40 Verbal Reasoning questions — 20 synonym, 20 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 “momentum” as used in the sentence: “The project gained momentum after the new team leader took charge.”
C — drive. “momentum” means n. motion force, speed. Study “momentum” →
New buildings slowly began to ______ on the old forest's quiet edge.
D — encroach. “encroach” means v. invade, intrude. Study “encroach” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “adjacent”: The new school building is adjacent to the old one.
C — near. “adjacent” means adj. next to. Study “adjacent” →
Solar panels can ______ bright sunlight directly into useful electricity.
B — convert. “convert” means v. change into another form. Study “convert” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “retort”: After being criticized by his colleague, he made a quick retort.
A — reply. “retort” means v./n. reply sharply, witty reply. Study “retort” →
The angry colonists finally decided to ______ against the unfair king.
B — rebel. “rebel” means n./v. oppose authority, fight back. Study “rebel” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “infamous” in the following sentence: The notorious gangster was infamous for his daring bank heists.
B — notorious. “infamous” means adj. having a bad reputation. Study “infamous” →
After hours of arguing, the two sides finally reached a fair ______.
A — compromise. “compromise” means n./v. agreement with concessions. Study “compromise” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “implausible”: The idea that unicorns roam the Earth today is considered __________ by most scientists.
A — unlikely. “implausible” means adj. not believable. Study “implausible” →
The referee decided to ______ the game because of the sudden heavy rain.
D — suspend. “suspend” means v. hang; stop temporarily. Study “suspend” →
Select the word that is most similar in meaning to “perspective”:
A — insight. “perspective” means n. point of view, outlook. Study “perspective” →
In order to successfully complete the project, the team decided to ______ the task with a new strategy.
C — approach. “approach” means v./n. come near, way to deal with. Study “approach” →
Choose the synonym for the word “inhabitants” as used in the following sentence: “The city has millions of inhabitants.”
A — residents. “inhabitants” means n. people/animals living in a place. Study “inhabitants” →
A few bold brushstrokes can ______ an artist's unique personal style.
A — characterize. “characterize” means v. describe qualities. Study “characterize” →
In the following sentence, what word is closest in meaning to “heroic”? Despite the danger, the captain made a heroic effort to save the crew.
A — brave. “heroic” means adj. very brave. Study “heroic” →
The players began to ______ loudly after their surprising victory.
D — exult. “exult” means v. rejoice greatly, celebrate. Study “exult” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to: belligerent.
B — Aggressive. “belligerent” means adj. hostile, aggressive. Study “belligerent” →
With enough money and time, the ambitious plan seemed truly ______.
A — feasible. “feasible” means adj. possible, doable. Study “feasible” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “attribute.”
C — feature. “attribute” means n. quality, characteristic; v. to credit. Study “attribute” →
The small plane shook wildly as it passed through the ______ air.
A — turbulent. “turbulent” means adj. disorderly, violent. Study “turbulent” →
Choose the synonym for the word “pelt” as used in the following sentence: During the storm, the rain began to pelt the windows with great force.
A — strike. “pelt” means v. throw repeatedly; hit. Study “pelt” →
Fighting so bitterly over such a tiny matter was completely ______.
C — senseless. “senseless” means adj. lacking meaning, stupid. Study “senseless” →
Choose the synonym for the word “recently” as used in the sentence: “I have recently started learning French.”
A — lately. “recently” means adv. not long ago. Study “recently” →
The soldiers wore ______ expressions as they marched toward the battle.
A — grim. “grim” means adj. gloomy, dreadful. Study “grim” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “crave”:
B — desire. “crave” means v. to long for, desire. Study “crave” →
The ______ of the small island survived mostly by fishing.
D — inhabitants. “inhabitants” means n. people/animals living in a place. Study “inhabitants” →
Select the word that is closest in meaning to “amateur”.
B — novice. “amateur” means n. a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid rather than a professional basis. Study “amateur” →
Being ignored so rudely began to ______ the long-waiting customer.
C — infuriate. “infuriate” means v. make furious. Study “infuriate” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “casualty”:
B — victim. “casualty” means n. person hurt or killed. Study “casualty” →
The unfair insult continued to ______ him for many days afterward.
C — rankle. “rankle” means v. irritate, cause persistent anger. Study “rankle” →
Choose the word that is the closest synonym to “stance” as used in the sentence: The politician''s stance on the issue was well-known.
A — opinion. “stance” means n. point of view; posture. Study “stance” →
During rush hour, the narrow downtown streets become badly ______.
D — congested. “congested” means adj. overcrowded, blocked. Study “congested” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “enhance”.
B — Improve. “enhance” means v. improve, increase. Study “enhance” →
She was a ______ in space travel, one of the first women ever to fly.
C — pioneer. “pioneer” means n./v. first to do something. Study “pioneer” →
Select the word that is most similar in meaning to “alternate”.
A — rotate. “alternate” means v./adj. take turns, every other. Study “alternate” →
The pioneers had to ______ freezing winters with very little food.
C — endure. “endure” means v. suffer, last. Study “endure” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “retire”.
A — withdraw. “retire” means v. stop working, withdraw. Study “retire” →
The ______ guest insulted the host and complained about everything.
B — obnoxious. “obnoxious” means adj. very unpleasant, offensive. Study “obnoxious” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “prevalent”: The use of smartphones is so ______ that it''s hard to find someone without one.
B — common. “prevalent” means adj. widespread, common. Study “prevalent” →
Doctors chose to ______ the sick patient to stop the disease from spreading.
B — isolate. “isolate” means v. set apart, separate. Study “isolate” →
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.
40 — 20 synonym questions and 20 sentence-completion questions, the same roughly-even split the real ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses.
No. Every Middle 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.