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 “celebration”:
D — festivity. “celebration” means n. a special event or activity in honor of something. Study “celebration” →
Washing all of the greasy dishes was a long and boring ______.
C — task. “task” means n. a piece of work to be done. Study “task” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “top”:
B — summit. “top” means n. the highest part or point of something. Study “top” →
She greeted every single guest in a warm, friendly ______.
D — manner. “manner” means n. a way in which something is done or happens. Study “manner” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “full”:
D — replete. “full” means adj. containing or holding as much as possible. Study “full” →
They carefully followed the narrow ______ through the thick, dark woods.
C — path. “path” means n. a track made by people or animals walking. Study “path” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “exciting”:
D — thrilling. “exciting” means adj. causing great enthusiasm and eagerness. Study “exciting” →
She was deeply ______ for all the kind help her neighbors had given her.
D — thankful. “thankful” means adj. feeling grateful. Study “thankful” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “vain”:
D — conceited. “vain” means adj. having an excessively high opinion of one''s appearance or abilities. Study “vain” →
The strange scratching noise in the attic began to ______ their curiosity.
A — arouse. “arouse” means v. to awaken or provoke a feeling or response. Study “arouse” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “busy”:
C — occupied. “busy” means adj. having a lot to do; actively engaged. Study “busy” →
It was a ______ idea to leave the front door wide open all night.
A — stupid. “stupid” means adj. lacking intelligence or common sense. Study “stupid” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “swell”:
D — bulge. “swell” means v. to become larger or rounder in size. Study “swell” →
The long trip to the mountains was a truly ______ experience for them.
B — unforgettable. “unforgettable” means adj. impossible to forget. Study “unforgettable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “worldview”:
B — perspective. “worldview” means n. a particular philosophy or view of life. Study “worldview” →
She solemnly promised never to tell anyone the very important ______.
D — secret. “secret” means n. something that is kept hidden or not known by others. Study “secret” →
Select the best synonym for the word “meaningful”:
A — significant. “meaningful” means adj. having a serious, important, or useful quality or purpose. Study “meaningful” →
She solved the hard problem with cool ______ rather than wild panic.
C — rationality. “rationality” means n. the quality of being based on or in accordance with reason or logic. Study “rationality” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “legal”:
A — lawful. “legal” means adj. related to the law. Study “legal” →
She was so busy with her own ______ that she completely forgot the time.
A — doing. “doing” means n. the activities in which a person engages. Study “doing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “nationalism”:
A — patriotism. “nationalism” means n. strong identification with and pride in one''s nation. Study “nationalism” →
There were ______ hundreds of ants crawling all over the picnic blanket.
A — literally. “literally” means adv. in a literal manner or sense; exactly. Study “literally” →
Select the best synonym for the word “societal”:
C — social. “societal” means adj. relating to society or social relations. Study “societal” →
The art gallery held a special ______ of the young painter's newest work.
C — showing. “showing” means n. an event where something is displayed or presented. Study “showing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “fight”:
B — battle. “fight” means v. to use physical force to try to defeat someone. Study “fight” →
It was really hard to ______ which of the two puppies to adopt.
A — decide. “decide” means v. to make a choice or judgment. Study “decide” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “introduce”:
A — present. “introduce” means v. to make someone known to someone else. Study “introduce” →
Living all alone in the wild, he slowly became strong and ______.
C — self-reliant. “self-reliant” means adj. relying on oneself or one''s own abilities. Study “self-reliant” →
Select the best synonym for the word “motherly”:
A — maternal. “motherly” means adj. having the qualities of a good mother. Study “motherly” →
Wipe your muddy shoes carefully before ______ the clean house.
C — entering. “entering” means v. going into a place. Study “entering” →
Select the best synonym for the word “doable”:
B — feasible. “doable” means adj. able to be done or achieved. Study “doable” →
The thick, ______ leaves of the plant stored water for the long dry season.
D — fleshy. “fleshy” means adj. having a lot of flesh; plump or thick. Study “fleshy” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “sacred”:
C — holy. “sacred” means adj. considered holy or connected to religion. Study “sacred” →
The wise old owl is a familiar ______ of the quiet, shady forest.
B — inhabitant. “inhabitant” means n. a person or animal that lives in a place. Study “inhabitant” →
Select the best synonym for the word “nearby”:
A — adjacent. “nearby” means adv. close at hand; not far away. Study “nearby” →
The ______ little cottage had red roses climbing all over its walls.
A — charming. “charming” means adj. very pleasing or attractive. Study “charming” →
Select the best synonym for the word “criticize”:
C — condemn. “criticize” means v. to express disapproval of someone or something. Study “criticize” →
The tiny newborn kittens were ______ in a warm basket beside the fire.
A — born. “born” means adj. brought into life. Study “born” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “finely”:
D — delicately. “finely” means adv. in a very delicate or exact way. Study “finely” →
The wise old oak tree stood ______ by the fierce storms of many years.
A — unaffected. “unaffected” means adj. not changed or influenced by something. Study “unaffected” →
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.