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 “dull”:
B — boring. “dull” means adj. not interesting or exciting. Study “dull” →
The little child was clearly ______ about who had eaten the last cookie.
B — lying. “lying” means v. gerund of lie; not telling the truth. Study “lying” →
Select the best synonym for the word “leeway”:
A — latitude. “leeway” means n. extra time or space to do something. Study “leeway” →
Her ______ grew as the important phone call was delayed again and again.
A — agitation. “agitation” means n. a state of anxiety or nervous excitement. Study “agitation” →
Select the best synonym for the word “comprehend”:
B — understand. “comprehend” means v. to understand something fully. Study “comprehend” →
The ______ student solved the very tricky problem in just a few minutes.
A — smart. “smart” means adj. having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability. Study “smart” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “disclaimer”:
B — disavowal. “disclaimer” means n. a statement that denies responsibility. Study “disclaimer” →
Their great kindness left a ______ memory that she never once forgot.
B — lasting. “lasting” means adj. enduring or able to endure over a long period of time. Study “lasting” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “supporter”:
D — advocate. “supporter” means n. a person who approves of and encourages someone or something. Study “supporter” →
She added up all the coins to find the total ______ of her savings.
C — sum. “sum” means n. the total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers. Study “sum” →
Select the best synonym for the word “post”:
A — announcement. “post” means n. a piece of writing or an announcement on a website or social media. Study “post” →
The gift was gently ______ to the birthday girl by her smiling mother.
C — handed. “handed” means adj. having or involving a hand or hands. Study “handed” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “insult”:
D — offend. “insult” means v. to say or do something that is rude or offensive to someone. Study “insult” →
Washing your hands often helps remove the ______ that spread illness.
A — germs. “germs” means n. microorganisms, especially those that cause disease. Study “germs” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “inspiration”:
C — motivation. “inspiration” means n. a feeling of enthusiasm you get from someone or something, which gives you new and creative ideas. Study “inspiration” →
She looked up the ______ of the very difficult word in the dictionary.
C — meaning. “meaning” means n. what is meant by a word or action. Study “meaning” →
Select the best synonym for the word “customs”:
C — border control. “customs” means n. the place at a port, airport, or border where officials check incoming goods, travelers, or luggage. Study “customs” →
The strange, ______ news kept the whole small town anxious for days.
B — troubling. “troubling” means adj. causing worry or concern. Study “troubling” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “cluster”:
C — group. “cluster” means n. a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together. Study “cluster” →
After many painful failures, she ______ succeeded in reaching her big goal.
C — ultimately. “ultimately” means adv. in the end; finally. Study “ultimately” →
Select the best synonym for the word “mistreat”:
A — abuse. “mistreat” means v. to treat someone badly or cruelly. Study “mistreat” →
She used a sharp needle and ______ to sew the button back onto the shirt.
C — thread. “thread” means n. a thin string of cotton, wool, etc.. Study “thread” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “severely”:
B — harshly. “severely” means adv. in a very bad or serious way. Study “severely” →
The proud builders stood back and admired the fully ______ house.
C — finished. “finished” means adj. completed or done. Study “finished” →
Select the best synonym for the word “memory”:
A — recollection. “memory” means n. the ability to recall information or experiences. Study “memory” →
The sudden ______ of the old secret shocked everyone in the quiet room.
D — disclosure. “disclosure” means n. the act of making something known. Study “disclosure” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “testimony”:
B — deposition. “testimony” means n. a formal statement given in court. Study “testimony” →
The jeweler will ______ her name neatly on the back of the silver watch.
A — engrave. “engrave” means v. to cut or carve a design on a hard surface. Study “engrave” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “outcry”:
A — uproar. “outcry” means n. a strong expression of public disapproval or anger. Study “outcry” →
The ______ old man shouted at the children for being far too loud.
D — bad-tempered. “bad-tempered” means adj. easily annoyed or made angry. Study “bad-tempered” →
Select the best synonym for the word “continue”:
A — proceed. “continue” means v. to keep going or carry on. Study “continue” →
It is a widely ______ fact that the bright sun rises in the east.
A — received. “received” means adj. generally accepted as true or correct. Study “received” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lesson”:
D — class. “lesson” means n. a period of learning or teaching. Study “lesson” →
The slowly ______ autumn leaves turned from green to bright orange.
A — changing. “changing” means adj. becoming different. Study “changing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “span”:
B — extent. “span” means n. the full extent of something from end to end. Study “span” →
She was ______ moved by the beautiful, sad old song.
A — deeply. “deeply” means adv. to a great depth or degree. Study “deeply” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “gripping”:
A — enthralling. “gripping” means adj. very exciting or interesting. Study “gripping” →
The ______ family could barely afford enough food for the long winter.
A — poor. “poor” means adj. having little money or few possessions. Study “poor” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “guide”:
A — mentor. “guide” means n. a person who shows the way to others. Study “guide” →
During the fierce storm, everyone stayed warm and dry ______ the house.
D — inside. “inside” means adv. or prep. in or into the inner part of something. Study “inside” →
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.