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 “weariness”:
D — exhaustion. “weariness” means n. extreme tiredness. Study “weariness” →
The two old neighbors like to ______ for hours over the garden fence.
D — chat. “chat” means v. to talk in a friendly and informal way. Study “chat” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “trigger”:
B — provoke. “trigger” means v. to cause something to happen; n. a small device that releases a spring or catch. Study “trigger” →
The early morning ______ strolled quietly along the peaceful river path.
D — walker. “walker” means n. a person who walks, especially for exercise or enjoyment. Study “walker” →
Select the best synonym for the word “duty”:
B — obligation. “duty” means n. something you must do because it is morally or legally right. Study “duty” →
The architect will ______ a brand-new school for the fast-growing town.
A — design. “design” means v. to plan and make decisions about something; n. a plan or drawing. Study “design” →
Select the best synonym for the word “follow”:
A — pursue. “follow” means v. to go or come after someone or something. Study “follow” →
On a clear, moonless night, ______ stars sparkle across the dark sky.
C — countless. “countless” means adj. too many to be counted; innumerable. Study “countless” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “contradiction”:
C — inconsistency. “contradiction” means n. a situation in which two things are opposite or very different. Study “contradiction” →
The little shop became very ______ after it moved to a much busier street.
A — profitable. “profitable” means adj. making or likely to make money. Study “profitable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “educated”:
D — knowledgeable. “educated” means adj. having received education. Study “educated” →
The angry gray sea tossed the little wooden boat ______ from side to side.
D — violently. “violently” means adv. in a way that involves physical force. Study “violently” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “poor”:
D — impoverished. “poor” means adj. having little money or few possessions. Study “poor” →
The workers used a very strong crane to ______ the heavy steel beam.
A — raise. “raise” means v. to lift or move something to a higher position. Study “raise” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “average”:
C — mean. “average” means n. the result obtained by adding several quantities together and then dividing this total by the number of quantities. Study “average” →
It was very hard to ______ the delicious smell of the fresh warm bread.
C — resist. “resist” means v. to fight against something or someone. Study “resist” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “entrap”:
D — ensnare. “entrap” means v. to catch someone in a trap. Study “entrap” →
The famous ______ hit every high note perfectly during the whole concert.
B — singer. “singer” means n. people who sing. Study “singer” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “hang”:
D — suspend. “hang” means v. to attach something so that it is held up without support from below. Study “hang” →
Her kind, ______ nature meant that she never held a grudge for very long.
B — forgiving. “forgiving” means adj. willing to forgive; not holding a grudge. Study “forgiving” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “elephant”:
B — pachyderm. “elephant” means n. a large animal with a trunk. Study “elephant” →
The ______ firefighter rushed straight into the fiercely burning building.
B — fearless. “fearless” means adj. showing a lack of fear. Study “fearless” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “disappointed”:
D — let down. “disappointed” means adj. feeling sad because something was not as good as expected. Study “disappointed” →
The boy's constant ______ finally got him sent straight to the principal.
A — troublemaking. “troublemaking” means n. the act of causing problems. Study “troublemaking” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “discuss”:
A — converse. “discuss” means v. to talk about something with someone. Study “discuss” →
Her helpful ______ made the whole plan work much more smoothly.
D — suggestion. “suggestion” means n. an idea or plan proposed for consideration. Study “suggestion” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “confidence”:
D — self-assurance. “confidence” means n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well. Study “confidence” →
Every Saturday morning, farmers sell fresh fruit at the busy ______.
C — market. “market” means n. a place where people buy and sell goods. Study “market” →
Select the best synonym for the word “agree”:
D — concur. “agree” means v. to have the same opinion. Study “agree” →
The architect drew a careful ______ showing every room in the new house.
B — blueprint. “blueprint” means n. a detailed plan or drawing that shows how something is designed. Study “blueprint” →
Select the best synonym for the word “equator”:
D — midline. “equator” means n. an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. Study “equator” →
Africa is a huge ______ with many different countries and rich cultures.
D — continent. “continent” means n. one of the main landmasses on Earth. Study “continent” →
Select the best synonym for the word “message”:
A — communication. “message” means n. a piece of information sent or given to someone. Study “message” →
She enjoys a rare, ______ cup of coffee, but never every single day.
C — occasional. “occasional” means adj. happening sometimes but not often. Study “occasional” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “surface-level”:
D — cursory. “surface-level” means adj. relating to the outermost layer or appearance. Study “surface-level” →
Everyone at the long meeting shared their different ______ about the plan.
C — opinions. “opinions” means n. personal beliefs or judgments. Study “opinions” →
Select the best synonym for the word “manager”:
A — supervisor. “manager” means n. a person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group. Study “manager” →
The kind ranger decided to ______ the healed wild bird back into the forest.
D — release. “release” means v. to set free or let go. Study “release” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unhappy”:
A — sad. “unhappy” means adj. not happy or joyful. Study “unhappy” →
The speaker had to ______ for a moment to take a quick sip of water.
A — pause. “pause” means v. to stop briefly. Study “pause” →
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.