30 Verbal Reasoning questions — Part 1: 15 synonym, Part 2: 15 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.
Note: The real ISEE Primary Level (for applicants to grades 2–4) is Auditory Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and a writing sample — it has no Verbal Reasoning section, so the real Primary-level test never asks a synonym or sentence-completion question. This practice test borrows that question style from the Lower/Middle/Upper Verbal Reasoning format purely to help younger students build vocabulary early, ahead of the level where it is actually tested that way.
Select the best synonym for the word “lenient”:
B — merciful. “lenient” means adj. not strict; showing mercy. Study “lenient” →
Select the best synonym for the word “estrange”:
D — alienate. “estrange” means v. to cause someone to be no longer friendly or close. Study “estrange” →
Select the best synonym for the word “musical”:
A — melodic. “musical” means adj. relating to music; n. a play or movie with singing and dancing. Study “musical” →
Select the best synonym for the word “distinguish”:
C — differentiate. “distinguish” means v. to recognize or point out a difference. Study “distinguish” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dazed”:
C — stunned. “dazed” means adj. unable to think clearly. Study “dazed” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “prohibition”:
D — ban. “prohibition” means n. the act of officially not allowing something. Study “prohibition” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shallow”:
B — superficial. “shallow” means adj. not deep. Study “shallow” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “needing”:
A — requiring. “needing” means v. requiring something because it is essential or very important. Study “needing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “peacemaking”:
A — mediation. “peacemaking” means n. the process of establishing peace. Study “peacemaking” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “neighboring”:
A — adjacent. “neighboring” means adj. located next to or near another. Study “neighboring” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “well-known”:
B — famous. “well-known” means adj. known by many people. Study “well-known” →
Select the best synonym for the word “classical”:
D — traditional. “classical” means adj. relating to ancient Greek or Roman literature, art, or culture. Study “classical” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “loathsome”:
B — repulsive. “loathsome” means adj. causing hatred or disgust. Study “loathsome” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “group”:
A — cluster. “group” means n. a number of people or things that are together. Study “group” →
Select the best synonym for the word “suppose”:
C — assume. “suppose” means v. to think or believe something is true. Study “suppose” →
The strong camping tent was made from a tough, waterproof ______.
D — material. “material” means n. the substance or substances from which something is made. Study “material” →
The happy children built a big sandcastle down on the sunny ______.
B — seashore. “seashore” means n. the land along the edge of the sea. Study “seashore” →
The drummer began to ______ the drum in a strong, steady rhythm.
A — beat. “beat” means v. to strike repeatedly. Study “beat” →
The ______ mountain path was just wide enough for one person to walk.
C — narrow. “narrow” means adj. having a small width; v. to make something less wide. Study “narrow” →
Even during the fierce storm, the captain stayed perfectly ______.
A — calm. “calm” means adj. not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions. Study “calm” →
The light, ______ shelves can be rolled easily from one room to another.
D — movable. “movable” means adj. capable of being moved. Study “movable” →
He looked utterly ______ after failing the very important exam.
D — dejected. “dejected” means adj. sad and depressed; dispirited. Study “dejected” →
A large heavy car can ______ a lot of fuel on a long highway journey.
D — consume. “consume” means v. to use up or eat. Study “consume” →
The two leaders ______ signed the peace agreement in front of the cameras.
B — formally. “formally” means adv. in a formal manner. Study “formally” →
The bored young child began to ______ in his seat during the long lecture.
B — squirm. “squirm” means v. to twist or move uncomfortably. Study “squirm” →
A huge ______ of dark storm clouds gathered before the coming rain.
D — mass. “mass” means n. a large amount or number of something. Study “mass” →
Warm sun and rich, dark soil provide the ______ conditions for the plants.
D — optimal. “optimal” means adj. best or most effective. Study “optimal” →
The tired mother tried hard to ______ the crying baby with a soft song.
C — pacify. “pacify” means v. to calm someone down. Study “pacify” →
The strong man lifted the heavy box ______ with just one hand.
C — easily. “easily” means adv. without difficulty. Study “easily” →
The ______ guests warmly thanked their host for the wonderful meal.
D — appreciative. “appreciative” means adj. feeling or showing gratitude. Study “appreciative” →
Score:
Every question below is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted in red, and any option you picked that was wrong is highlighted in blue.
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.
The real ISEE Primary Level (for applicants to grades 2–4) is Auditory Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and a writing sample — it has no Verbal Reasoning section, so the real Primary-level test never asks a synonym or sentence-completion question. This practice test borrows that question style from the Lower/Middle/Upper Verbal Reasoning format purely to help younger students build vocabulary early, ahead of the level where it is actually tested that way.
30 — Part 1 is 15 synonym questions, Part 2 is 15 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.
No. Every Primary 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.