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 “unnamed”:
C — nameless. “unnamed” means adj. not having a name or not named. Study “unnamed” →
As a proud new ______ of the club, she attended her very first meeting.
D — member. “member” means n. a person belonging to a group or organization. Study “member” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “diversify”:
D — vary. “diversify” means v. to make or become more varied. Study “diversify” →
Regular daily exercise is a very ______ way to stay fit and healthy.
B — effective. “effective” means adj. successful in producing a desired result. Study “effective” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “puzzle”:
D — riddle. “puzzle” means n. a game or problem that tests one''s ingenuity. Study “puzzle” →
The chemist carefully studied the exact ______ of the strange new metal.
C — composition. “composition” means n. the way in which something is made up. Study “composition” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “higher”:
D — taller. “higher” means adj. comparative of high; more elevated. Study “higher” →
After the bad injury, his left arm was much ______ than his right.
C — weaker. “weaker” means adj. less strong or powerful. Study “weaker” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “slope”:
D — incline. “slope” means n. a surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another. Study “slope” →
The witness began to ______ everything she had firmly said the day before.
B — contradict. “contradict” means v. to say the opposite of what someone else has said. Study “contradict” →
Select the best synonym for the word “lifelike”:
B — realistic. “lifelike” means adj. very similar to the real thing. Study “lifelike” →
Long ago, the powerful empire ruled many distant ______ across the sea.
A — colonies. “colonies” means n. territories controlled by another country. Study “colonies” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “strip”:
B — undress. “strip” means v. to remove something, usually clothing. Study “strip” →
Sales began to ______ sharply after the store suddenly raised its prices.
A — decrease. “decrease” means v. to become smaller or less. Study “decrease” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “helper”:
A — assistant. “helper” means n. a person who assists or aids. Study “helper” →
The strange cult tried to ______ its members into obeying without question.
B — brainwash. “brainwash” means v. to make someone believe something by repeatedly telling them it is true. Study “brainwash” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “background”:
C — backdrop. “background” means n. the part of a scene or picture that is farthest from the viewer. Study “background” →
She spent the whole rainy afternoon working on a difficult jigsaw ______.
C — puzzle. “puzzle” means n. a game or problem that tests one''s ingenuity. Study “puzzle” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “successfully”:
B — triumphantly. “successfully” means adv. in a way that achieves a goal or purpose. Study “successfully” →
The lifeguard warned the swimmers of the ______ of the strong current.
D — danger. “danger” means n. the possibility of harm or injury. Study “danger” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “probe”:
A — investigate. “probe” means v. to investigate or explore something closely. Study “probe” →
The dishonest little shop tried to ______ the tourists for a simple meal.
A — overcharge. “overcharge” means v. to charge too much money. Study “overcharge” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “uprightness”:
B — integrity. “uprightness” means n. the quality of being honest and morally correct. Study “uprightness” →
It was the only ______ answer, and everyone quickly agreed with it.
A — logical. “logical” means adj. reasonable and sensible. Study “logical” →
Select the best synonym for the word “production”:
C — manufacturing. “production” means n. the process of making or growing things to be sold. Study “production” →
The ______ shelter was only meant to last until the new house was built.
B — temporary. “temporary” means adj. lasting for a limited time. Study “temporary” →
Select the best synonym for the word “forsake”:
D — abandon. “forsake” means v. to abandon or leave someone or something. Study “forsake” →
The little gray mouse squeezed through a narrow ______ in the wooden fence.
C — gap. “gap” means n. an empty space or opening. Study “gap” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “resist”:
B — oppose. “resist” means v. to fight against something or someone. Study “resist” →
The ______ fox found a smart way to reach the high, ripe grapes.
A — clever. “clever” means adj. quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas. Study “clever” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “financial”:
D — monetary. “financial” means adj. related to money. Study “financial” →
A cold night draft came in through the ______ bedroom window.
A — half-open. “half-open” means adj. partially open. Study “half-open” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “stress”:
B — tension. “stress” means n. a feeling of worry or tension. Study “stress” →
The pale moon slowly circles the ______ surface from very far away.
D — earth's. “earth''s” means possessive form of earth, relating to the planet. Study “earth''s” →
Select the best synonym for the word “healthy”:
D — fit. “healthy” means adj. in good health. Study “healthy” →
The dry desert plants badly ______ the water they need to grow tall.
B — lack. “lack” means v. to be without something. Study “lack” →
Select the best synonym for the word “vicinity”:
C — neighborhood. “vicinity” means n. the area near or surrounding a particular place. Study “vicinity” →
The town council decided to ______ its old library with new computers.
B — modernize. “modernize” means v. to make something more current or up-to-date. Study “modernize” →
Select the best synonym for the word “supply”:
C — provide. “supply” means v. to provide something that is needed. Study “supply” →
Do not let small details ______ you from finishing the main task.
D — sidetrack. “sidetrack” means v. to distract from the main subject. Study “sidetrack” →
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.