40 Verbal Reasoning questions — Part 1: 20 synonym, Part 2: 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 most similar in meaning to “excruciating”: The pain from the injury was so excruciating that I could not move.
C — Intense. “excruciating” means adj. extremely painful. Study “excruciating” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “grueling”: After running the marathon, the athletes found the experience to be quite grueling.
B — exhausting. “grueling” means adj. extremely tiring or demanding. Study “grueling” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “frequency”?
B — Rate. “frequency” means n. how often something happens. Study “frequency” →
Select the best synonym for the word “establish”:
B — create. “establish” means v. set up, prove. Study “establish” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “strategy”: The company''s success is largely due to its well-planned strategy.
A — plan. “strategy” means n. plan of action. Study “strategy” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “feasible”: In today''s technology-driven world, building a solar-powered vehicle is a _______ goal for many engineers.
B — practical. “feasible” means adj. possible, doable. Study “feasible” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “abdicate”. When the king decided to abdicate, he relinquished all claims to the throne.
A — relinquish. “abdicate” means v. give up (throne). Study “abdicate” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “oppress”:
B — Subjugate. “oppress” means v. keep down by force. Study “oppress” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “dearth”.
B — scarcity. “dearth” means n. scarcity, lack. Study “dearth” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “argument” as used below: During the debate, each speaker presented a compelling argument in favor of their position.
C — rationale. “argument” means n. disagreement; reason. Study “argument” →
Choose the best synonym for the following word: technique.
A — method. “technique” means n. skilled way of doing something. Study “technique” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “interrogate”.
A — Investigate. “interrogate” means v. question formally. Study “interrogate” →
Which of the following is a synonym for “erode” as used in the sentence: “The constant rainfall began to erode the hillside, creating small gullies in the earth”?
A — dissolve. “erode” means v. gradually wear away. Study “erode” →
Which of the following is a synonym for “gallant”?
A — brave. “gallant” means adj. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous. Study “gallant” →
Which of the following is a synonym for “guardian”?
A — Protector. “guardian” means n. someone who protects. Study “guardian” →
What is the synonym of “banish” as used in the sentence: “The king decided to banish the rebellious noble from the kingdom.”?
B — exile. “banish” means v. to send someone away from a country or place as a punishment.. Study “banish” →
Choose the best synonym for “astonish” in the following sentence: The news of the results managed to astonish everyone in the office.
B — amaze. “astonish” means v. to surprise or amaze greatly.. Study “astonish” →
Choose the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the word “magnitude.”
A — Intensity. “magnitude” means n. size, importance. Study “magnitude” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “deficient”: The diet was _____ in protein, leading to health issues.
B — lacking. “deficient” means adj. lacking. Study “deficient” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “epidemic”.
A — outbreak. “epidemic” means n./adj. widespread disease, common. Study “epidemic” →
The careful editor cut the ______ words to make the sentence shorter.
D — redundant. “redundant” means adj. not needed, extra. Study “redundant” →
With no reason at all to hurry, he began to ______ along the sunny beach.
B — saunter. “saunter” means v. walk in a slow, relaxed way. Study “saunter” →
The invention of electricity was a ______ turning point in human history.
B — major. “major” means adj. important; n. main subject. Study “major” →
In the planning of a successful event, it is ______ to organize every detail ahead of time.
C — crucial. “crucial” means adj. very important. Study “crucial” →
A dark sense of ______ filled her as she entered the silent old house.
B — foreboding. “foreboding” means n./adj. sense that something bad will happen. Study “foreboding” →
Her smile was warm and ______, not the least bit fake.
D — genuine. “genuine” means adj. real, authentic, sincere. Study “genuine” →
The builder offered a rough ______ of how much the repairs would cost.
B — estimate. “estimate” means v./n. guess, approximate calculation. Study “estimate” →
Skipping the safety checks could seriously ______ the lives of the workers.
C — jeopardize. “jeopardize” means v. put at risk. Study “jeopardize” →
The ______ salesman lied about the true condition of the car.
D — deceitful. “deceitful” means adj. dishonest, misleading. Study “deceitful” →
During the harsh war, there was a serious ______ of food and medicine.
B — dearth. “dearth” means n. scarcity, lack. Study “dearth” →
The clever thief somehow managed to ______ the police for many months.
C — evade. “evade” means v. escape, avoid. Study “evade” →
Our hotel room was conveniently ______ to the swimming pool.
B — adjacent. “adjacent” means adj. next to. Study “adjacent” →
The senator flatly refused to change her firm ______ on the issue.
C — stance. “stance” means n. point of view; posture. Study “stance” →
The ______ old man could barely lift the light cup of tea.
B — feeble. “feeble” means adj. very weak. Study “feeble” →
Seeing the war from the soldier's ______ completely changed how I felt.
A — perspective. “perspective” means n. point of view, outlook. Study “perspective” →
The United States is said to ______ fifty separate states.
D — comprise. “comprise” means v. include, consist of. Study “comprise” →
Wearing a sturdy helmet can ______ the risk of a serious head injury.
B — minimize. “minimize” means v. reduce to least amount. Study “minimize” →
Reading widely can greatly ______ your vocabulary and your imagination.
A — enrich. “enrich” means v. to improve or enhance the quality or value of something. Study “enrich” →
Their short vacation was surprisingly ______, full of adventures and surprises.
A — eventful. “eventful” means adj. full of important events. Study “eventful” →
The old fable teaches an important ______ about honesty and trust.
D — moral. “moral” means adj. ethical; n. lesson. Study “moral” →
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.
40 — Part 1 is 20 synonym questions, Part 2 is 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.