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 “habit”:
A — routine. “habit” means n. a regular behavior or practice. Study “habit” →
The tall glass ______ towered high above all the others downtown.
B — building. “building” means n. a structure with walls and a roof, such as a house or factory. Study “building” →
Select the best synonym for the word “anger”:
D — rage. “anger” means n. a strong feeling of annoyance or hostility. Study “anger” →
The excited young dog loves to ______ the ball across the wide green park.
C — chase. “chase” means v. to run after someone or something in order to catch them. Study “chase” →
Select the best synonym for the word “communal”:
B — shared. “communal” means adj. shared by a group. Study “communal” →
The two old friends worked ______ to finish the big puzzle much faster.
C — together. “together” means adv. with each other. Study “together” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “enthusiastic”:
C — eager. “enthusiastic” means adj. having or showing intense and eager enjoyment or interest. Study “enthusiastic” →
The worried doctor warned that the strange disease was highly ______.
C — infectious. “infectious” means adj. likely to spread infection. Study “infectious” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “reserved”:
D — reticent. “reserved” means adj. slow to reveal emotion or opinions. Study “reserved” →
He slammed the heavy door ______ after losing the long argument.
B — angrily. “angrily” means adv. in a manner showing strong displeasure or hostility. Study “angrily” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “lifeless”:
A — inanimate. “lifeless” means adj. without life; not lively. Study “lifeless” →
The clear photograph was ______ proof of exactly what had happened.
B — indisputable. “indisputable” means adj. impossible to doubt or question. Study “indisputable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “pungent”:
D — acrid. “pungent” means adj. having a strong, sharp smell or taste. Study “pungent” →
The heavy roof of the old temple rested on a tall stone ______.
A — pillar. “pillar” means n. a strong column that supports a building. Study “pillar” →
Select the best synonym for the word “hint”:
C — clue. “hint” means n. a small piece of advice or suggestion. Study “hint” →
You have to ______ the metal lid quite hard to open the very tight jar.
B — twist. “twist” means v. to turn something in a circular motion. Study “twist” →
Select the best synonym for the word “divergence”:
B — deviation. “divergence” means n. the process or state of diverging. Study “divergence” →
The dusty old painting turned out to be far more ______ than anyone guessed.
B — valuable. “valuable” means adj. worth a lot of money or very useful. Study “valuable” →
Select the best synonym for the word “works”:
A — creations. “works” means n. creations or achievements, especially in art or literature. Study “works” →
The very clever parrot could ______ almost any sound that it happened to hear.
C — imitate. “imitate” means v. to copy the actions, appearance, or behavior of someone or something. Study “imitate” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “relying”:
B — depending. “relying” means v. present participle of rely; depending on with full trust or confidence. Study “relying” →
Skilled gardeners sometimes ______ two roses to create a brand-new color.
B — crossbreed. “crossbreed” means v. to produce an animal or plant by mating or hybridizing two different species or varieties. Study “crossbreed” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “fumble”:
A — bungle. “fumble” means v. to handle something clumsily. Study “fumble” →
The eagle swooped down to ______ the small fish in its sharp claws.
B — seize. “seize” means v. to take hold of something quickly and firmly. Study “seize” →
Select the best synonym for the word “thick”:
C — dense. “thick” means adj. having a large distance between sides. Study “thick” →
Breakfast is the very first ______ of the day for most busy people.
A — meal. “meal” means n. an occasion when food is eaten (note: typo in word list). Study “meal” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “exterior”:
D — external. “exterior” means adj. relating to the outside of something. Study “exterior” →
After the very good harvest, fresh food was ______ in the whole village.
A — plentiful. “plentiful” means adj. existing in large amounts. Study “plentiful” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “upsetting”:
B — distressing. “upsetting” means adj. causing unhappiness or worry. Study “upsetting” →
He had to ______ the rusty old bolt very hard to finally loosen it.
D — wrench. “wrench” means v. to pull or twist something suddenly and violently. Study “wrench” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “all-inclusive”:
A — comprehensive. “all-inclusive” means adj. including everything. Study “all-inclusive” →
The runners did some quick ______ stretches just before the big race.
C — preparatory. “preparatory” means adj. done in order to prepare for something. Study “preparatory” →
Select the best synonym for the word “naughty”:
A — disobedient. “naughty” means adj. behaving badly or disobediently. Study “naughty” →
The angry people rose up against the cruel and deeply ______ new law.
C — unjust. “unjust” means adj. not fair or reasonable. Study “unjust” →
Select the best synonym for the word “race”:
D — competition. “race” means n. a competition of speed. Study “race” →
As the ship's captain, she had the ______ to give orders to the crew.
D — authority. “authority” means n. the power or right to give orders or make decisions. Study “authority” →
Select the best synonym for the word “jail”:
C — prison. “jail” means n. a place where people are kept as punishment for a crime. Study “jail” →
Salt water can slowly ______ the metal parts of an old wooden ship.
B — corrode. “corrode” means v. to destroy or damage slowly by chemical action. Study “corrode” →
Select the best synonym for the word “arrange”:
B — organize. “arrange” means v. to put things in a neat, attractive, or required order. Study “arrange” →
The skilled tailor will ______ the sleeves so the coat fits him better.
C — lengthen. “lengthen” means v. to make longer. Study “lengthen” →
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.