a terrible ______ that swept away the old bridge.
D — flood. “flood” means n. a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry. Study “flood” →
Select the best synonym for the word “suffer”:
C — endure. “suffer” means v. to experience pain or hardship. Study “suffer” →
A good leader must be ______ and act without any endless delay.
D — decisive. “decisive” means adj. able to make decisions quickly and confidently. Study “decisive” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “times”:
D — occasions. “times” means n. instances or occasions. Study “times” →
She felt a sudden wave of ______ before her big class speech.
A — apprehension. “apprehension” means n. anxiety or fear about the future. Study “apprehension” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “subtlety”:
B — nuance. “subtlety” means n. the quality of being delicate or precise. Study “subtlety” →
Most of her small monthly ______ went straight toward paying the rent.
D — income. “income” means n. money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments. Study “income” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “prolonged”:
B — extended. “prolonged” means adj. continuing for a long time. Study “prolonged” →
The thief was sent to ______ for stealing the expensive royal jewels.
B — jail. “jail” means n. a place where people are kept as punishment for a crime. Study “jail” →
Select the best synonym for the word “discharge”:
B — release. “discharge” means v. to release or allow to leave. Study “discharge” →
He woke up very ______ to watch the beautiful golden sunrise.
C — early. “early” means adj./adv. happening or done before the usual or expected time. Study “early” →
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.