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 “others”:
A — the rest. “others” means pron. people or things that are different from those already mentioned. Study “others” →
The teacher had to ______ the difficult instructions three whole times.
C — repeat. “repeat” means v. to say or do something again. Study “repeat” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “reduce”:
A — decrease. “reduce” means v. to make something smaller or less. Study “reduce” →
After a long, deep sleep, she woke up feeling full of fresh ______.
C — energy. “energy” means n. the strength and vitality required for physical or mental activity. Study “energy” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “understand”:
B — comprehend. “understand” means v. to know the meaning of something. Study “understand” →
He wandered ______ through the streets, unsure of where he was going.
B — aimlessly. “aimlessly” means adv. without purpose or direction. Study “aimlessly” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “favoritism”:
D — bias. “favoritism” means n. unfair support shown to one person or group. Study “favoritism” →
The children were ______ to open their presents on the holiday morning.
A — excited. “excited” means adj. feeling very happy and enthusiastic. Study “excited” →
Select the best synonym for the word “conspiring”:
B — plotting. “conspiring” means v. planning secretly with others to do something bad. Study “conspiring” →
The kangaroo is an animal ______ to the wide, open plains of Australia.
C — indigenous. “indigenous” means adj. originating or occurring naturally in a particular place. Study “indigenous” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lawful”:
B — legal. “lawful” means adj. allowed by law. Study “lawful” →
He finally decided to ______ his boring job and start his own business.
D — quit. “quit” means v. to stop doing something. Study “quit” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “gases”:
C — vapors. “gases” means n. plural of gas; substances in a form like air. Study “gases” →
Try very hard not to ______ too much about the things you cannot change.
A — worry. “worry” means v. to feel anxious or concerned about something. Study “worry” →
Select the best synonym for the word “squirm”:
A — wriggle. “squirm” means v. to twist or move uncomfortably. Study “squirm” →
In the dark, it was very hard to ______ the twins from each other.
B — distinguish. “distinguish” means v. to recognize or point out a difference. Study “distinguish” →
Select the best synonym for the word “pressure”:
D — stress. “pressure” means n. the force applied to a surface. Study “pressure” →
The soldier's ______ letter home brought tears to everyone's eyes.
D — moving. “moving” means adj. causing strong feelings of sadness or sympathy. Study “moving” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “newly”:
A — recently. “newly” means adv. recently. Study “newly” →
The ______ scientist had won many awards all over the world.
C — distinguished. “distinguished” means adj. successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect. Study “distinguished” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unreasonable”:
D — irrational. “unreasonable” means adj. not guided by or based on good sense. Study “unreasonable” →
The huge parked truck was ______ the whole road, so no cars could pass.
A — blocking. “blocking” means n. the act of stopping something from moving or flowing. Study “blocking” →
Select the best synonym for the word “stumble”:
C — trip. “stumble” means v. to trip or lose balance while walking. Study “stumble” →
The gentle nurse spoke very ______ to the frightened little patient.
B — kindly. “kindly” means adv. in a kind or gentle manner. Study “kindly” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “earth”:
C — globe. “earth” means n. the planet we live on. Study “earth” →
The deep cut on her right hand was very ______ for several days.
B — painful. “painful” means adj. causing physical or emotional pain. Study “painful” →
Select the best synonym for the word “mainland”:
B — landmass. “mainland” means n. the principal landmass of a country or continent. Study “mainland” →
The new principal wisely built on the good work of her ______.
B — predecessor. “predecessor” means n. a person who held a job or position before someone else. Study “predecessor” →
Select the best synonym for the word “horrible”:
B — dreadful. “horrible” means adj. causing horror; very unpleasant. Study “horrible” →
The young ______ was given a stern warning instead of a harsh punishment.
D — offender. “offender” means n. a person who commits a crime. Study “offender” →
Select the best synonym for the word “mix”:
A — blend. “mix” means v. to combine two or more things together. Study “mix” →
The ______ puppy bounced all around the yard, barking with pure joy.
B — lively. “lively” means adj. full of life and energy. Study “lively” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “remedial”:
B — corrective. “remedial” means adj. intended to correct or improve something. Study “remedial” →
She flatly refused to lie, staying true to her strong moral ______.
A — principles. “principles” means n. basic beliefs or rules that guide actions. Study “principles” →
Select the best synonym for the word “worthless”:
A — valueless. “worthless” means adj. having no real value or use. Study “worthless” →
She had visited the crumbling old castle only ______, many years ago.
B — once. “once” means adv. one time; on one occasion. Study “once” →
Select the best synonym for the word “careless”:
D — negligent. “careless” means adj. not giving enough attention to what you are doing. Study “careless” →
There was great ______ in the crowded stadium as the big game began.
B — excitement. “excitement” means n. a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness. Study “excitement” →
Select the best synonym for the word “tale”:
C — story. “tale” means n. a story, especially one that might be invented or difficult to believe. Study “tale” →
By smiling and pointing, she was ______ that the answer was very close by.
A — hinting. “hinting” means v. present participle of hint; suggesting indirectly. Study “hinting” →
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.