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 best synonym for the word “source” as it is used in the sentence: “The library was a valuable source of information for the students.”
C — resource. “source” means n. origin, provider. Study “source” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “elicit”: The teacher tried to elicit a response from the quiet student.
B — evoke. “elicit” means v. draw out, bring forth. Study “elicit” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to absurd:
B — ridiculous. “absurd” means adj. ridiculous, unreasonable. Study “absurd” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is closest in meaning to “peculiar”: “The cat had a peculiar habit of sitting by the door precisely at midnight every night.”
B — unusual. “peculiar” means adj. strange, unusual. Study “peculiar” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “impel” as used in the sentence: “His strong sense of duty impelled him to help his neighbor”?
A — force. “impel” means v. drive, force. Study “impel” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “embark” as used in the following sentence: After months of preparation, the crew was ready to embark on their journey across the Atlantic.
A — depart. “embark” means v. go onto (a ship/plane); start. Study “embark” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “nonchalant”: Despite the loud noises outside, Angela remained ___, unfazed by the commotion.
B — indifferent. “nonchalant” means adj. relaxed and calm. Study “nonchalant” →
Choose the synonym for the word “rationale”:
A — reason. “rationale” means n. reason or explanation. Study “rationale” →
In the context of hard work and dedication, someone who is industrious is best described as:
B — diligent. “industrious” means adj. hardworking, diligent. Study “industrious” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “sleek”?
B — smooth. “sleek” means adj. smooth, shiny, elegant. Study “sleek” →
Which word is the best synonym for “void”?
B — empty. “void” means n./adj. empty, emptiness. Study “void” →
Which word is closest in meaning to “daunt”?
B — intimidate. “daunt” means v. to make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive. Study “daunt” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for discern?
B — Detect. “discern” means v. see, recognize, distinguish. Study “discern” →
Choose the synonym for the word “chorus”:
B — ensemble. “chorus” means n. group of singers. Study “chorus” →
Which word is a synonym for “ensue”?
C — follow. “ensue” means v. happen as a result. Study “ensue” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “exhaust”:
A — deplete. “exhaust” means v. use up, tire out / n. waste gases. Study “exhaust” →
Which of the following is a synonym for the word “impartial”?
A — Unbiased. “impartial” means adj. neutral, fair. Study “impartial” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “irrigate”:
A — water. “irrigate” means v. water crops, supply water. Study “irrigate” →
Select the best synonym for the word “suffocate”:
A — smother. “suffocate” means v. make unable to breathe. Study “suffocate” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “sublime”:
C — magnificent. “sublime” means adj. excellent, grand, inspiring. Study “sublime” →
The doctor sent a highly ______ message asking for more blood donors.
B — urgent. “urgent” means adj. needing immediate action. Study “urgent” →
A single healthy apple tree can ______ hundreds of apples every year.
A — yield. “yield” means v. to produce or provide something, such as a profit, result, or crop. Study “yield” →
The ______ stubbornly refused to listen to anyone whose views differed from his own.
C — bigot. “bigot” means n. person intolerant of different opinions. Study “bigot” →
By the age of six, the young piano ______ was already performing in concerts.
D — prodigy. “prodigy” means n. young genius. Study “prodigy” →
The starving travelers began to ______ the warm meal within seconds.
C — devour. “devour” means v. eat hungrily. Study “devour” →
The starving peasants began to ______ against the greedy landlords.
A — revolt. “revolt” means v./n. rebel, rise against authority. Study “revolt” →
The ______ knight rode fearlessly into battle to protect the village.
D — gallant. “gallant” means adj. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous. Study “gallant” →
After the long, exhausting hike, they began to ______ a hot, hearty meal.
D — crave. “crave” means v. to long for, desire. Study “crave” →
The bad accident left a ______ scar that never fully faded.
C — permanent. “permanent” means adj. lasting, never ending. Study “permanent” →
The ______ new sports car gleamed brightly under the showroom lights.
D — sleek. “sleek” means adj. smooth, shiny, elegant. Study “sleek” →
Most kind people ______ any cruelty toward helpless animals.
A — abhor. “abhor” means v. dislike deeply. Study “abhor” →
The ______ new employee never dared to disagree with the boss.
A — meek. “meek” means adj. quiet, gentle, and not willing to argue or express your opinions in a forceful way. Study “meek” →
The coach likes to ______ the value of teamwork above all else.
B — emphasize. “emphasize” means v. give importance to. Study “emphasize” →
She received a ______ reward for returning the lost diamond necklace.
A — substantial. “substantial” means adj. large, important; real. Study “substantial” →
The child's endless stream of questions began to ______ his tired father.
B — exasperate. “exasperate” means v. annoy extremely. Study “exasperate” →
Patience is an important ______ for any truly good teacher.
B — attribute. “attribute” means n. quality, characteristic; v. to credit. Study “attribute” →
Having grown up in the north, she was ______ to bitterly cold winters.
A — accustomed. “accustomed” means adj. familiar with; used to. Study “accustomed” →
The station will ______ an ambulance the moment the call comes in.
C — dispatch. “dispatch” means v./n. send, quick action. Study “dispatch” →
Even after many painful failures, she chose to ______ until she succeeded.
D — persist. “persist” means v. continue, last. Study “persist” →
After days of hard climbing, the exhausted team reached the snowy ______.
C — summit. “summit” means n. highest point, meeting. Study “summit” →
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.