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 word that is closest in meaning to “priority”: The committee discussed several important topics, but raising funds for the new library was their top priority.
A — preference. “priority” means n. something very important. Study “priority” →
A brave ______ described exactly what she had seen during the robbery.
D — witness. “witness” means n./v. person who sees; to observe. Study “witness” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “confession”:
B — Admission. “confession” means n. admitting the truth or fault. Study “confession” →
The lawyer presented strong ______ that her client was innocent.
C — proof. “proof” means n. evidence. Study “proof” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for sleuth?
A — detective. “sleuth” means n. detective. Study “sleuth” →
She works hard to ______ in both mathematics and science.
B — excel. “excel” means v. be very good at. Study “excel” →
Select the synonym for the word “liberate” in the following sentence: The soldiers were sent on a mission to liberate the captured town.
B — Free. “liberate” means v. set free. Study “liberate” →
The seeds will ______ within a week if the soil stays warm and moist.
D — germinate. “germinate” means v. start growing. Study “germinate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “bonus”:
C — reward. “bonus” means n. extra gift, reward. Study “bonus” →
The troops were ordered to ______ toward the enemy line.
C — advance. “advance” means v. move forward. Study “advance” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “inaccurate”.
C — Faulty. “inaccurate” means adj. not correct. Study “inaccurate” →
The well-trained dog can ______ a stick thrown far into the lake.
B — retrieve. “retrieve” means v. get back, recover. Study “retrieve” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “sane”?
B — Logical. “sane” means adj. mentally healthy. Study “sane” →
The ______ of the novel describes each event in the first person.
C — narrator. “narrator” means n. person telling the story. Study “narrator” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “mission” in the following sentence: The team was sent on a mission to deliver supplies to the remote village.
B — duty. “mission” means n. an important task or goal. Study “mission” →
You can ______ the coupon from the magazine along the dotted line.
A — detach. “detach” means v. separate, disconnect. Study “detach” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word eligible?
A — Qualified. “eligible” means adj. qualified, allowed. Study “eligible” →
Proudly waving the flag on Independence Day showed their deep ______.
B — patriotism. “patriotism” means n. love of country. Study “patriotism” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for: intelligence.
C — Intellect. “intelligence” means n. ability to learn, understand. Study “intelligence” →
The flowers looked real, but they were actually ______.
D — artificial. “artificial” means adj. made by humans. Study “artificial” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “grant” as used in the sentence: The committee decided to grant the student a scholarship.
B — award. “grant” means v./n. give, bestow. Study “grant” →
The main ______ of the heart is to pump blood through the body.
D — function. “function” means n./v. purpose, work as. Study “function” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “coward”.
C — Fainthearted. “coward” means n. someone lacking courage. Study “coward” →
Fishing is the main ______ of the people in this small coastal village.
C — livelihood. “livelihood” means n. means of supporting oneself. Study “livelihood” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “intact”.
A — Whole. “intact” means adj. undamaged, whole. Study “intact” →
Skilled workers labored for years to ______ the crumbling old castle.
B — restore. “restore” means v. bring back, repair, return. Study “restore” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is closest in meaning to “reveal”: The detective was able to reveal the hidden clues that led to solving the case.
B — Disclose. “reveal” means v. make known, show. Study “reveal” →
In the upcoming meeting, the committee will decide whether to ______ a new chairperson to lead the organization.
B — appoint. “appoint” means v. assign to a job or position. Study “appoint” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “diligent”: The student was praised for her diligent efforts in completing the project.
B — Hardworking. “diligent” means adj. hardworking, careful. Study “diligent” →
Strong steel beams ______ the enormous weight of the entire bridge.
B — support. “support” means v./n. help, hold up. Study “support” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to: Ordinance.
A — Regulation. “ordinance” means n. law, rule, regulation. Study “ordinance” →
His handwriting was so ______ that no one could read the note.
B — illegible. “illegible” means adj. difficult to read. Study “illegible” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “general”:
B — common. “general” means adj. widespread, not specific; n. commander. Study “general” →
The old map was ______ and led the hikers in the wrong direction.
A — inaccurate. “inaccurate” means adj. not correct. Study “inaccurate” →
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.