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 “manufacturing”:
A — production. “manufacturing” means n. the process of making products, especially with machines in factories. Study “manufacturing” →
The lights ______ went out, leaving the whole big house in total darkness.
B — suddenly. “suddenly” means adv. quickly and unexpectedly. Study “suddenly” →
Select the best synonym for the word “notice”:
A — observe. “notice” means v. to become aware of something. Study “notice” →
This is just one ______ of his many kind and generous acts.
B — instance. “instance” means n. an example or single occurrence of something. Study “instance” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “transmit”:
D — convey. “transmit” means v. to send or pass something from one person or place to another. Study “transmit” →
The ______ of the huge action movie took nearly three whole years.
B — production. “production” means n. the process of making or growing things to be sold. Study “production” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “fiber”:
A — strand. “fiber” means n. a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed. Study “fiber” →
The warm room and soft slow music made the whole class feel ______.
C — sleepy. “sleepy” means adj. feeling ready to sleep. Study “sleepy” →
Select the best synonym for the word “neglectful”:
A — careless. “neglectful” means adj. not giving enough care or attention to someone or something. Study “neglectful” →
The clever boy built a tiny ______ of a sailing ship out of thin wood.
D — model. “model” means n. a small copy of something; a person who poses for artists or photographers. Study “model” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “witty”:
B — clever. “witty” means adj. showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor. Study “witty” →
His ______ desk was covered in scattered papers, pens, and old cups.
C — disorganized. “disorganized” means adj. not arranged in a neat or orderly way. Study “disorganized” →
Select the best synonym for the word “special”:
A — unique. “special” means adj. better or different from usual. Study “special” →
The town held a huge ______ with bright fireworks on the summer holiday.
D — celebration. “celebration” means n. a special event or activity in honor of something. Study “celebration” →
Select the best synonym for the word “scold”:
A — reprimand. “scold” means v. to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong. Study “scold” →
Luckily, the driver walked away completely ______ from the terrible crash.
A — unharmed. “unharmed” means adj. not hurt or damaged. Study “unharmed” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “colonies”:
A — territories. “colonies” means n. territories controlled by another country. Study “colonies” →
Years of neglect led to the slow ______ of the beautiful old house.
B — deterioration. “deterioration” means n. the process of becoming worse. Study “deterioration” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “neglected”:
A — unattended. “neglected” means adj. not receiving enough care or attention. Study “neglected” →
The ______ microphone could easily pick up even the faintest whisper.
A — sensitive. “sensitive” means adj. quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences. Study “sensitive” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “longing”:
C — yearning. “longing” means n. a strong desire for something. Study “longing” →
The whole ______ celebrated its independence with bright fireworks.
A — nation. “nation” means n. a large group of people who live in the same country. Study “nation” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “maxim”:
A — adage. “maxim” means n. a short statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct. Study “maxim” →
It was a very ______ idea to bring an umbrella on such a cloudy day.
D — sensible. “sensible” means adj. having or showing good sense or judgment. Study “sensible” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “insufficient”:
C — inadequate. “insufficient” means adj. not enough; inadequate. Study “insufficient” →
Her complete ______ made everyone in the town trust her right away.
C — honesty. “honesty” means n. the quality of being honest. Study “honesty” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “characteristic”:
C — trait. “characteristic” means n. a feature or quality that makes something recognizable. Study “characteristic” →
With a ______ heart, the boy admitted that he had broken the old vase.
B — repentant. “repentant” means adj. feeling sorry for something wrong you have done. Study “repentant” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “balance”:
C — equilibrium. “balance” means n. a state where things are of equal weight or force. Study “balance” →
The sharp lawyer asked only ______ questions that related to the case.
A — relevant. “relevant” means adj. closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand. Study “relevant” →
Select the best synonym for the word “relocate”:
B — move. “relocate” means v. to move to a new place. Study “relocate” →
Her strict father frowned in clear ______ at the very messy room.
B — disapproval. “disapproval” means n. a feeling of not approving. Study “disapproval” →
Select the best synonym for the word “line”:
C — stripe. “line” means n. a long, narrow mark or band. Study “line” →
The ______ desert sands slowly buried the ancient ruined stone city.
D — shifting. “shifting” means adj. changing position or direction. Study “shifting” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “accuse”:
C — blame. “accuse” means v. to say that someone has done something wrong. Study “accuse” →
Losing his weekly allowance was a fair ______ for breaking the window.
A — punishment. “punishment” means n. a penalty given for a crime or bad behavior. Study “punishment” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “mythical”:
A — fictitious. “mythical” means adj. existing only in myths; not real. Study “mythical” →
The lawyer gave her wise ______ advice about the very difficult case.
A — legal. “legal” means adj. related to the law. Study “legal” →
Select the best synonym for the word “share”:
C — split. “share” means v. to have or use something with others. Study “share” →
The story's ______ tone made it feel like one long, boring lecture.
D — preachy. “preachy” means adj. trying to give moral advice in a tedious way. Study “preachy” →
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.