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 “collection”:
C — assemblage. “collection” means n. a group of things gathered together. Study “collection” →
Make sure the shelf is perfectly ______ before you hang the pictures.
A — level. “level” means n. a specific height or line; adj. flat or even. Study “level” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “wholesome”:
B — healthy. “wholesome” means adj. promoting health or well-being. Study “wholesome” →
A good judge must be completely ______ and treat both sides very fairly.
C — unbiased. “unbiased” means adj. fair and not influenced by personal feelings. Study “unbiased” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “simple”:
B — uncomplicated. “simple” means adj. easy to understand or do. Study “simple” →
The starving refugees were in desperate ______ of food and warm shelter.
C — need. “need” means n. things that are necessary for life or a particular purpose. Study “need” →
Select the best synonym for the word “imperfect”:
C — flawed. “imperfect” means adj. not perfect; having flaws. Study “imperfect” →
That heavy winter coat is not ______ for such a warm spring day.
C — fit. “fit” means adj. suitable or appropriate. Study “fit” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “decode”:
B — decipher. “decode” means v. to convert a coded message into understandable language. Study “decode” →
It was ______ of her to gently change the subject before an argument began.
D — tactful. “tactful” means adj. having or showing sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. Study “tactful” →
Select the best synonym for the word “improvement”:
C — enhancement. “improvement” means n. the act of making something better. Study “improvement” →
The clever old fox used a ______ to steal the food right from the farmer.
C — trick. “trick” means n. an action that is meant to deceive someone; v. to deceive someone. Study “trick” →
Select the best synonym for the word “cold”:
D — chilly. “cold” means adj. having a low temperature. Study “cold” →
There was a strange ______ between his fancy suit and his muddy old boots.
A — incongruity. “incongruity” means n. the state of being out of place or not in harmony. Study “incongruity” →
Select the best synonym for the word “explosive”:
C — volatile. “explosive” means adj. able to cause an explosion or likely to explode. Study “explosive” →
The pain from the bad burn was almost ______ until the medicine arrived.
A — unbearable. “unbearable” means adj. too unpleasant or painful to deal with. Study “unbearable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “roomy”:
C — spacious. “roomy” means adj. having plenty of space. Study “roomy” →
She was thrilled to finally win the leading ______ in the school play.
A — role. “role” means n. a part played by an actor or a function someone has. Study “role” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “shiny”:
B — glossy. “shiny” means adj. bright and smooth. Study “shiny” →
The charity made a heartfelt ______ for warm coats before the cold winter.
C — appeal. “appeal” means v. to make a serious or urgent request. Study “appeal” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “disturbing”:
C — alarming. “disturbing” means adj. causing anxiety or worry. Study “disturbing” →
The strange, twisting riddle was so ______ that no one could solve it.
A — perplexing. “perplexing” means adj. confusing or difficult to understand. Study “perplexing” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “separately”:
B — individually. “separately” means adv. apart from others. Study “separately” →
The horse-drawn cart was in many ways a ______ of the modern automobile.
B — forerunner. “forerunner” means n. a person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else. Study “forerunner” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “innovator”:
D — pioneer. “innovator” means n. a person who introduces new ideas or methods. Study “innovator” →
Her wise old grandmother always gave her very good ______.
C — advice. “advice” means n. guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent action. Study “advice” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “peace-making”:
A — reconciliation. “peace-making” means n. the process of bringing about peace. Study “peace-making” →
A tall stone arch marked the grand ______ to the old castle.
D — entrance. “entrance” means n. a place where you go in. Study “entrance” →
Select the best synonym for the word “handy”:
A — useful. “handy” means adj. useful or convenient. Study “handy” →
The speeding car nearly ______ into the wooden fence at the sharp corner.
C — crash. “crash” means v. to hit something hard enough to cause serious damage. Study “crash” →
Select the best synonym for the word “willing”:
A — eager. “willing” means adj. ready or eager to do something. Study “willing” →
In an emergency, it is important to ______ quickly and calmly.
C — act. “act” means v. to do something; n. a thing done. Study “act” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “self-reliant”:
B — independent. “self-reliant” means adj. relying on oneself or one''s own abilities. Study “self-reliant” →
The ______ of the enormous new bridge will take at least two years.
C — construction. “construction” means n. the act of building something. Study “construction” →
Select the best synonym for the word “self-rule”:
C — autonomy. “self-rule” means n. government of a country or region by its own people. Study “self-rule” →
The general will ______ his soldiers to begin marching at dawn.
C — command. “command” means v. to give an order. Study “command” →
Select the best synonym for the word “preference”:
B — liking. “preference” means n. a greater liking for one alternative over another. Study “preference” →
The young girl showed a truly ______ talent for playing the violin.
B — remarkable. “remarkable” means adj. worthy of attention; striking. Study “remarkable” →
Select the best synonym for the word “haggard”:
D — gaunt. “haggard” means adj. looking tired and worn out. Study “haggard” →
His constant loud bragging clearly showed his great ______.
A — self-importance. “self-importance” means n. an exaggerated sense of one''s own value or importance. Study “self-importance” →
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.