34 Verbal Reasoning questions — 17 synonym, 17 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 synonym for the word “Citizenship” as used in the context: “The school emphasizes the importance of good citizenship among students.”
B — Patriotism. “citizenship” means n. being a citizen. Study “citizenship” →
We agreed to meet in the hotel ______ just before dinner.
A — lobby. “lobby” means n./v. entrance hall; try to influence. Study “lobby” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “expansion”?
B — Growth. “expansion” means n. becoming bigger. Study “expansion” →
Using ______ reasoning, the detective solved the case from the clues.
D — deductive. “deductive” means adj. using general principles to infer. Study “deductive” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “dismantle”:
C — Take apart. “dismantle” means v. take apart. Study “dismantle” →
The whole bus trip cost a ______ ten dollars.
A — mere. “mere” means adj. only, nothing more. Study “mere” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “gait”.
A — Stride. “gait” means n. manner of walking. Study “gait” →
The store plans to ______ its prices at the start of next month.
B — increase. “increase” means v./n. make or become larger. Study “increase” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “emission”:
A — production. “emission” means n. release of gas, light, etc.. Study “emission” →
The bigger team tried to ______ their smaller opponents before the match.
D — intimidate. “intimidate” means v. frighten, make afraid. Study “intimidate” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “vow” as used in the following sentence: “He made a solemn vow to always help those in need.”
A — promise. “vow” means n./v. solemn promise. Study “vow” →
The ______ man walked slowly with the help of a wooden cane.
C — elderly. “elderly” means adj. old. Study “elderly” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “diversity” as used in the context: “The __________ of species in the rainforest is astounding.”
B — variety. “diversity” means n. variety, difference. Study “diversity” →
He did not want to ______ his friend by pointing out the mistake in public.
B — humiliate. “humiliate” means v. embarrass, make ashamed. Study “humiliate” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “interview”:
A — meeting. “interview” means n./v. formal meeting for questions. Study “interview” →
The company decided to ______ the contract after many complaints.
B — terminate. “terminate” means v. bring to an end. Study “terminate” →
Which word is a synonym for “bulky”?
C — heavy. “bulky” means adj. large and difficult to move or carry. Study “bulky” →
Nothing would grow in the ______ field after years of drought.
D — barren. “barren” means adj. unable to produce, empty. Study “barren” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word “rumble” as used in the sentence: “As the storm approached, we could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.”
C — growl. “rumble” means v./n. make a deep sound. Study “rumble” →
The airline offers both international and ______ flights.
A — domestic. “domestic” means adj. relating to home, country. Study “domestic” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “witness”.
A — Observer. “witness” means n./v. person who sees; to observe. Study “witness” →
Running and swimming are excellent forms of ______ exercise.
A — physical. “physical” means adj. relating to the body or material things. Study “physical” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “charter”:
A — Contract. “charter” means n. constitution, contract. Study “charter” →
The doctor will ______ the patient before writing a prescription.
A — examine. “examine” means v. inspect, check closely. Study “examine” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “deserve”:
B — merit. “deserve” means v. be worthy of. Study “deserve” →
The rocky, uneven ______ made the long hike very difficult.
C — terrain. “terrain” means n. land, ground. Study “terrain” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “migrate” in the sentence: “Each year, the birds migrate south for the winter.”
C — Travel. “migrate” means v. move from one place to another. Study “migrate” →
She showed a warm, ______ care toward all the orphaned children.
B — maternal. “maternal” means adj. motherly. Study “maternal” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “burden”: Carrying the heavy boxes up the stairs was a significant burden for Jamie. A. Relief B. Load C. Fun D. Gain
B — Load. “burden” means n. a heavy load, responsibility. Study “burden” →
The teacher read a short ______ from the famous novel aloud.
D — passage. “passage” means n. part of text; way through. Study “passage” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “jubilant”:
B — joyful. “jubilant” means adj. extremely happy. Study “jubilant” →
With years of hard work, the small family business began to ______.
B — prosper. “prosper” means v. to succeed, flourish. Study “prosper” →
Which of the following is the best synonym for the word “exaggerate” as used in the following sentence? “Mark tends to exaggerate his accomplishments, making them seem more impressive than they actually are.”
C — Overstate. “exaggerate” means v. make something seem bigger than it is. Study “exaggerate” →
The ______ system decides whether a person is guilty or innocent.
C — judicial. “judicial” means adj. relating to courts or judges. Study “judicial” →
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.
34 — 17 synonym questions and 17 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.
No. Every Lower 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.