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 “permissive”:
A — lenient. “permissive” means adj. allowing or characterized by great freedom of behavior. Study “permissive” →
In autumn, the golden leaves begin to ______ from the tall old trees.
A — fall. “fall” means v. to move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control. Study “fall” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “reply”:
D — respond. “reply” means v. to answer someone by speaking or writing. Study “reply” →
The ______ passenger chatted cheerfully for the entire long train trip.
B — talkative. “talkative” means adj. liking to talk a lot. Study “talkative” →
Select the best synonym for the word “easier”:
D — simpler. “easier” means adj. less difficult. Study “easier” →
The whole large crowd fell into a ______ silence during the funeral.
D — solemn. “solemn” means adj. serious and dignified. Study “solemn” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “lethargic”:
A — sluggish. “lethargic” means adj. feeling a lack of energy or interest. Study “lethargic” →
His pale, ______ face showed clearly that he had not slept for days.
B — drawn. “drawn” means adj. looking very tired or worried. Study “drawn” →
Select the best synonym for the word “grassland”:
B — prairie. “grassland” means n. a large open area of country covered with grass. Study “grassland” →
He was completely ______ of the surprise party waiting for him at home.
D — unaware. “unaware” means adj. not knowing or realizing something. Study “unaware” →
Select the best synonym for the word “filled”:
A — full. “filled” means adj. containing as much as possible. Study “filled” →
The ______ of more chairs let the room hold twice as many guests.
A — addition. “addition” means n. the process of adding something. Study “addition” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unbearable”:
B — intolerable. “unbearable” means adj. too unpleasant or painful to deal with. Study “unbearable” →
He made only a ______ attempt to clean up his very messy room.
D — half-hearted. “half-hearted” means adj. without enthusiasm or energy. Study “half-hearted” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “guarantee”:
C — assure. “guarantee” means v. to promise that something will happen or be done. Study “guarantee” →
After hours of hard climbing, they finally reached the snowy mountain ______.
B — peak. “peak” means n. the highest point. Study “peak” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “powerful”:
C — mighty. “powerful” means adj. having great strength or influence. Study “powerful” →
The exciting news spread ______ across the whole country within hours.
A — widely. “widely” means adv. over a large area or range. Study “widely” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “block”:
A — obstruct. “block” means v. to stop movement through or into something. Study “block” →
She chose nursing as her ______ because she truly loved to help people.
D — profession. “profession” means n. a type of job that requires special education or training. Study “profession” →
Select the best synonym for the word “member”:
A — participant. “member” means n. a person belonging to a group or organization. Study “member” →
She left a short ______ on his phone asking him to please call back.
B — message. “message” means n. a piece of information sent or given to someone. Study “message” →
Select the best synonym for the word “obese”:
A — overweight. “obese” means adj. very overweight. Study “obese” →
After a quick ______, the two strangers began to chat quite happily.
D — introduction. “introduction” means n. the act of making someone known to another. Study “introduction” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “edge”:
C — border. “edge” means n. the boundary or border of something. Study “edge” →
It is natural for a young teenager to want the approval of every ______.
D — peer. “peer” means n. a person of the same age or status. Study “peer” →
Select the best synonym for the word “qualified”:
C — competent. “qualified” means adj. having the necessary skills or knowledge. Study “qualified” →
To end the long strike, the company made several ______ to the workers.
C — concessions. “concessions” means n. things given or granted as privileges. Study “concessions” →
Select the best synonym for the word “earnings”:
D — income. “earnings” means n. money that you get from working. Study “earnings” →
She found a clever ______ to solve the puzzle that no one else had tried.
C — way. “way” means n. a method or manner of doing something. Study “way” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “thread”:
D — strand. “thread” means n. a thin string of cotton, wool, etc.. Study “thread” →
The fine new bridge was ______ opened by the mayor just last week.
B — officially. “officially” means adv. in a formal and public way. Study “officially” →
Select the best synonym for the word “closeness”:
D — proximity. “closeness” means n. the quality of being close in space or time. Study “closeness” →
She ______ walks to school, but usually she takes the yellow bus.
C — sometimes. “sometimes” means adv. at certain times; occasionally. Study “sometimes” →
Select the best synonym for the word “allow”:
B — permit. “allow” means v. to let someone do something. Study “allow” →
A blue whale is much bigger ______ any fish in the whole ocean.
C — than. “than” means conj. used to compare two things. Study “than” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “manage”:
A — administer. “manage” means v. to be in charge of or control something. Study “manage” →
A bright ______ of fresh flowers made the plain room feel cheerful.
C — decoration. “decoration” means n. something used to make a place look more attractive. Study “decoration” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “firmly”:
C — steadily. “firmly” means adv. in a strong, steady way. Study “firmly” →
The handmade furniture was made with great care and very high ______.
A — quality. “quality” means n. the standard of something as measured against other things. Study “quality” →
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.