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 “misinterpret”:
A — misunderstand. “misinterpret” means v. to understand or explain something incorrectly. Study “misinterpret” →
A long green ______ slithered silently through the tall summer grass.
D — snake. “snake” means n. a long, legless reptile. Study “snake” →
Select the best synonym for the word “familiarize”:
D — acquaint. “familiarize” means v. to make someone aware of or comfortable with something. Study “familiarize” →
The strange old map sparked his deep ______ in hidden buried treasure.
D — interest. “interest” means n. a feeling of wanting to learn more about something or to be involved in something. Study “interest” →
Select the best synonym for the word “established”:
B — recognized. “established” means adj. having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted. Study “established” →
No one could possibly ______ that the tiny mistake would cause such trouble.
C — foresee. “foresee” means v. to predict or know something in advance. Study “foresee” →
Select the best synonym for the word “refinement”:
B — improvement. “refinement” means n. the process of improving something. Study “refinement” →
The quiet, shady garden filled her with a deep sense of ______.
A — serenity. “serenity” means n. the state of being calm and peaceful. Study “serenity” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “savage”:
B — fierce. “savage” means adj. fierce, violent, and uncontrolled. Study “savage” →
As a nervous ______ student, he often got lost in the huge college.
B — first-year. “first-year” means adj. relating to the first year of something, especially school or college. Study “first-year” →
Select the best synonym for the word “undermine”:
A — sabotage. “undermine” means v. to weaken or damage something. Study “undermine” →
A pinched ______ in his lower back sent a sharp pain down his leg.
B — nerve. “nerve” means n. a bundle of fibers that transmits signals in the body. Study “nerve” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shrivel”:
B — wither. “shrivel” means v. to become or make something dry and wrinkled. Study “shrivel” →
The happy twins wore ______ hats and scarves to the winter fair.
C — matching. “matching” means adj. having the same color, pattern, or style. Study “matching” →
Select the best synonym for the word “gobble”:
A — devour. “gobble” means v. to eat something hurriedly and noisily. Study “gobble” →
The ______ speaker inspired the whole crowd with her fiery words.
C — passionate. “passionate” means adj. having or showing strong feelings. Study “passionate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “fat”:
A — plump. “fat” means adj. having a lot of excess flesh. Study “fat” →
The loud, sudden noise was meant to ______ the birds away from the field.
B — scare. “scare” means v. to cause fear in someone. Study “scare” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “core”:
C — center. “core” means n. the central or most important part of something. Study “core” →
As a lifelong ______, he never believed anyone acted out of pure kindness.
D — cynic. “cynic” means n. a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable reasons. Study “cynic” →
Select the best synonym for the word “exhausting”:
B — draining. “exhausting” means adj. very tiring. Study “exhausting” →
The children made such a loud ______ that the neighbors soon complained.
C — racket. “racket” means n. a loud noise or a sports implement. Study “racket” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lucky”:
A — fortunate. “lucky” means adj. having good fortune. Study “lucky” →
The steep roller coaster ride was the most ______ part of the whole day.
C — exciting. “exciting” means adj. causing great enthusiasm and eagerness. Study “exciting” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “respect”:
A — admiration. “respect” means n. a feeling of admiration; v. to admire someone or something. Study “respect” →
When cold water freezes, it slowly turns into hard, ______ ice.
A — solid. “solid” means adj. firm and stable in shape; not liquid or gas. Study “solid” →
Select the best synonym for the word “excitement”:
D — thrill. “excitement” means n. a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness. Study “excitement” →
The editor asked her to ______ the very long essay into a single page.
A — condense. “condense” means v. to make something shorter or more concentrated. Study “condense” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “jackpot”:
A — winnings. “jackpot” means n. a large cash prize in a game or lottery. Study “jackpot” →
She loves all kinds of fruit, but ______ sweet, juicy red strawberries.
D — especially. “especially” means adv. particularly; more than others. Study “especially” →
Select the best synonym for the word “inconsistency”:
B — contradiction. “inconsistency” means n. the quality of being inconsistent or not staying the same. Study “inconsistency” →
The frightened deer stood perfectly ______, hoping the hunter would not see it.
D — still. “still” means adj. not moving or making a sound. Study “still” →
Select the best synonym for the word “authority”:
D — power. “authority” means n. the power or right to give orders or make decisions. Study “authority” →
The two good friends had a small ______ about where to eat lunch.
C — disagreement. “disagreement” means n. a difference of opinion. Study “disagreement” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “daring”:
A — bold. “daring” means adj. adventurous or bold. Study “daring” →
He proudly drove a ______ red sports car covered in shiny chrome.
B — flashy. “flashy” means adj. bright and noticeable, often in a way that is not tasteful. Study “flashy” →
Select the best synonym for the word “agitated”:
D — flustered. “agitated” means adj. feeling or appearing troubled or nervous. Study “agitated” →
She stayed up very late to ______ reading the exciting mystery novel.
B — finish. “finish” means v. to complete something. Study “finish” →
Select the best synonym for the word “sequential”:
C — consecutive. “sequential” means adj. forming or following in a logical order or sequence. Study “sequential” →
The modern kitchen has a handy ______ oven set right into the wall.
C — built-in. “built-in” means adj. forming an integral part of a structure or device. Study “built-in” →
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.