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.
What is a synonym for the word “incoherent”?
A — Unintelligible. “incoherent” means adj. unclear, disorganized. Study “incoherent” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “covet”:
A — desire. “covet” means v. desire something belonging to others. Study “covet” →
What is a synonym for the word “selfless”?
B — altruistic. “selfless” means adj. showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others. Study “selfless” →
Choose the synonym for the word “intricate”.
B — complex. “intricate” means adj. complex, detailed. Study “intricate” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “abet”?
A — Encourage. “abet” means v. help in wrongdoing. Study “abet” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “repel” as it''s used in this sentence: The army was able to repel the enemy forces successfully.
B — repulse. “repel” means v. to drive or force back or away. Study “repel” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “wrath”: After learning of the betrayal, Jessica was filled with wrath.
D — fury. “wrath” means n. intense anger. Study “wrath” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “component”.
A — Part. “component” means n. part, element. Study “component” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is closest in meaning to “simulate”: The engineers had to simulate the conditions of space travel in their laboratory.
A — imitate. “simulate” means v. imitate, fake. Study “simulate” →
Which of the following is a synonym for “devastate”?
A — destroy. “devastate” means v. destroy completely. Study “devastate” →
Find the best synonym for the word “devour” as used in this sentence: The hungry lion was eager to devour its prey.
A — consume. “devour” means v. eat hungrily. Study “devour” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “grim”: The situation was looking increasingly grim as the storm intensified.
B — serious. “grim” means adj. gloomy, dreadful. Study “grim” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “augment”:
B — Increase. “augment” means v. increase, add to. Study “augment” →
Choose the synonym for the word foster in the context of encouraging growth or development.
B — nurture. “foster” means v. encourage, bring up. Study “foster” →
Choose the synonym for the word “pasture” as used in the sentence: The sheep grazed peacefully in the wide pasture.
A — field. “pasture” means n. grassland for animals. Study “pasture” →
Choose the word that best matches the meaning of: integrate
B — combine. “integrate” means v. combine, bring together. Study “integrate” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “exemplify”?
A — Illustrate. “exemplify” means v. be a typical example. Study “exemplify” →
Which word is the best synonym for “disgruntled” in the following sentence? After the company announced layoffs, many employees were disgruntled and voiced their frustration.
B — Irritated. “disgruntled” means adj. dissatisfied, unhappy. Study “disgruntled” →
Select the synonym for the following word: compromise
B — concede. “compromise” means n./v. agreement with concessions. Study “compromise” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to: transfer.
A — relocate. “transfer” means v./n. move from one to another. Study “transfer” →
The rich smell of fresh coffee began to ______ through the sleepy house.
C — waft. “waft” means v. to float or be carried, especially through the air. Study “waft” →
The ______ old dog greeted every visitor with a wagging tail.
D — affectionate. “affectionate” means adj. showing fondness or love. Study “affectionate” →
Only an ______ group of the very finest athletes qualifies for the Olympics.
B — elite. “elite” means n. best group, top level. Study “elite” →
The mysterious title of the book helped ______ my deep curiosity.
D — pique. “pique” means v. stimulate interest; n. angry feeling. Study “pique” →
The firefighter's ______ rescue saved the entire trapped family.
B — heroic. “heroic” means adj. very brave. Study “heroic” →
The distant mountains looked ______ through the thick morning fog.
B — hazy. “hazy” means adj. unclear, misty. Study “hazy” →
The magician's final trick was designed to ______ the entire crowd.
B — astonish. “astonish” means v. to surprise or amaze greatly.. Study “astonish” →
Most decent people ______ the cruel treatment of helpless prisoners.
B — deplore. “deplore” means v. strongly disapprove of. Study “deplore” →
A single powerful bomb could ______ the entire building in seconds.
B — annihilate. “annihilate” means v. destroy completely. Study “annihilate” →
It began as a perfectly ______ day, until a stranger knocked at the door.
C — ordinary. “ordinary” means adj. normal, not special. Study “ordinary” →
The chef tried a ______ way of cooking that no one had ever seen before.
C — novel. “novel” means n. book, adj. new. Study “novel” →
Too much sudden pressure could cause the old water pipe to ______.
B — rupture. “rupture” means n./v. break, split apart. Study “rupture” →
The ancient clay ______ was displayed carefully in the museum.
B — artifact. “artifact” means n. man-made object. Study “artifact” →
A neutral judge was asked to ______ the bitter dispute between them.
D — mediate. “mediate” means v. settle differences by working with both sides. Study “mediate” →
The doctor was relieved to find that the small lump was completely ______.
A — benign. “benign” means adj. gentle; not harmful. Study “benign” →
She walked ______ down the street, eager to get out of the rain.
D — briskly. “briskly” means adv. quickly, energetically. Study “briskly” →
The two friends had a silly ______ over who would sit in the front seat.
C — quarrel. “quarrel” means n. an angry argument or disagreement. Study “quarrel” →
Since all the lights were off, we can ______ that no one was home.
A — presume. “presume” means v. assume, suppose. Study “presume” →
Clever artists can ______ simple drawings until they seem to breathe.
A — animate. “animate” means v. to give life to or bring to life. Study “animate” →
The huge colorful mural tries to ______ the history of the entire town.
A — depict. “depict” means v. describe, show in picture. Study “depict” →
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.