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 “preparatory”:
D — introductory. “preparatory” means adj. done in order to prepare for something. Study “preparatory” →
He felt deeply ______ after telling such a hurtful and needless lie.
D — ashamed. “ashamed” means adj. feeling embarrassed or guilty about something. Study “ashamed” →
Select the best synonym for the word “continuum”:
A — sequence. “continuum” means n. a continuous sequence or range. Study “continuum” →
The giant roller coaster was by far the main ______ at the busy fair.
D — attraction. “attraction” means n. a quality or feature that draws interest or attention. Study “attraction” →
Select the best synonym for the word “impulsive”:
B — rash. “impulsive” means adj. acting suddenly without thinking. Study “impulsive” →
By ______ the wild birds closely, she learned all about their habits.
B — watching. “watching” means v. looking at something attentively. Study “watching” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “suspicious”:
D — wary. “suspicious” means adj. having or showing a cautious distrust. Study “suspicious” →
Honesty was the guiding ______ that shaped his entire long life.
D — principle. “principle” means n. a fundamental truth or proposition serving as the foundation for belief or action. Study “principle” →
Select the best synonym for the word “rest”:
A — repose. “rest” means n. a period of relaxing; v. to relax or stop working. Study “rest” →
The ______ glass doors slid open by themselves as she approached.
B — automatic. “automatic” means adj. working by itself with little or no direct human control. Study “automatic” →
Select the best synonym for the word “vote”:
A — poll. “vote” means v. to express a choice or opinion in a group decision. Study “vote” →
In a sudden moment of pure ______, he slammed his fist down on the table.
A — fury. “fury” means n. extreme anger. Study “fury” →
Select the best synonym for the word “way”:
C — method. “way” means n. a method or manner of doing something. Study “way” →
The doctors will ______ the fully healthy patient from the hospital today.
B — discharge. “discharge” means v. to release or allow to leave. Study “discharge” →
Select the best synonym for the word “blend”:
B — mix. “blend” means v. to mix together thoroughly. Study “blend” →
A small ______ of bright red berries hung from the low branch.
C — cluster. “cluster” means n. a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together. Study “cluster” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “untruthful”:
B — dishonest. “untruthful” means adj. not telling the truth. Study “untruthful” →
Colorful hot-air balloons slowly ______ up into the clear morning sky.
A — rise. “rise” means v. to move upward; to increase in amount or number. Study “rise” →
Select the best synonym for the word “plain”:
A — simple. “plain” means adj. simple and not complicated. Study “plain” →
The ______ passed a new law to protect the country's ancient forests.
A — government. “government” means n. the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc.. Study “government” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “wise”:
B — prudent. “wise” means adj. having or showing good judgment and knowledge. Study “wise” →
The kind teacher had a huge ______ on all of her students' lives.
D — impact. “impact” means n. the effect or influence of one thing on another. Study “impact” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lying”:
A — deceiving. “lying” means v. gerund of lie; not telling the truth. Study “lying” →
The chef worked for years to ______ his famous secret pasta sauce.
D — refine. “refine” means v. to improve something by making small changes. Study “refine” →
Select the best synonym for the word “harmony”:
A — accord. “harmony” means n. a pleasing combination of different things. Study “harmony” →
The lost hikers soon found themselves in a very dangerous ______.
B — situation. “situation” means n. a set of circumstances. Study “situation” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “grasp”:
C — clutch. “grasp” means v. to take hold of something tightly with the hands. Study “grasp” →
It is very easy to ______ others, but far harder to actually help them.
D — criticize. “criticize” means v. to express disapproval of someone or something. Study “criticize” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “excavate”:
B — unearth. “excavate” means v. to dig out and remove earth to find something buried. Study “excavate” →
The warm sun caused a slow ______ of the butter on the kitchen counter.
C — softening. “softening” means n. the process of becoming softer. Study “softening” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “stage”:
B — phase. “stage” means n. a platform or phase in a process. Study “stage” →
The struggling student took a ______ class to greatly improve his math.
C — remedial. “remedial” means adj. intended to correct or improve something. Study “remedial” →
Select the best synonym for the word “cruel”:
C — heartless. “cruel” means adj. causing pain or suffering to others. Study “cruel” →
She decided to ______ for the summer job at the little bookstore.
C — apply. “apply” means v. to make a formal request. Study “apply” →
Select the best synonym for the word “held”:
B — grasped. “held” means v. past tense of hold; to have or keep in your hand. Study “held” →
Fresh warm milk gives a fast-growing baby very important ______.
B — nourishment. “nourishment” means n. food and other things needed for health and growth. Study “nourishment” →
Select the best synonym for the word “stare”:
A — gaze. “stare” means v. to look at something for a long time. Study “stare” →
The very ______ parents let their children do almost whatever they wished.
C — permissive. “permissive” means adj. allowing or characterized by great freedom of behavior. Study “permissive” →
Select the best synonym for the word “mature”:
A — developed. “mature” means adj. fully developed physically or mentally. Study “mature” →
The broken, badly rusted old toy was now completely ______.
A — worthless. “worthless” means adj. having no real value or use. Study “worthless” →
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.