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 “freezing”:
D — frigid. “freezing” means adj. extremely cold. Study “freezing” →
The careful mechanic found a strange ______ deep in the car's engine.
D — irregularity. “irregularity” means n. something that is not usual or normal. Study “irregularity” →
Select the best synonym for the word “routine”:
A — regimen. “routine” means n. a regular way of doing things. Study “routine” →
Brushing your teeth daily is a simple ______ step against tooth decay.
D — preventive. “preventive” means adj. designed to stop something undesirable. Study “preventive” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “composition”:
D — structure. “composition” means n. the way in which something is made up. Study “composition” →
The old woman had a sharp ______ and remembered every tiny detail.
B — memory. “memory” means n. the ability to recall information or experiences. Study “memory” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dread”:
A — fear. “dread” means v. to fear something that may happen. Study “dread” →
The huge ______ plant produces thousands of shiny new cars each week.
A — manufacturing. “manufacturing” means n. the process of making products, especially with machines in factories. Study “manufacturing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “passing”:
A — fleeting. “passing” means adj. going by or moving past. Study “passing” →
The sleepy kitten began to ______ deep into the soft, warm blanket.
A — snuggle. “snuggle” means v. to settle or move into a warm, comfortable position. Study “snuggle” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “terrible”:
B — dreadful. “terrible” means adj. very bad or unpleasant. Study “terrible” →
By ______ its own food, the small farm saved a great deal of money.
D — producing. “producing” means v. the act of making or creating something. Study “producing” →
Select the best synonym for the word “back”:
B — spine. “back” means n. the part of the body opposite the chest. Study “back” →
Ignoring every warning sign was clearly a ______ act of carelessness.
D — blameworthy. “blameworthy” means adj. deserving blame or criticism. Study “blameworthy” →
Select the best synonym for the word “calculation”:
D — computation. “calculation” means n. the process of using mathematics to find an answer. Study “calculation” →
The handmade clay vase was slightly ______, but she loved it anyway.
D — imperfect. “imperfect” means adj. not perfect; having flaws. Study “imperfect” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “surround”:
B — encircle. “surround” means v. to be all around something. Study “surround” →
The playful chef loves to ______ strange new dishes from odd ingredients.
B — concoct. “concoct” means v. to create or make up something by combining different things. Study “concoct” →
Select the best synonym for the word “life”:
C — existence. “life” means n. the existence of an individual human or animal. Study “life” →
The very hungry dog began to ______ its food in just a few seconds.
B — gobble. “gobble” means v. to eat something hurriedly and noisily. Study “gobble” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “reputation”:
D — standing. “reputation” means n. the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. Study “reputation” →
The customers were ______ when they saw the unfair new prices.
C — outraged. “outraged” means adj. very angry or shocked. Study “outraged” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “skilled”:
D — proficient. “skilled” means adj. having the ability to do something well. Study “skilled” →
The wise old man was well known for the safe ______ of many great secrets.
A — keeping. “keeping” means n. the act of retaining or holding something. Study “keeping” →
Select the best synonym for the word “secular”:
C — worldly. “secular” means adj. not connected with religious or spiritual matters. Study “secular” →
The tiny ant had to ______ hard to carry the crumb up the steep hill.
D — struggle. “struggle” means v. to try very hard to do something difficult. Study “struggle” →
Select the best synonym for the word “half-hearted”:
C — unenthusiastic. “half-hearted” means adj. without enthusiasm or energy. Study “half-hearted” →
The ______ storm tore heavy branches right off the tall old trees.
B — fierce. “fierce” means adj. very strong or violent. Study “fierce” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “temporarily”:
D — briefly. “temporarily” means adv. for a short time. Study “temporarily” →
The tired farmers had to ______ all day long under the burning summer sun.
D — toil. “toil” means v. to work very hard for a long time. Study “toil” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “sue”:
B — litigate. “sue” means v. to take legal action against someone. Study “sue” →
The king stood before the crowd to ______ a brand-new national holiday.
B — proclaim. “proclaim” means v. to announce something publicly or officially. Study “proclaim” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “modest”:
A — humble. “modest” means adj. not too proud or confident about oneself. Study “modest” →
The two events were completely ______, though they happened on the same day.
A — unrelated. “unrelated” means adj. not connected or related. Study “unrelated” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “front”:
A — forefront. “front” means n. the forward part or surface of something. Study “front” →
It was very ______ to spend all of his money on the very first day.
B — unwise. “unwise” means adj. not showing good judgment. Study “unwise” →
Select the best synonym for the word “assist”:
D — help. “assist” means v. to help someone. Study “assist” →
Washing your hands often helps stop the quick spread of ______.
C — disease. “disease” means n. an illness or sickness. Study “disease” →
Select the best synonym for the word “contradict”:
D — oppose. “contradict” means v. to say the opposite of what someone else has said. Study “contradict” →
The enemy army secretly planned to ______ the small country at dawn.
A — invade. “invade” means v. to enter a place by force. Study “invade” →
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.