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.
Choose the best synonym for the word “noticeable”:
A — obvious. “noticeable” means adj. easy to see or recognize. Study “noticeable” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “half-open”:
B — ajar. “half-open” means adj. partially open. Study “half-open” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “withdrawn”:
D — reserved. “withdrawn” means adj. shy and quiet, not wanting to be with other people. Study “withdrawn” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “impure”:
C — contaminated. “impure” means adj. not clean or pure. Study “impure” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “docile”:
B — tame. “docile” means adj. easily taught or controlled. Study “docile” →
Select the best synonym for the word “others”:
A — the rest. “others” means pron. people or things that are different from those already mentioned. Study “others” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “reduce”:
A — decrease. “reduce” means v. to make something smaller or less. Study “reduce” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “understand”:
B — comprehend. “understand” means v. to know the meaning of something. Study “understand” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “favoritism”:
D — bias. “favoritism” means n. unfair support shown to one person or group. Study “favoritism” →
Select the best synonym for the word “conspiring”:
B — plotting. “conspiring” means v. planning secretly with others to do something bad. Study “conspiring” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lawful”:
B — legal. “lawful” means adj. allowed by law. Study “lawful” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “gases”:
C — vapors. “gases” means n. plural of gas; substances in a form like air. Study “gases” →
Select the best synonym for the word “squirm”:
A — wriggle. “squirm” means v. to twist or move uncomfortably. Study “squirm” →
Select the best synonym for the word “pressure”:
D — stress. “pressure” means n. the force applied to a surface. Study “pressure” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “newly”:
A — recently. “newly” means adv. recently. Study “newly” →
The very strong wind made the tall trees ______ and sway back and forth.
B — shake. “shake” means v. to move something back and forth or up and down with quick movements. Study “shake” →
The kind, gentle words were an act of ______ meant to end the bitter quarrel.
D — conciliation. “conciliation” means n. the action of stopping someone from being angry. Study “conciliation” →
The color of the car was only a ______ concern; safety always came first.
C — secondary. “secondary” means adj. less important than something else; coming after the first. Study “secondary” →
The book told such a ______ story that she simply could not put it down.
B — compelling. “compelling” means adj. very interesting; convincing. Study “compelling” →
Her brave act of kindness clearly made her ______ of the special award.
B — worthy. “worthy” means adj. having value or merit; deserving respect. Study “worthy” →
The teacher had to ______ the difficult instructions three whole times.
C — repeat. “repeat” means v. to say or do something again. Study “repeat” →
After a long, deep sleep, she woke up feeling full of fresh ______.
C — energy. “energy” means n. the strength and vitality required for physical or mental activity. Study “energy” →
He wandered ______ through the streets, unsure of where he was going.
B — aimlessly. “aimlessly” means adv. without purpose or direction. Study “aimlessly” →
The children were ______ to open their presents on the holiday morning.
A — excited. “excited” means adj. feeling very happy and enthusiastic. Study “excited” →
The kangaroo is an animal ______ to the wide, open plains of Australia.
C — indigenous. “indigenous” means adj. originating or occurring naturally in a particular place. Study “indigenous” →
He finally decided to ______ his boring job and start his own business.
D — quit. “quit” means v. to stop doing something. Study “quit” →
Try very hard not to ______ too much about the things you cannot change.
A — worry. “worry” means v. to feel anxious or concerned about something. Study “worry” →
In the dark, it was very hard to ______ the twins from each other.
B — distinguish. “distinguish” means v. to recognize or point out a difference. Study “distinguish” →
The soldier's ______ letter home brought tears to everyone's eyes.
D — moving. “moving” means adj. causing strong feelings of sadness or sympathy. Study “moving” →
The ______ scientist had won many awards all over the world.
C — distinguished. “distinguished” means adj. successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect. Study “distinguished” →
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.