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 elite.
C — Select. “elite” means n. best group, top level. Study “elite” →
Which word is the closest in meaning to “yearn”?
B — long. “yearn” means v. to have a strong desire or longing for something. Study “yearn” →
Which word is the best synonym for “diversion”?
A — amusement. “diversion” means n. distraction, amusement. Study “diversion” →
Choose the synonym for the word “viable” in the following sentence: The researchers are investigating whether the new energy source is a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
A — practical. “viable” means adj. workable, able to survive. Study “viable” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “reliable”:
A — Trustworthy. “reliable” means adj. trustworthy. Study “reliable” →
Choose the word closest in meaning to “previous”:
B — former. “previous” means adj. existing or occurring before in time or order.. Study “previous” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “purchase” as used in the sentence: After weeks of research, she finally decided to purchase the new laptop.
B — buy. “purchase” means v./n. buy. Study “purchase” →
What is the best synonym for the word “homage” as used in the sentence? “The citizens paid homage to their beloved leader with a grand ceremony.”
A — tribute. “homage” means n. show of great respect. Study “homage” →
In the meeting, the two leaders were able to reach an accord on several key issues. What is the meaning of “accord” in this sentence?
A — Agreement. “accord” means n. agreement; v. agree. Study “accord” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “resilient” as used in the following sentence: “Despite the challenging circumstances, she remained resilient, continually bouncing back and maintaining her spirits.”
D — adaptable. “resilient” means adj. quick to recover, flexible. Study “resilient” →
What is the best synonym for “deploy”?
A — Arrange. “deploy” means v. arrange, send out. Study “deploy” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “mischief”?
A — Prank. “mischief” means n. playful troublemaking. Study “mischief” →
Choose the synonym for the word “verify”:
A — confirm. “verify” means v. prove true or correct. Study “verify” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “hurtle”. As the boulder began to hurtle down the hill, the hikers quickly moved out of its path.
C — rush. “hurtle” means v. move very fast in a dangerous way. Study “hurtle” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word “indifferent”:
A — Apathetic. “indifferent” means adj. not caring, unconcerned. Study “indifferent” →
Choose the best synonym for the following word: civilization.
A — culture. “civilization” means n. advanced society. Study “civilization” →
Which of the following words is closest in meaning to “bewilder”?
B — confuse. “bewilder” means v. confuse totally. Study “bewilder” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “aspire”:
A — Dream. “aspire” means v. have goal, aim for. Study “aspire” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “vivid” as used in the following sentence: The artist painted a vivid landscape that seemed to jump off the canvas.
B — bright. “vivid” means adj. bright, clear. Study “vivid” →
Choose the synonym for the word “pamper” as used in the sentence: The grandparents love to pamper their grandchildren with treats and attention.
B — indulge. “pamper” means v. spoil, treat too kindly. Study “pamper” →
The diligent student took ______ notes, filling three whole notebooks.
D — copious. “copious” means adj. plentiful, abundant. Study “copious” →
She stepped ______ across the icy, slippery wooden bridge.
B — cautiously. “cautiously” means adv. carefully to avoid danger. Study “cautiously” →
It took real ______ for the small boy to stand up to the bully.
A — pluck. “pluck” means v./n. pull something; courage. Study “pluck” →
One great ______ of regular exercise is a stronger, healthier heart.
D — benefit. “benefit” means n./v. advantage, help. Study “benefit” →
In her research paper, she was careful to ______ every source she used.
A — cite. “cite” means v. quote, mention. Study “cite” →
In order to succeed in the competitive environment, the company decided to adopt a more _____ strategy.
A — aggressive. “aggressive” means adj. ready to attack, assertive. Study “aggressive” →
Winning the great award raised her ______ among her fellow scientists.
A — status. “status” means n. position or rank. Study “status” →
For each fact in her essay, she listed a trustworthy ______.
A — reference. “reference” means n. source of information. Study “reference” →
The yearly ______ of the birds takes them thousands of miles south.
D — migration. “migration” means n. movement from one place to another. Study “migration” →
The young athlete showed great ______ to become a champion someday.
A — potential. “potential” means adj./n. possible, ability. Study “potential” →
The explorers spent weeks lost in the vast, trackless ______.
D — wilderness. “wilderness” means n. wild, uninhabited area. Study “wilderness” →
The speaker had such a ______ personality that everyone wanted to meet him.
D — magnetic. “magnetic” means adj. having magnet power or attraction. Study “magnetic” →
It is always ______ to save some money for unexpected emergencies.
D — prudent. “prudent” means adj. wise, careful. Study “prudent” →
The ______ host welcomed each guest with a warm handshake.
C — genial. “genial” means adj. friendly and cheerful. Study “genial” →
The film tells the epic ______ of one family across five generations.
D — saga. “saga” means n. long story, adventure. Study “saga” →
The eagle is a ______ bird that hunts small mammals from high in the sky.
B — predatory. “predatory” means adj. hunting other animals; exploiting. Study “predatory” →
A tall stone monument was built to ______ the brave fallen soldiers.
C — commemorate. “commemorate” means v. honor the memory of. Study “commemorate” →
The general decided to ______ his troops all along the border.
C — deploy. “deploy” means v. arrange, send out. Study “deploy” →
The weather ______ of bright sunshine turned out to be completely wrong.
C — prediction. “prediction” means n. forecast, prophecy. Study “prediction” →
A deep sense of duty can ______ people to help total strangers.
D — impel. “impel” means v. drive, force. Study “impel” →
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.