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 the closest synonym to “principal” as used in the sentence: The principal reason for the policy change was to improve safety.
A — chief. “principal” means adj. main, n. head of a school. Study “principal” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “distort”.
B — Twist. “distort” means v. twist out of shape or meaning. Study “distort” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “consult”.
A — Advise. “consult” means v. seek advice, discuss. Study “consult” →
Which of the following is a synonym for “magnetic”?
A — attractive. “magnetic” means adj. having magnet power or attraction. Study “magnetic” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “amendment”?
A — Change. “amendment” means n. change to a law or document. Study “amendment” →
Select the synonym for the word “acrid” as it is used in the sentence: The acrid smell of smoke filled the room, making it difficult to breathe.
B — bitter. “acrid” means adj. bitter and unpleasant. Study “acrid” →
In the following sentence, select the word that is the closest synonym to “random”: The teacher selected a student at random to answer the question.
C — arbitrary. “random” means adj. without pattern, by chance. Study “random” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “plagiarize”.
A — Copy. “plagiarize” means v. copy without giving credit. Study “plagiarize” →
Which of the following words is closest in meaning to “courteous”?
B — Polite. “courteous” means adj. polite, respectful. Study “courteous” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to hospitable: The gracious host was known for being particularly hospitable, always ensuring that guests felt welcome and comfortable.
B — welcoming. “hospitable” means adj. welcoming to guests. Study “hospitable” →
Which word is a synonym for the word “squander”?
B — waste. “squander” means v. waste (money, time, etc.). Study “squander” →
Which word is a synonym for “adhere”?
B — stick. “adhere” means v. stick to; follow. Study “adhere” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is a synonym for “grapple”: The mountain climber had to _______ with the slippery rocks to advance on his ascent.
A — struggle. “grapple” means v. struggle, wrestle. Study “grapple” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “altitude”.
A — Elevation. “altitude” means n. height above sea level. Study “altitude” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “duplicate”.
A — Replicate. “duplicate” means v. make a copy; adj. exactly alike. Study “duplicate” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is closest in meaning to “insinuate”: The politician tried to insinuate that his opponent was not trustworthy without directly saying it.
C — suggest. “insinuate” means v. suggest without stating directly. Study “insinuate” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that means the same as “feeble”: After a long illness, the old tree became feeble.
C — weak. “feeble” means adj. very weak. Study “feeble” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “sedative”?
B — Calmative. “sedative” means n./adj. drug that calms; calming. Study “sedative” →
Which word is the best synonym for “debate”?
A — discuss. “debate” means n./v. formal discussion, argue. Study “debate” →
Choose the word that is the closest synonym to “monarch”.
A — ruler. “monarch” means n. king or queen. Study “monarch” →
The long green snake began to ______ silently through the tall grass.
A — slither. “slither” means v. slide like a snake. Study “slither” →
The tired hikers enjoyed a ______ meal of stew and fresh bread.
D — hearty. “hearty” means adj. warm, healthy (applause, meal). Study “hearty” →
Without weapons or allies, the tiny nation felt utterly ______.
B — impotent. “impotent” means adj. powerless, weak. Study “impotent” →
As the tide began to ______, more and more of the sandy beach appeared.
A — recede. “recede” means v. move back, retreat. Study “recede” →
Her grandparents held ______ views and strongly disliked sudden changes.
B — conservative. “conservative” means adj. traditional, not willing to change. Study “conservative” →
Scientists will carefully ______ the soil samples from the volcano.
C — analyze. “analyze” means v. study closely. Study “analyze” →
The town holds its ______ harvest festival every summer without fail.
C — annual. “annual” means adj. occurring once a year. Study “annual” →
A quiet library is simply not an ______ place for loud shouting.
D — appropriate. “appropriate” means adj. proper, suitable. Study “appropriate” →
Many bold artists rejected the ______ styles and painted in daring new ways.
D — orthodox. “orthodox” means adj. traditional, standard. Study “orthodox” →
A puzzled ______ crossed her face when she heard the strange news.
A — expression. “expression” means n. way of saying, face look. Study “expression” →
The ______ customer shouted and threatened the frightened young clerk.
B — belligerent. “belligerent” means adj. hostile, aggressive. Study “belligerent” →
Living deep in the forest, they ______ saw any other people.
A — seldom. “seldom” means adv. rarely, not often. Study “seldom” →
The gradual ______ from summer to autumn brings cooler, shorter days.
C — transition. “transition” means n. change from one state to another. Study “transition” →
The ______ change in the weather brought warmer days little by little.
A — gradual. “gradual” means adj. happening slowly over a period of time. Study “gradual” →
The manager plans to ______ a new recycling program early next month.
B — initiate. “initiate” means v. begin, introduce. Study “initiate” →
It is very foolish to ______ your savings on things you do not need.
A — squander. “squander” means v. waste (money, time, etc.). Study “squander” →
It was very ______ of him to carry the heavy bags for the elderly woman.
C — considerate. “considerate” means adj. showing concern for the needs or feelings of others. Study “considerate” →
The ______ trunk of the car easily held all of their camping gear.
A — capacious. “capacious” means adj. large, roomy. Study “capacious” →
The ______ toddler squirmed and fidgeted throughout the long ceremony.
D — restless. “restless” means adj. unable to stay still or quiet, often due to anxiety or boredom. Study “restless” →
The scientist proposed a bold new ______ to explain the strange lights.
A — theory. “theory” means n. idea to explain something. Study “theory” →
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.