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 “govern”:
D — rule. “govern” means v. to conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of a state, organization, or people. Study “govern” →
The happy dog quickly buried its favorite ______ in the backyard.
A — bone. “bone” means n. the hard parts inside a body that make up the skeleton. Study “bone” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “spelled”:
B — wrote. “spelled” means v. wrote or named the letters of a word in order. Study “spelled” →
The kind teacher showed great patience and ______ with the slow learner.
B — understanding. “understanding” means n. the ability to understand something. Study “understanding” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “holy”:
C — sacred. “holy” means adj. dedicated to God or a religious purpose. Study “holy” →
She wrote a long shopping ______ before heading out to the store.
D — list. “list” means n. a number of connected items or names written or printed consecutively. Study “list” →
Select the best synonym for the word “disgraceful”:
B — shameful. “disgraceful” means adj. very bad or unacceptable. Study “disgraceful” →
The kind judge showed great ______ toward the young first-time offender.
A — leniency. “leniency” means n. the quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected. Study “leniency” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lasting”:
D — durable. “lasting” means adj. enduring or able to endure over a long period of time. Study “lasting” →
The huge new project was simply too big in ______ for one person to finish.
C — scope. “scope” means n. the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with. Study “scope” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “pointless”:
C — useless. “pointless” means adj. having no purpose or effect. Study “pointless” →
The ______ computer file would not open no matter how often she tried.
D — corrupted. “corrupted” means adj. having been made unreliable by errors or alterations. Study “corrupted” →
Select the best synonym for the word “soft”:
A — yielding. “soft” means adj. easy to press, not hard or firm. Study “soft” →
The doctor gave the sick young boy some ______ to lower his high fever.
C — medicine. “medicine” means n. a substance used to treat illness. Study “medicine” →
Select the best synonym for the word “composed”:
D — calm. “composed” means adj. calm and in control of your emotions. Study “composed” →
The company lost all of its customers because of years of ______.
C — dishonesty. “dishonesty” means n. lack of honesty or integrity. Study “dishonesty” →
Select the best synonym for the word “tusks”:
A — teeth. “tusks” means n. plural of tusk; long, pointed teeth projecting from the mouth of certain animals. Study “tusks” →
The ______ giraffe could easily reach the leaves high up in the tree.
C — tall. “tall” means adj. having greater than average height. Study “tall” →
Select the best synonym for the word “sweet”:
C — sugary. “sweet” means adj. having a pleasant taste like sugar. Study “sweet” →
A few colorful balloons can quickly ______ even the dullest gray room.
C — brighten. “brighten” means v. to make or become more light or cheerful. Study “brighten” →
Select the best synonym for the word “troubling”:
C — worrisome. “troubling” means adj. causing worry or concern. Study “troubling” →
Please put all the books back in the correct ______ on the shelf.
D — order. “order” means n. an arrangement or sequence; v. to request something. Study “order” →
Select the best synonym for the word “amount”:
B — quantity. “amount” means n. a quantity of something. Study “amount” →
She was quite surprised by the ______ of the empty cardboard box.
A — lightness. “lightness” means n. the quality of being light in weight. Study “lightness” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “admire”:
A — respect. “admire” means v. to regard with respect or warm approval. Study “admire” →
It is very cruel to ______ any animal, whether big or small.
B — mistreat. “mistreat” means v. to treat someone badly or cruelly. Study “mistreat” →
Select the best synonym for the word “quietly”:
C — silently. “quietly” means adv. in a way that makes little or no noise. Study “quietly” →
The very hungry boy ate the ______ large pizza all by himself.
D — whole. “whole” means adj. complete or entire. Study “whole” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “told”:
B — informed. “told” means v. past tense of ''tell'', to have communicated something. Study “told” →
The ______ manager flatly refused to change the rules for anyone at all.
C — inflexible. “inflexible” means adj. unwilling to change or compromise. Study “inflexible” →
Select the best synonym for the word “refreshment”:
A — snack. “refreshment” means n. a light snack or drink. Study “refreshment” →
The ______ garden was full of tall weeds and dead brown plants.
C — neglected. “neglected” means adj. not receiving enough care or attention. Study “neglected” →
Select the best synonym for the word “implementer”:
B — executor. “implementer” means n. a person who puts a plan or system into action. Study “implementer” →
She was the very ______ person to leave the big empty building.
A — last. “last” means adj. coming after all others in time or order. Study “last” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “polite”:
D — courteous. “polite” means adj. having good manners and showing respect for others. Study “polite” →
The complicated map only served to ______ the lost tourists even more.
D — confuse. “confuse” means v. to make someone unable to think clearly. Study “confuse” →
Select the best synonym for the word “nerve”:
A — fiber. “nerve” means n. a bundle of fibers that transmits signals in the body. Study “nerve” →
He was very nervous before his ______ for the school basketball team.
A — tryout. “tryout” means n. a test of the potential of someone or something. Study “tryout” →
Select the best synonym for the word “wild”:
C — feral. “wild” means adj. living or growing in the natural environment. Study “wild” →
The ______ factory work was so dull that his tired mind began to wander.
C — repetitive. “repetitive” means adj. involving doing the same thing over and over. Study “repetitive” →
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.