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.
Select the word that best matches the meaning of: Social
A — Friendly. “social” means adj. relating to society. Study “social” →
We spent the whole summer relaxing on the sandy ______ beside the ocean.
A — coast. “coast” means n. seashore. Study “coast” →
Select the synonym for the following word: cope.
B — handle. “cope” means v. handle, deal with. Study “cope” →
Cruel rulers often ______ people simply for their beliefs.
D — persecute. “persecute” means v. treat badly, oppress. Study “persecute” →
Choose the synonym for the word “fuse”.
A — melt. “fuse” means v./n. join together; safety device. Study “fuse” →
She had to ______ the invitation because she was far too busy.
C — decline. “decline” means v. refuse; decrease. Study “decline” →
Choose the word that is a synonym of “artificial”: The garden looked beautiful, but most of the flowers were _______.
B — manmade. “artificial” means adj. made by humans. Study “artificial” →
The ______ ocean stretched as far as the eye could possibly see.
D — immense. “immense” means adj. very large. Study “immense” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “deposit”?
B — Place. “deposit” means v./n. put money, lay down. Study “deposit” →
After shouting cruelly at his mother, he was filled with ______.
C — remorse. “remorse” means n. deep regret. Study “remorse” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “Acceptable”.
A — Tolerable. “acceptable” means adj. good enough. Study “acceptable” →
The surgeons will ______ the delicate operation early tomorrow morning.
C — perform. “perform” means v. do, carry out. Study “perform” →
Select the best synonym for the word “tolerate”:
A — endure. “tolerate” means v. put up with, allow. Study “tolerate” →
Rather than settle the deal, they continued to ______ over tiny details.
A — quibble. “quibble” means v./n. argue over small things. Study “quibble” →
Select the best synonym for the word “audition” as used in the sentence: “The director called them in for an audition to see who best fit the role in the play.”
B — interview. “audition” means n./v. trial for a performance. Study “audition” →
She felt ______ walking alone down the dark, empty street at night.
D — uneasy. “uneasy” means adj. worried, anxious. Study “uneasy” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “numerous”: The island is home to numerous species of birds.
A — many. “numerous” means adj. very many. Study “numerous” →
He worked two jobs to pay off his large ______.
B — debt. “debt” means n. something owed. Study “debt” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “wane”:
B — decline. “wane” means v. decrease, become weaker. Study “wane” →
When he forgot his lines, the actor had to ______ a new speech.
D — improvise. “improvise” means v. make up on the spot. Study “improvise” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “plot”.
B — scheme. “plot” means n. story plan or secret plan, v. plan. Study “plot” →
Specially trained dogs can ______ smoke long before a fire spreads.
B — detect. “detect” means v. find out, discover. Study “detect” →
What is the best synonym for the word “ivory”?
B — Cream. “ivory” means n. hard white material from elephant tusks. Study “ivory” →
The library decided to ______ its hours during the busy exam week.
B — extend. “extend” means v. make longer or larger. Study “extend” →
Choose the word that is the closest synonym for “simile” in the following sentence: “The poet used a simile to compare her child”s laughter to music.''
B — Analogy. “simile” means n. comparison using “like” or “as”. Study “simile” →
The discovery of the vaccine was a ______ moment in medicine.
D — significant. “significant” means adj. important, meaningful. Study “significant” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “repeal”:
B — Abolish. “repeal” means v. cancel, withdraw law. Study “repeal” →
The powerful storm could ______ every house along the coast.
D — destroy. “destroy” means v. ruin, put an end to. Study “destroy” →
Select the best synonym for the word “conspicuous”:
C — noticeable. “conspicuous” means adj. easily seen or noticed. Study “conspicuous” →
The ______ government sets laws for the entire country.
D — federal. “federal” means adj. national, central government. Study “federal” →
Which of the following is the best synonym for the word “designate”?
A — Appoint. “designate” means v. choose for a purpose. Study “designate” →
The strong wind had enough ______ to knock down several trees.
C — force. “force” means n./v. strength, make do. Study “force” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “magnify” as used in the sentence: “The scientist used a powerful glass to magnify the tiny organisms?”
B — Enlarge. “magnify” means v. make bigger. Study “magnify” →
She tried hard to ______ her brother to lend her the car.
A — persuade. “persuade” means v. convince. Study “persuade” →
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.