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.
Select the word that is closest in meaning to: vie.
A — strive. “vie” means v. compete for something. Study “vie” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “counterfeit”?
B — Fake. “counterfeit” means adj./n./v. fake, not genuine. Study “counterfeit” →
Which word is a synonym of considerate?
B — thoughtful. “considerate” means adj. showing concern for the needs or feelings of others. Study “considerate” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “pardon”?
A — Forgive. “pardon” means v./n. forgive; legal forgiveness. Study “pardon” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “prediction”:
A — forecast. “prediction” means n. forecast, prophecy. Study “prediction” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “extensive” in the following sentence: The library had an extensive collection of historical documents.
B — Comprehensive. “extensive” means adj. covering a large area. Study “extensive” →
Which word is closest in meaning to slither?
A — slide. “slither” means v. slide like a snake. Study “slither” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “prospective”:
B — potential. “prospective” means adj. expected, likely to happen. Study “prospective” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “convey”:
A — transmit. “convey” means v. communicate, transport. Study “convey” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to: memorandum.
A — document. “memorandum” means n. written message/reminder. Study “memorandum” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “flagrant”:
B — blatant. “flagrant” means adj. obvious, offensive. Study “flagrant” →
Which word is a synonym of “sustain”?
B — support. “sustain” means v. to support, maintain, or keep something going. Study “sustain” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “bizarre” in the following context: The fashion show featured outfits that were truly bizarre, unlike anything the audience had seen before.
B — strange. “bizarre” means adj. very strange, unusual. Study “bizarre” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “confront” in the sentence: “The teacher encouraged the students to confront their fears and speak in front of the class.”
B — challenge. “confront” means v. face, oppose. Study “confront” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “bland”?
B — Boring. “bland” means adj. tasteless, dull. Study “bland” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “combine”:
B — Join. “combine” means v. bring together, join. Study “combine” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “benign”: The doctor''s diagnosis was a relief; the tumor was __________.
B — harmless. “benign” means adj. gentle; not harmful. Study “benign” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “capsize” in the following sentence: The storm was so intense that it threatened to capsize the small fishing boat.
A — overturn. “capsize” means v. overturn in water. Study “capsize” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “variable”:
C — fluctuating. “variable” means adj. changeable; n. factor that changes. Study “variable” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to quench:
B — satisfy. “quench” means v. satisfy (thirst), put out (fire). Study “quench” →
Her application is still ______, so she has not heard back yet.
C — pending. “pending” means adj. waiting, not decided. Study “pending” →
The fast-growing teenager had a ______ appetite and ate everything in sight.
A — voracious. “voracious” means adj. having a huge appetite. Study “voracious” →
No one at first understood the true ______ of the coming disaster.
A — magnitude. “magnitude” means n. size, importance. Study “magnitude” →
The car stopped ______ when a deer darted into the road.
A — abruptly. “abruptly” means adv. suddenly, unexpectedly. Study “abruptly” →
The word bat is a ______, meaning both a flying animal and a sports tool.
A — homonym. “homonym” means n. word spelled same but different meaning. Study “homonym” →
Her graduation was a joyful ______ that the whole family celebrated.
C — occasion. “occasion” means n. special event; time. Study “occasion” →
Running the heater all night will quickly ______ the car's battery.
A — exhaust. “exhaust” means v. use up, tire out / n. waste gases. Study “exhaust” →
The furious coach began to ______ instructions across the noisy field.
C — bellow. “bellow” means v./n. shout in a deep voice. Study “bellow” →
Everyone in the office was asked to ______ a small amount toward the gift.
D — contribute. “contribute” means v. give, add, help produce. Study “contribute” →
In the ______ chapter, the hero had just escaped from the dark prison.
D — previous. “previous” means adj. existing or occurring before in time or order.. Study “previous” →
The police worked quickly to ______ the escaped prisoner.
B — apprehend. “apprehend” means v. catch; understand. Study “apprehend” →
The nervous workers greatly feared the ______ of their short-tempered boss.
C — wrath. “wrath” means n. intense anger. Study “wrath” →
The workers plan to ______ a new bridge across the wide river.
A — construct. “construct” means v. build, make. Study “construct” →
Her voice began to ______ as she fought back her tears.
C — falter. “falter” means v. hesitate, stumble. Study “falter” →
The recipe gave ______ instructions, listing every single step in detail.
D — explicit. “explicit” means adj. clear, fully stated. Study “explicit” →
A small disagreement can quickly ______ into a serious, angry fight.
C — escalate. “escalate” means v. increase rapidly, intensify. Study “escalate” →
Children are often surprisingly ______, bouncing back from setbacks fast.
D — resilient. “resilient” means adj. quick to recover, flexible. Study “resilient” →
The ______ official secretly accepted bribes from wealthy companies.
C — corrupt. “corrupt” means adj./v. dishonest, make bad. Study “corrupt” →
Despite all their pleading, their desperate begging was of no ______.
B — avail. “avail” means v./n. use, help; advantage. Study “avail” →
The newborn colt took a few ______ steps on its wobbly young legs.
B — ungainly. “ungainly” means adj. awkward, clumsy. Study “ungainly” →
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.