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 “ordered”:
A — organized. “ordered” means adj. arranged in a neat or organized way. Study “ordered” →
After buying the very expensive gift, he was completely ______.
B — broke. “broke” means adj. having no money. Study “broke” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “assistant”:
A — helper. “assistant” means n. a person who helps or supports someone else. Study “assistant” →
The very curious child asked her teacher a truly difficult ______.
C — question. “question” means n. a sentence worded to elicit information. Study “question” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “true”:
D — accurate. “true” means adj. in accordance with fact or reality. Study “true” →
She felt very ______ to find a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk.
B — lucky. “lucky” means adj. having good fortune. Study “lucky” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “conversation”:
C — dialogue. “conversation” means n. a talk between two or more people. Study “conversation” →
The captain used the big wheel to ______ the ship safely into the port.
C — steer. “steer” means v. to guide or control the direction of something. Study “steer” →
Select the best synonym for the word “laden”:
B — loaded. “laden” means adj. heavily loaded or weighed down. Study “laden” →
By ______ to every school rule, the careful new student avoided all trouble.
C — conforming. “conforming” means adj. complying with rules, standards, or laws. Study “conforming” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unselfish”:
D — altruistic. “unselfish” means adj. putting others'' needs before one''s own. Study “unselfish” →
The long lines for ______ stretched all the way around the entire block.
B — voting. “voting” means n. the act of expressing a choice or opinion in a group decision. Study “voting” →
Select the best synonym for the word “kingly”:
C — royal. “kingly” means adj. relating to or suitable for a king. Study “kingly” →
It was ______ of him to lie about breaking the kitchen window.
B — dishonest. “dishonest” means adj. not truthful or trustworthy. Study “dishonest” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “recall”:
B — remember. “recall” means v. to remember something. Study “recall” →
The blazing desert sun made the sand far too ______ to walk on barefoot.
B — hot. “hot” means adj. having a high temperature. Study “hot” →
Select the best synonym for the word “modernize”:
A — update. “modernize” means v. to make something more current or up-to-date. Study “modernize” →
The heavy gray stone will quickly ______ to the bottom of the deep pond.
A — sink. “sink” means v. to go down below the surface of water. Study “sink” →
Select the best synonym for the word “basic”:
D — fundamental. “basic” means adj. forming an essential foundation or starting point. Study “basic” →
The wise old ______ had read many thousands of books in his long life.
A — scholar. “scholar” means n. a person who studies and has a lot of knowledge. Study “scholar” →
Select the best synonym for the word “protector”:
B — guardian. “protector” means n. a person or thing that protects. Study “protector” →
A bright rainbow may ______ of seven different glowing colors.
C — consist. “consist” means v. to be made up or composed. Study “consist” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “changing”:
A — shifting. “changing” means adj. becoming different. Study “changing” →
Cheating on the important exam was clearly a very ______ thing to do.
D — unethical. “unethical” means adj. not morally correct. Study “unethical” →
Select the best synonym for the word “hunting”:
B — pursuit. “hunting” means n. the activity of chasing and killing animals. Study “hunting” →
The frightened villagers began to ______ as the flood waters quickly rose.
C — flee. “flee” means v. to run away from danger or a place. Study “flee” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “neatly”:
A — tidily. “neatly” means adv. in a tidy and orderly way. Study “neatly” →
His very messy handwriting was so ______ that no one could make it out.
A — unreadable. “unreadable” means adj. not able to be read or deciphered. Study “unreadable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “authoritative”:
C — commanding. “authoritative” means adj. having or showing authority. Study “authoritative” →
It is a very common ______ that bats are completely blind.
A — misconception. “misconception” means n. a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding. Study “misconception” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dishevelled”:
D — untidy. “dishevelled” means adj. untidy or messy (British spelling). Study “dishevelled” →
He wore a cruel, ______ grin as he laughed openly at her mistake.
C — mocking. “mocking” means adj. making fun of someone in a cruel way. Study “mocking” →
Select the best synonym for the word “explode”:
B — detonate. “explode” means v. to burst with a loud noise. Study “explode” →
Being ______, she clearly stated exactly what she wanted from the deal.
B — assertive. “assertive” means adj. confident and direct in claiming one''s rights or putting forward one''s views. Study “assertive” →
Select the best synonym for the word “extended”:
A — prolonged. “extended” means adj. made longer or larger. Study “extended” →
On the very hot day, she turned on the ______ to cool the stuffy room.
B — fan. “fan” means n. a device for creating a current of air or a person who is very enthusiastic about something. Study “fan” →
Select the best synonym for the word “reword”:
C — rephrase. “reword” means v. to say or write something again using different words. Study “reword” →
She had a brilliant ______ for how to raise money for the whole school.
A — idea. “idea” means n. a thought or suggestion about a possible course of action. Study “idea” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “long-lasting”:
B — enduring. “long-lasting” means adj. continuing for a long time. Study “long-lasting” →
She tiptoed ______ into the room so she would not wake the sleeping baby.
B — quietly. “quietly” means adv. in a way that makes little or no noise. Study “quietly” →
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.