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 “plan”:
A — scheme. “plan” means n. a set of actions for achieving something. Study “plan” →
The new machine has the ______ to sort a thousand letters an hour.
A — capability. “capability” means n. the ability to do something. Study “capability” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “command”:
C — order. “command” means v. to give an order. Study “command” →
The children were absolutely ______ when they saw the puppy under the tree.
B — delighted. “delighted” means adj. very pleased. Study “delighted” →
Select the best synonym for the word “formally”:
B — officially. “formally” means adv. in a formal manner. Study “formally” →
Good rich soil and steady rain help the fast ______ of the young plants.
D — growth. “growth” means n. the process of increasing in size. Study “growth” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shapeless”:
B — formless. “shapeless” means adj. without a clear form or shape. Study “shapeless” →
The happy ______ played in the park until the sun finally went down.
B — children. “children” means n. young human beings below the age of puberty. Study “children” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “equatorial”:
B — tropical. “equatorial” means adj. relating to or near the equator. Study “equatorial” →
The nervous gray cat crept ______ toward the strange new object.
A — warily. “warily” means adv. cautiously or carefully. Study “warily” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “regulation”:
A — directive. “regulation” means n. a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority. Study “regulation” →
The students walked across the green ______ to reach the main library.
C — campus. “campus” means n. the grounds and buildings of a university or college. Study “campus” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “doubt”:
C — question. “doubt” means v. to feel uncertain about something. Study “doubt” →
She was very glad to find that her very first answer was ______ after all.
C — right. “right” means adj. correct or true; in accordance with fact or reality. Study “right” →
Select the best synonym for the word “warily”:
A — cautiously. “warily” means adv. cautiously or carefully. Study “warily” →
The bright new ______ library is open to everyone in the whole town.
D — public. “public” means adj. relating to or involving people in general. Study “public” →
Select the best synonym for the word “statement”:
A — declaration. “statement” means n. something that is said or written formally. Study “statement” →
A wise queen must ______ her land with both fairness and strength.
D — govern. “govern” means v. to conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of a state, organization, or people. Study “govern” →
Select the best synonym for the word “determine”:
B — ascertain. “determine” means v. to decide or conclude. Study “determine” →
The small fire spread ______ through the dry, dead summer grass.
A — rapidly. “rapidly” means adv. very quickly; at a fast pace. Study “rapidly” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “curse”:
B — swear. “curse” means v. to use rude or offensive words. Study “curse” →
The proud chef held every single dish to a very high ______ of quality.
A — standard. “standard” means n. a level of quality or norm. Study “standard” →
Select the best synonym for the word “middle-class”:
A — bourgeois. “middle-class” means adj. relating to the social group between the upper and working classes. Study “middle-class” →
The strange, ______ painting showed melting clocks and floating silver fish.
A — surrealistic. “surrealistic” means adj. having a dream-like or unreal quality. Study “surrealistic” →
Select the best synonym for the word “period”:
A — duration. “period” means n. a length or portion of time. Study “period” →
She bought a cheap ______ bicycle instead of an expensive brand-new one.
C — used. “used” means adj. not new; having been used before. Study “used” →
Select the best synonym for the word “slick”:
C — sleek. “slick” means adj. smooth and glossy; skillful and clever. Study “slick” →
A light cork will always ______ on the very top of the water.
C — float. “float” means v. to rest or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking. Study “float” →
Select the best synonym for the word “consume”:
B — devour. “consume” means v. to use up or eat. Study “consume” →
New problems may ______ if we do not plan the whole trip carefully.
D — arise. “arise” means v. to begin to occur or to exist. Study “arise” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “trade”:
D — commerce. “trade” means n. the action of buying and selling goods and services. Study “trade” →
She hung a beautiful ______ of the blue ocean above the stone fireplace.
C — picture. “picture” means n. a painting, drawing, or photograph. Study “picture” →
Select the best synonym for the word “courage”:
D — bravery. “courage” means n. the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery. Study “courage” →
The narrow, ______ road curved back and forth all the way up the steep hill.
D — winding. “winding” means adj. having a twisting or spiral course. Study “winding” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “aspect”:
A — feature. “aspect” means n. a particular part or feature of something. Study “aspect” →
The wise old leader spent his whole life on ______ between rival tribes.
A — peacemaking. “peacemaking” means n. the process of establishing peace. Study “peacemaking” →
Select the best synonym for the word “remarkable”:
C — notable. “remarkable” means adj. worthy of attention; striking. Study “remarkable” →
She felt terribly ______ for forgetting her very best friend's birthday.
B — guilty. “guilty” means adj. feeling responsible for a wrongdoing. Study “guilty” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “sink”:
D — submerge. “sink” means v. to go down below the surface of water. Study “sink” →
The eager runners lined up at the start of the oval racing ______.
B — track. “track” means n. a path or course laid out for running or racing. Study “track” →
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.