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 “unjustified”:
A — unwarranted. “unjustified” means adj. not shown to be right or reasonable. Study “unjustified” →
By ______ the big surprise, he ruined the whole party for everyone.
A — spoiling. “spoiling” means v. present participle of spoil; ruining or damaging. Study “spoiling” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “doing”:
D — activity. “doing” means n. the activities in which a person engages. Study “doing” →
The ______ child flatly refused to try even a single bite of the vegetables.
B — stubborn. “stubborn” means adj. not willing to change one''s mind. Study “stubborn” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “determination”:
D — resolve. “determination” means n. firmness of purpose. Study “determination” →
The graduation ceremony was held in the school's very biggest ______.
B — hall. “hall” means n. a large room or building for meetings or events. Study “hall” →
Select the best synonym for the word “network”:
A — system. “network” means n. a group or system of interconnected people or things. Study “network” →
The whole happy family gathered to ______ grandmother's ninetieth birthday.
C — celebrate. “celebrate” means v. to do something special for an important event. Study “celebrate” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “representation”:
C — depiction. “representation” means n. the act of speaking or acting on behalf of someone. Study “representation” →
A heavy ______ came over him soon after the huge holiday meal.
A — drowsiness. “drowsiness” means n. a state of feeling sleepy. Study “drowsiness” →
Select the best synonym for the word “conflicted”:
A — torn. “conflicted” means adj. having or showing confused and mutually inconsistent feelings. Study “conflicted” →
Without her glasses, all the tiny words on the page looked ______.
D — blurred. “blurred” means adj. not clear or distinct. Study “blurred” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “unmoving”:
B — motionless. “unmoving” means adj. not moving; still. Study “unmoving” →
The wise old king ______ his peaceful land for well over forty years.
B — ruled. “ruled” means v. past tense of rule; to have controlled or governed. Study “ruled” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “prudence”:
D — caution. “prudence” means n. the quality of being careful and sensible. Study “prudence” →
She found ______ lost umbrella left behind on the park bench.
A — someone’s. “someone’s” means pron. belonging to an unspecified person. Study “someone’s” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “approaching”:
C — nearing. “approaching” means adj. coming near or nearer in distance or time. Study “approaching” →
Clean water and fresh air are ______ for every living creature to survive.
B — necessary. “necessary” means adj. needed to be done, achieved, or present; essential. Study “necessary” →
Select the best synonym for the word “confuse”:
C — bewilder. “confuse” means v. to make someone unable to think clearly. Study “confuse” →
The very careless driver was found to be a ______ for the whole accident.
C — liability. “liability” means n. a legal responsibility or obligation. Study “liability” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “wilds”:
D — wilderness. “wilds” means n. areas of land that are not cultivated or inhabited. Study “wilds” →
We can finish the board game ______, after we eat our lunch.
A — later. “later” means adv. at a time in the future or after the time you have mentioned. Study “later” →
Select the best synonym for the word “foreshadow”:
D — presage. “foreshadow” means v. to indicate or suggest something that will happen in the future. Study “foreshadow” →
It is quite rude to ______ in other people's private business.
D — meddle. “meddle” means v. to interfere in something that is not one''s concern. Study “meddle” →
Select the best synonym for the word “flatten”:
C — level. “flatten” means v. to make or become flat. Study “flatten” →
He humbly asked for ______ after finally admitting his serious mistake.
A — forgiveness. “forgiveness” means n. the act of forgiving someone for a mistake or wrongdoing. Study “forgiveness” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “serenity”:
D — tranquility. “serenity” means n. the state of being calm and peaceful. Study “serenity” →
She spoke in a ______ tone that left no room at all for argument.
B — decided. “decided” means adj. clear and definite. Study “decided” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “plentiful”:
D — abundant. “plentiful” means adj. existing in large amounts. Study “plentiful” →
She drew a perfectly ______ line across the page with a wooden ruler.
D — straight. “straight” means adj. extending or moving in one direction only. Study “straight” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “accident”:
C — mishap. “accident” means n. an unexpected event, often causing harm or injury. Study “accident” →
The two houses stood far ______, with a wide green field between them.
D — apart. “apart” means adv. separated by a distance. Study “apart” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “occurrence”:
A — event. “occurrence” means n. something that happens. Study “occurrence” →
The huge bookstore keeps all of the science books in one ______.
C — section. “section” means n. a part of something that is divided. Study “section” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shrewdness”:
D — astuteness. “shrewdness” means n. the quality of having good judgment. Study “shrewdness” →
The ______ student yawned and stared blankly out the classroom window.
A — apathetic. “apathetic” means adj. showing or feeling no interest. Study “apathetic” →
Select the best synonym for the word “save”:
A — rescue. “save” means v. to keep safe or rescue from harm. Study “save” →
The doctor carefully measured the growing child's ______ against the wall.
A — height. “height” means n. the measurement of how tall something is. Study “height” →
Select the best synonym for the word “overview”:
A — summary. “overview” means n. a general summary of a subject. Study “overview” →
Her deep ______ for painting kept her working late into the night.
B — passion. “passion” means n. a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement. Study “passion” →
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.