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 “interesting”:
A — engaging. “interesting” means adj. arousing curiosity or interest; holding or catching the attention. Study “interesting” →
The angry coach spoke very ______ to the players after the sad loss.
A — harshly. “harshly” means adv. in a rough or severe manner. Study “harshly” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “quiver”:
D — tremble. “quiver” means v. to shake slightly. Study “quiver” →
The old car was in surprisingly good ______ despite its great age.
B — condition. “condition” means n. the state or situation of something. Study “condition” →
Select the best synonym for the word “concentrate”:
A — focus. “concentrate” means v. to focus all one''s attention on a particular object or activity. Study “concentrate” →
The outdoor concert was the most exciting ______ in town all summer.
B — happening. “happening” means n. an event or occurrence. Study “happening” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “animal”:
C — creature. “animal” means n. a living organism that feeds on organic matter. Study “animal” →
The huge crowd gave the singer a ______ welcome, cheering very wildly.
B — rapturous. “rapturous” means adj. expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm. Study “rapturous” →
Select the best synonym for the word “rundown”:
B — summary. “rundown” means n. a summary or brief description. Study “rundown” →
The soft copper wire was easily ______ into almost any shape you wanted.
C — bendable. “bendable” means adj. capable of being bent. Study “bendable” →
Select the best synonym for the word “disputed”:
D — contested. “disputed” means adj. argued about or questioned. Study “disputed” →
You should never ______ a book only by its bright, colorful cover.
A — judge. “judge” means n. plural of judge; v. third person singular of judge. Study “judge” →
Select the best synonym for the word “follower”:
C — disciple. “follower” means n. a person who supports and admires a particular person or set of ideas. Study “follower” →
Cats ______ to sleep for most of the long, warm summer afternoon.
A — tend. “tend” means v. to be likely to do something. Study “tend” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “passionate”:
A — ardent. “passionate” means adj. having or showing strong feelings. Study “passionate” →
You should always ______ other people with real kindness and respect.
C — treat. “treat” means v. to behave towards someone in a particular way; n. something special that you enjoy. Study “treat” →
Select the best synonym for the word “disloyal”:
A — unfaithful. “disloyal” means adj. not loyal or faithful. Study “disloyal” →
The sharp detective noticed a clear ______ between the two different stories.
B — inconsistency. “inconsistency” means n. the quality of being inconsistent or not staying the same. Study “inconsistency” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “freedom”:
B — liberty. “freedom” means n. the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants. Study “freedom” →
The proud coach was quick to ______ the whole team's hard work.
A — praise. “praise” means v. to express approval or admiration. Study “praise” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “destroyed”:
A — demolished. “destroyed” means adj. ruined or damaged completely. Study “destroyed” →
She sent a quick ______ to let her worried mother know she was safe.
B — text. “text” means n. written words. Study “text” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “repair”:
D — mend. “repair” means v. to fix something that is broken or damaged. Study “repair” →
The whole team worked very hard to ______ the difficult plan perfectly.
A — execute. “execute” means v. to carry out or put into effect. Study “execute” →
Select the best synonym for the word “judge”:
C — assess. “judge” means n. a person who decides cases in a court of law; v. to form an opinion about something. Study “judge” →
The volunteers brought all the tools ______ to build the small wooden house.
D — needed. “needed” means adj. required or wanted. Study “needed” →
Select the best synonym for the word “clumsy”:
B — awkward. “clumsy” means adj. awkward in movement or handling things. Study “clumsy” →
She was very ______ of her young son when he won the spelling contest.
B — proud. “proud” means adj. feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something regarded as highly honorable. Study “proud” →
Select the best synonym for the word “forbid”:
D — prohibit. “forbid” means v. to order someone not to do something. Study “forbid” →
Moving to a big new city can be a very ______ experience for a family.
D — stressful. “stressful” means adj. causing stress or tension. Study “stressful” →
Select the best synonym for the word “thought”:
A — idea. “thought” means n. an idea or opinion. Study “thought” →
The old recipe needs a ______ of sugar, soft butter, and fresh eggs.
A — mixture. “mixture” means n. a combination of different things. Study “mixture” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shift”:
B — transfer. “shift” means v. to move or change position. Study “shift” →
The bitter cold made her lips ______ as she waited at the bus stop.
A — quiver. “quiver” means v. to shake slightly. Study “quiver” →
Select the best synonym for the word “repeated”:
A — recurring. “repeated” means adj. happening again and again. Study “repeated” →
The honest witness solemnly swore to tell the whole ______ in court.
C — truth. “truth” means n. the quality or state of being true. Study “truth” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “mitigate”:
A — alleviate. “mitigate” means v. to make less severe or serious. Study “mitigate” →
The ______ professor was invited to speak at universities everywhere.
C — esteemed. “esteemed” means adj. highly respected or admired. Study “esteemed” →
Select the best synonym for the word “resource”:
A — asset. “resource” means n. a supply of something useful. Study “resource” →
The teacher gave a clear ______ to help explain the difficult new rule.
B — example. “example” means n. something that is used to show what other similar things are like. Study “example” →
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.