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 closest in meaning to “elaborate” as used in this sentence: The plan was so elaborate that even the smallest details were accounted for.
B — Intricate. “elaborate” means adj. detailed, complex. Study “elaborate” →
Select the word that is closest in meaning to: Medley.
A — Collection. “medley” means n. mixture, musical composition. Study “medley” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dwell” as used in the context of the sentence: “The researchers dwell on the causes of climate change.”
A — explore. “dwell” means v. live, reside. Study “dwell” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “stunt”:
A — hinder. “stunt” means n. dangerous trick; v. stop growth. Study “stunt” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “perform”:
A — Execute. “perform” means v. do, carry out. Study “perform” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “abundant”: Despite the dry season, the crop yield was described as abundant.
B — Plentiful. “abundant” means adj. plentiful. Study “abundant” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is closest in meaning to “habitat”: The polar bear''s habitat is threatened by climate change.
A — environment. “habitat” means n. natural home of an animal or plant. Study “habitat” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “lace”.
A — embroider. “lace” means n./v. delicate fabric; tie with string. Study “lace” →
Which of the following is a synonym for lobby?
B — foyer. “lobby” means n./v. entrance hall; try to influence. Study “lobby” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “hurricane”:
A — Storm. “hurricane” means n. violent windstorm. Study “hurricane” →
Which word is the closest synonym to “consideration”?
A — Reflection. “consideration” means n. careful thought. Study “consideration” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “essay”:
A — article. “essay” means n. short written work. Study “essay” →
Choose the synonym for the word “rural” as used in the sentence: “The rural landscape was dotted with farms and open fields.”
C — countryside. “rural” means adj. countryside. Study “rural” →
In the course, students have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the history of the ancient world. Which word is a synonym for “acquaint”?
A — familiarize. “acquaint” means v. to make familiar. Study “acquaint” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “Recognize”:
A — Acknowledge. “recognize” means v. identify, know. Study “recognize” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the following: The family felt a deep sense of grief after the loss of their beloved pet.
C — sorrow. “grief” means n. deep sorrow. Study “grief” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “loom” in the following context: As the storm approached, the dark clouds began to loom on the horizon.
B — hover. “loom” means v. appear indistinctly, threatening. Study “loom” →
She felt great ______ the night before her final exam.
D — anxiety. “anxiety” means n. worry, uneasiness. Study “anxiety” →
The old stone church served as a ______ for travelers during the war.
B — sanctuary. “sanctuary” means n. safe place, holy place. Study “sanctuary” →
Saying she is as brave as a lion is a classic ______.
A — simile. “simile” means n. comparison using “like” or “as”. Study “simile” →
The two scientists agreed to ______ on the new research project.
C — collaborate. “collaborate” means v. work together. Study “collaborate” →
The table stood on four ______ legs that did not wobble at all.
A — firm. “firm” means adj. strong, solid; n. business. Study “firm” →
The tool has a ______ purpose: it can cut and also open bottles.
D — dual. “dual” means adj. having two parts. Study “dual” →
Few plants can grow in the ______ desert where it almost never rains.
B — arid. “arid” means adj. very dry. Study “arid” →
Regular exercise is ______ to both the body and the mind.
A — beneficial. “beneficial” means adj. helpful, good. Study “beneficial” →
He was very nervous before his ______ for the school play.
B — audition. “audition” means n./v. trial for a performance. Study “audition” →
The report was ______, covering all the key facts on a single page.
A — concise. “concise” means adj. brief and to the point. Study “concise” →
The huge underground tank can hold a tremendous ______ of water.
C — volume. “volume” means n. amount of space; book. Study “volume” →
He tends to ______, claiming the fish he caught was as big as a boat.
D — exaggerate. “exaggerate” means v. make something seem bigger than it is. Study “exaggerate” →
The rocking of the boat gave several passengers a wave of ______.
A — nausea. “nausea” means n. feeling you want to vomit. Study “nausea” →
In his lecture, the professor often likes to ______ to ancient history.
D — refer. “refer” means v. mention, relate to. Study “refer” →
Speak very clearly so that the audience does not ______ your main point.
D — misunderstand. “misunderstand” means v. interpret wrongly. Study “misunderstand” →
A single common goal can ______ people from very different backgrounds.
A — unify. “unify” means v. bring together as one. Study “unify” →
Many wild animals ______ deep within the thick forest.
C — dwell. “dwell” means v. live, reside. Study “dwell” →
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.