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 “strain”:
A — exert. “strain” means v. to exert to the utmost. Study “strain” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “practical”:
C — pragmatic. “practical” means adj. concerned with actual use or practice. Study “practical” →
Select the best synonym for the word “banking”:
D — finance. “banking” means n. the business conducted or services offered by a bank. Study “banking” →
Select the best synonym for the word “unspoken”:
C — implicit. “unspoken” means adj. not expressed in words; implicit. Study “unspoken” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “question”:
B — inquiry. “question” means n. a sentence worded to elicit information. Study “question” →
Select the best synonym for the word “invent”:
D — devise. “invent” means v. to create something new. Study “invent” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “happiness”:
B — joy. “happiness” means n. the state of being happy. Study “happiness” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “win”:
B — triumph. “win” means v. to achieve victory in a contest or competition. Study “win” →
Select the best synonym for the word “self-possession”:
A — composure. “self-possession” means n. the ability to remain calm and confident in difficult situations. Study “self-possession” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shock”:
D — jolt. “shock” means n. a sudden and strong feeling of surprise. Study “shock” →
Select the best synonym for the word “poison”:
A — toxin. “poison” means n. a substance that can cause harm or death if taken into the body. Study “poison” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “determined”:
C — resolute. “determined” means adj. having a strong desire to do something. Study “determined” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “hold”:
B — grip. “hold” means v. to grasp or carry with one''s hands. Study “hold” →
Select the best synonym for the word “things”:
A — items. “things” means n. objects or items. Study “things” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “thriving”:
D — flourishing. “thriving” means adj. growing or developing successfully. Study “thriving” →
On that dark, ______ night, the ship struggled through the huge crashing waves.
D — stormy. “stormy” means adj. characterized by strong winds and rain. Study “stormy” →
It took a huge ______ to lift the heavy fallen log off the path.
C — effort. “effort” means n. a vigorous or determined attempt. Study “effort” →
The old repaired vase had lost the perfect ______ it once had.
A — wholeness. “wholeness” means n. the state of being complete or whole. Study “wholeness” →
The old sailor told us an exciting ______ about a giant sea monster.
D — tale. “tale” means n. a story, especially one that might be invented or difficult to believe. Study “tale” →
The clever ______ studied every tiny clue to solve the strange mystery.
A — detective. “detective” means n. a person who investigates crimes. Study “detective” →
Losing the game so unfairly was sure to ______ the whole tired team.
D — enrage. “enrage” means v. to make someone very angry. Study “enrage” →
The empty, silent old house felt cold, dark, and ______.
D — depressing. “depressing” means adj. making you feel sad. Study “depressing” →
The tiny kitten was still ______ to climb up the tall wooden fence.
D — unable. “unable” means adj. not having the ability to do something. Study “unable” →
The main ______ of the long meeting was to plan the summer festival.
D — purpose. “purpose” means n. the reason for which something is done. Study “purpose” →
The library is a quiet place for ______ study and careful reading.
D — academic. “academic” means adj. related to education or scholarly activities. Study “academic” →
The ancient cave ______ painted pictures of wild animals on the stone walls.
C — dwellers. “dwellers” means n. people who live in a particular place. Study “dwellers” →
May I ______ that we all take a short break before the next meeting?
C — suggest. “suggest” means v. to propose an idea or plan. Study “suggest” →
A single loud noise can ______ a huge avalanche on the snowy mountain.
A — trigger. “trigger” means v. to cause something to happen; n. a small device that releases a spring or catch. Study “trigger” →
She gave a large ______ of her lunch to her very hungry little brother.
B — portion. “portion” means n. a part or share of something. Study “portion” →
This quiet ______ of the city is full of leafy parks and gardens.
A — area. “area” means n. a particular part of a place, city, country, etc.. Study “area” →
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.