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 closest in meaning to “abstemious”:
B — Restrained. “abstemious” means adj. moderate restrained temperate. Study “abstemious” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “indulgent”:
B — Lenient. “indulgent” means adj. lenient; permissive; spoiling. Study “indulgent” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “immortalize”: In order to _____ the memory of the war hero, the town erected a statue in the town square.
B — preserve. “immortalize” means v. preserve commemorate honor. Study “immortalize” →
Select the word that is most similar in meaning to “ebullient” as used in the following sentence: Sarah''s ebullient personality made her the life of the party.
A — Lively. “ebullient” means adj. enthusiastic exuberant cheerful. Study “ebullient” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dissonance” in the following sentence: The band''s latest album was criticized for its dissonance, which many listeners found jarring.
C — Cacophony. “dissonance” means N. discord; lack of harmony; inconsistency. Study “dissonance” →
Which word is closest in meaning to “captive”?
B — prisoner. “captive” means n. a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined. Study “captive” →
Which word is a synonym for “jocular”?
B — Humorous. “jocular” means adj. humorous; playful; jovial. Study “jocular” →
What is a synonym for “vestige”?
B — trace. “vestige” means n. a trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists. Study “vestige” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “feral”: After being lost in the wilderness for years, the cat had a feral demeanor.
C — Wild. “feral” means adj. wild; untamed; savage. Study “feral” →
Which of the following is a synonym of “moderate”?
C — temperate. “moderate” means adj. not extreme in quality, degree, or amount. Study “moderate” →
Select the synonym for the following word: Assiduous
B — Diligent. “assiduous” means adj. diligent; persistent; hardworking. Study “assiduous” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “arbitrary”: The committee''s decision seemed completely ____ since there were no clear guidelines provided.
A — random. “arbitrary” means adj. Random and capricious; unreasonable. Study “arbitrary” →
Choose the synonym for “derelict” as used in the sentence: “The derelict building had been abandoned for years and was a hazard to the community.”
A — Neglected. “derelict” means adj. abandoned neglected rundown. Study “derelict” →
In the following sentence, choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word “embed”: The archaeologist decided to embed the artifact within the new exhibit to showcase its historical importance.
A — insert. “embed” means V. to insert; implant; fix firmly. Study “embed” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to “multiplicity”:
A — variety. “multiplicity” means n. variety diversity abundance. Study “multiplicity” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “steadfast”:
B — unwavering. “steadfast” means adj. loyal, firm, and unwavering. Study “steadfast” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “indomitable” in the following sentence: Despite numerous setbacks, her _____ spirit led her to persevere and achieve her dreams.
C — unconquerable. “indomitable” means adj. unconquerable; unyielding; determined. Study “indomitable” →
Select the synonym for the word “indignant” as used in the following sentence: She felt indignant when she was unfairly blamed for the mistake.
B — outraged. “indignant” means adj. Angry and outraged; resentful. Study “indignant” →
Which of the following words is a synonym for “illumine”?
A — Clarify. “illumine” means v. light up enlighten brighten. Study “illumine” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “archaic” as used in the sentence: The professor''s teaching style was considered archaic by the modern students.
C — Outdated. “archaic” means adj. Ancient and outdated; obsolete. Study “archaic” →
Her ______ summary captured the entire plan in just three short sentences.
D — succinct. “succinct” means adj. Brief and concise; pithy. Study “succinct” →
As a sign of peace, she chose to ______ her hand to her old rival.
C — proffer. “proffer” means v. to offer; present; extend. Study “proffer” →
The ______ child stubbornly insisted on doing everything entirely her own way.
A — willful. “willful” means adj. stubborn; deliberate; headstrong. Study “willful” →
The stern principal had to ______ the students for their reckless behavior.
D — reprove. “reprove” means v. to scold; rebuke; criticize. Study “reprove” →
She proudly had all the ______ skills that the demanding new job required.
C — requisite. “requisite” means adj. necessary or essential. Study “requisite” →
The judge chose to ______ the jury so that no one could influence them.
A — sequester. “sequester” means v. isolate separate confine. Study “sequester” →
Lying on the warm, quiet beach, she felt a sense of complete ______.
B — bliss. “bliss” means n. perfect happiness or joy. Study “bliss” →
The judge's ______ decision seemed to follow no logic or rule at all.
D — arbitrary. “arbitrary” means adj. Random and capricious; unreasonable. Study “arbitrary” →
After the long, draining fever, her ______ face looked pale and hollow.
D — wan. “wan” means adj. pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion. Study “wan” →
The brave ______ was jailed for openly criticizing the harsh government.
B — dissident. “dissident” means n. a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state. Study “dissident” →
The court's ruling set an important ______ for all future cases.
D — precedent. “precedent” means n. an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.. Study “precedent” →
In order to improve the document, the committee decided to _____ the original proposal before their next meeting.
B — amend. “amend” means v. revise; improve; correct. Study “amend” →
The once-poor village grew into a ______ town full of shops and trade.
A — prosperous. “prosperous” means adj. Successful and thriving; flourishing. Study “prosperous” →
The ______ family owned three large homes and a private jet.
C — affluent. “affluent” means adj. wealthy; prosperous; rich. Study “affluent” →
The ______ inventor imagined machines that would not exist for a hundred years.
A — visionary. “visionary” means n. prophet innovator dreamer. Study “visionary” →
In many cities, the end of the holiday season prompts an exodus of tourists who ______.
C — depart. “exodus” means n. mass departure migration. Study “exodus” →
The ______ cats that roamed the old docks feared and avoided all humans.
D — feral. “feral” means adj. wild; untamed; savage. Study “feral” →
The cheap jacket was made of ______ fibers rather than real warm wool.
B — synthetic. “synthetic” means adj. made or put together by people; artificial. Study “synthetic” →
With such a weak team, their crushing defeat seemed a ______ conclusion.
B — foregone. “foregone” means adj. predetermined inevitable certain. Study “foregone” →
The tiny mouse seemed to ______ before the fierce, hungry cat.
B — quail. “quail” means V. to cower; flinch; shrink. Study “quail” →
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 Upper 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.