34 Verbal Reasoning questions — Part 1: 17 synonym, Part 2: 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 word that is most similar in meaning to “cordial”:
A — Friendly. “cordial” means adj. warm and friendly. Study “cordial” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “deplete”?
A — Exhaust. “deplete” means v. use up. Study “deplete” →
What is a synonym for the word “abandon”?
B — desert. “abandon” means v. to leave behind. Study “abandon” →
Select the synonym for the word “glossy” as used in the sentence: “The magazine”s glossy cover attracted many readers.''
A — Shiny. “glossy” means adj. shiny, smooth. Study “glossy” →
Select the synonym for the word “layer” as it is used in the sentence: “The cake was delicious, with each layer filled with cream.”
B — tier. “layer” means n. level, sheet on top of something. Study “layer” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “devise”: The scientist had to devise a new method to solve the complex problem.
B — create. “devise” means v. invent, plan. Study “devise” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “brief”: The meeting was very brief, lasting only fifteen minutes.
B — Short. “brief” means adj. short, not lasting long. Study “brief” →
Choose the synonym for the word “alternative”: The teacher presented the students with an alternative to the traditional book report.
A — option. “alternative” means n./adj. choice; another option. Study “alternative” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “eventually”: After waiting for years, they eventually received the inheritance they were promised.
B — finally. “eventually” means adv. finally, in the end. Study “eventually” →
Which word is a synonym for “drastic” in the following sentence: “The new policy introduced by the school board called for drastic measures to improve student performance”?
B — severe. “drastic” means adj. extreme, severe. Study “drastic” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “magnificent”: The sunset over the ocean was truly magnificent, leaving everyone in awe.
B — splendid. “magnificent” means adj. very beautiful, impressive. Study “magnificent” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “resolute”?
A — Determined. “resolute” means adj. determined. Study “resolute” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “deliberate” as used in the following sentence: The committee''s decision was deliberate, reflecting careful consideration of all the evidence.
C — intentional. “deliberate” means adj. intentional; v. discuss carefully. Study “deliberate” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “column”.
A — pillar. “column” means n. upright pillar. Study “column” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “bravery”?
B — Courage. “bravery” means n. courage, valor. Study “bravery” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “commend”?
B — Praise. “commend” means v. praise or congratulate. Study “commend” →
Which of the following is a synonym for “native”?
C — Indigenous. “native” means adj./n. born in a place; original inhabitant. Study “native” →
The two small companies decided to ______ into one large business.
B — merge. “merge” means v. combine, join together. Study “merge” →
The teacher explained the idea with such ______ that everyone understood at once.
C — clarity. “clarity” means n. clearness. Study “clarity” →
Her ______ feedback helped me greatly improve my essay.
B — constructive. “constructive” means adj. helpful or positive. Study “constructive” →
He felt ______ when he tripped and spilled his drink in front of everyone.
C — awkward. “awkward” means adj. clumsy, uncomfortable. Study “awkward” →
His ______ made him believe he was better than everyone else.
C — arrogance. “arrogance” means n. pride, self-importance. Study “arrogance” →
The travelers had only a ______ supply of food for the long journey.
D — meager. “meager” means adj. very small or insufficient. Study “meager” →
A glowing red light is used to ______ that the machine is turned on.
D — indicate. “indicate” means v. point out, show. Study “indicate” →
The peaceful protesters marched for hours without any ______ at all.
A — violence. “violence” means n. use of physical force. Study “violence” →
Scientists warned that the volcano could ______ at any moment.
D — erupt. “erupt” means v. burst out violently. Study “erupt” →
Long ago, salt was used to ______ meat through the cold winter.
B — preserve. “preserve” means v. keep safe, protect. Study “preserve” →
Take a quiet moment to ______ the fresh mountain air deeply.
A — inhale. “inhale” means v. breathe in. Study “inhale” →
The town ______ voted to build a new public library.
C — council. “council” means n. group that makes decisions. Study “council” →
The ______ waiter dropped three plates in a single evening.
C — inept. “inept” means adj. not skillful. Study “inept” →
Good teachers always ______ their students to keep trying.
A — encourage. “encourage” means v. give support, confidence. Study “encourage” →
We spent a ______ afternoon playing games in the sunny garden.
B — delightful. “delightful” means adj. very pleasing. Study “delightful” →
Before machines existed, farmers relied on slow ______ labor.
A — manual. “manual” means adj. done by hand; n. handbook. Study “manual” →
Paris is the ______ of France, where the national government meets.
B — capital. “capital” means n. city of government, money. Study “capital” →
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.
34 — Part 1 is 17 synonym questions, Part 2 is 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.