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 “rarely”:
C — seldom. “rarely” means adv. not often; seldom. Study “rarely” →
There was a dark ______ on the white shirt where the coffee had spilled.
C — spot. “spot” means n. a small area or mark. Study “spot” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “self-importance”:
D — conceit. “self-importance” means n. an exaggerated sense of one''s own value or importance. Study “self-importance” →
The sleeping baby's skin felt wonderfully soft and ______ to the touch.
B — smooth. “smooth” means adj. having an even and regular surface. Study “smooth” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “meaning”:
A — significance. “meaning” means n. what is meant by a word or action. Study “meaning” →
The careful carpenter sawed a long wooden ______ into two equal pieces.
B — board. “board” means n. a flat piece of material used for a specific purpose. Study “board” →
Select the best synonym for the word “fleshy”:
D — plump. “fleshy” means adj. having a lot of flesh; plump or thick. Study “fleshy” →
The charity works very hard to ______ food and warm blankets to the homeless.
D — supply. “supply” means v. to provide something that is needed. Study “supply” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “commendable”:
A — praiseworthy. “commendable” means adj. deserving praise. Study “commendable” →
Please do not ______ the baby while she is sleeping so peacefully.
C — disturb. “disturb” means v. to interrupt the quiet, peace, or order of something. Study “disturb” →
Select the best synonym for the word “self-governing”:
C — autonomous. “self-governing” means adj. having the right or power to govern oneself. Study “self-governing” →
By ______ each small problem one by one, she finished the big project.
C — solving. “solving” means n. the process of finding an answer to a problem. Study “solving” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “enigma”:
A — mystery. “enigma” means n. something that is mysterious or difficult to understand. Study “enigma” →
Signing the important deal now would be very ______ for the whole team.
A — advantageous. “advantageous” means adj. providing an advantage or benefit. Study “advantageous” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “preventative”:
C — precautionary. “preventative” means adj. intended to stop something before it happens. Study “preventative” →
The powerful new medicine can quickly ______ the painful chest infection.
A — cure. “cure” means v. to make someone with an illness healthy again. Study “cure” →
Select the best synonym for the word “praiseworthy”:
B — commendable. “praiseworthy” means adj. deserving approval and admiration. Study “praiseworthy” →
The ______ young man could not sleep at all because of his many worries.
C — troubled. “troubled” means adj. having problems or difficulties. Study “troubled” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “disorder”:
D — chaos. “disorder” means n. a state of confusion or lack of order. Study “disorder” →
The ______ gray sky made everyone think it would very soon rain.
A — cloudy. “cloudy” means adj. covered with or characterized by clouds. Study “cloudy” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “flee”:
A — escape. “flee” means v. to run away from danger or a place. Study “flee” →
Running a full marathon takes great physical strength and ______.
C — endurance. “endurance” means n. the ability to withstand hardship or adversity. Study “endurance” →
Select the best synonym for the word “gradually”:
A — incrementally. “gradually” means adv. slowly over a period of time. Study “gradually” →
The rich smell of fresh coffee began to ______ every room in the house.
A — permeate. “permeate” means v. to spread throughout something. Study “permeate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “trustworthy”:
C — reliable. “trustworthy” means adj. able to be relied on as honest or truthful. Study “trustworthy” →
The proud chef prepared a ______ meal that absolutely everyone praised.
B — superb. “superb” means adj. excellent or very good. Study “superb” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “seen”:
D — perceived. “seen” means v. past participle of ''see''; to have perceived with the eyes. Study “seen” →
The lesson was so clear that even young children could easily ______ it.
D — comprehend. “comprehend” means v. to understand something fully. Study “comprehend” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “secondary”:
B — subordinate. “secondary” means adj. less important than something else; coming after the first. Study “secondary” →
The ______ screech of the rusty old gate hurt everyone's ears.
A — grating. “grating” means adj. sounding harsh and unpleasant. Study “grating” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “noticeable”:
A — obvious. “noticeable” means adj. easy to see or recognize. Study “noticeable” →
The very strong wind made the tall trees ______ and sway back and forth.
B — shake. “shake” means v. to move something back and forth or up and down with quick movements. Study “shake” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “half-open”:
B — ajar. “half-open” means adj. partially open. Study “half-open” →
The kind, gentle words were an act of ______ meant to end the bitter quarrel.
D — conciliation. “conciliation” means n. the action of stopping someone from being angry. Study “conciliation” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “withdrawn”:
D — reserved. “withdrawn” means adj. shy and quiet, not wanting to be with other people. Study “withdrawn” →
The color of the car was only a ______ concern; safety always came first.
C — secondary. “secondary” means adj. less important than something else; coming after the first. Study “secondary” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “impure”:
C — contaminated. “impure” means adj. not clean or pure. Study “impure” →
The book told such a ______ story that she simply could not put it down.
B — compelling. “compelling” means adj. very interesting; convincing. Study “compelling” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “docile”:
B — tame. “docile” means adj. easily taught or controlled. Study “docile” →
Her brave act of kindness clearly made her ______ of the special award.
B — worthy. “worthy” means adj. having value or merit; deserving respect. Study “worthy” →
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.