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.
Which of the following words is closest in meaning to “fictitious”?
B — Imaginary. “fictitious” means adj. not real and existing only in the imagination; invented or fabricated. Study “fictitious” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “dwindle”:
B — diminish. “dwindle” means v. to become gradually smaller or diminish. Study “dwindle” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “sanguine” as used in the sentence: Despite the challenges, she remained sanguine about the future of the project.
B — optimistic. “sanguine” means adj. optimistic; hopeful; confident. Study “sanguine” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to the word “convoluted” as used in the sentence: The instructions for the new game were so convoluted that none of the players knew how to get started.
B — Intricate. “convoluted” means adj. complex; twisted; complicated. Study “convoluted” →
Which word is closest in meaning to “premonition”?
B — forewarning. “premonition” means n. a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.. Study “premonition” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “plight”:
D — predicament. “plight” means n. a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.. Study “plight” →
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to “penitent”.
B — Regretful. “penitent” means adj. repentant remorseful sorry. Study “penitent” →
Select the word that is the closest synonym for “efficacious”: The new policy implemented by the school board proved to be highly efficacious in improving student attendance rates.
C — effective. “efficacious” means adj. effective; successful; potent. Study “efficacious” →
To reminisce means to:
B — remember. “reminisce” means v. to think about past experiences fondly. Study “reminisce” →
Which word is closest in meaning to “irreverent”?
B — impertinent. “irreverent” means adj. showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.. Study “irreverent” →
Synonym: The heavy rain might preclude our picnic plans this weekend.
C — prevent. “preclude” means v. to prevent something from happening. Study “preclude” →
Which of the following words is most similar in meaning to “provincial”?
B — rural. “provincial” means adj. relating to a province; lacking urban sophistication or broad-mindedness. Study “provincial” →
Choose the word that is a synonym for “contemporary”: Many experts consider him a leading figure in modern art, with a style that is very __________.
B — contemporary. “contemporary” means adj. modern; current; peer. Study “contemporary” →
In the context of behavior, the word “profane” most nearly means:
B — vulgar. “profane” means adj. irreverent; vulgar; secular. Study “profane” →
Choose the synonym for the word “denounce”:
B — condemn. “denounce” means v. to condemn; accuse; expose. Study “denounce” →
Choose the best synonym for the word “excise”:
D — extract. “excise” means v. to remove by cutting. Study “excise” →
Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to laconic.
C — terse. “laconic” means adj. using very few words. Study “laconic” →
Which word is a synonym for persistent?
B — tenacious. “persistent” means adj. continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.. Study “persistent” →
Which of the following words is most similar in meaning to “inchoate”?
B — undeveloped. “inchoate” means adj. not fully formed or developed. Study “inchoate” →
Select the synonym for the word “abridge” in the following sentence: The editor decided to abridge the lengthy manuscript to make it more suitable for publication.
B — Shorten. “abridge” means v. to shorten; condense; summarize. Study “abridge” →
After the shock wore off, she was finally able to give a ______ account.
C — coherent. “coherent” means adj. logical and consistent. Study “coherent” →
The old ______ hoarded every coin and refused to spend a single penny.
C — miser. “miser” means n. stingy person; penny-pincher; scrooge. Study “miser” →
The people at last rose up together to overthrow the hated ______.
C — tyrant. “tyrant” means n. a cruel and oppressive ruler. Study “tyrant” →
His ______ manners seemed old-fashioned to his fashionable big-city cousins.
D — provincial. “provincial” means adj. relating to a province; lacking urban sophistication or broad-mindedness. Study “provincial” →
The sturdy new raincoat is completely ______ to even the heaviest downpour.
C — impervious. “impervious” means adj. unaffected; resistant; immune. Study “impervious” →
His honesty in returning the lost money was truly ______.
C — admirable. “admirable” means adj. deserving of respect or approval. Study “admirable” →
The heavy gas is ______, refusing to react with almost any other substance.
A — inert. “inert” means adj. inactive; motionless; static. Study “inert” →
The daring rescue mission was ______ with danger from start to finish.
A — fraught. “fraught” means adj. Filled with; dangerous. Study “fraught” →
The strange reading was a puzzling ______ that the scientists could not explain.
D — anomaly. “anomaly” means n. abnormality; irregularity; deviation. Study “anomaly” →
A hopeless, ______ gambler, he could not resist a single easy bet.
D — inveterate. “inveterate” means adj. having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change. Study “inveterate” →
It took great ______ to keep going after so many painful setbacks.
D — fortitude. “fortitude” means n. courage strength endurance. Study “fortitude” →
The struggling company sank deeper into a ______ of debt and confusion.
A — mire. “mire” means n. a situation or state of difficulty, distress, or embarrassment that is hard to extricate oneself from. Study “mire” →
In times of difficulty, her __________ nature inspired those around her.
B — steadfast. “steadfast” means adj. loyal, firm, and unwavering. Study “steadfast” →
The migrant workers sent a monthly ______ home to support their families.
B — remittance. “remittance” means n. payment; money transfer; allowance. Study “remittance” →
The skilled pilot performed a daring ______ to avoid the sudden storm.
B — maneuver. “maneuver” means n. a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care. Study “maneuver” →
The nervous suspect stayed ______, refusing to reveal where he had been.
C — cagey. “cagey” means adj. cautious wary secretive. Study “cagey” →
Even a small amount of the very strong wine can quickly ______ him.
A — intoxicate. “intoxicate” means v. To intoxicate; inebriate. Study “intoxicate” →
Huge roaring flames began to ______ the entire building within minutes.
C — engulf. “engulf” means v. swallow surround overwhelm. Study “engulf” →
The modern glass tower looked oddly ______ among the ancient stone cottages.
D — incongruous. “incongruous” means adj. inappropriate inconsistent mismatched. Study “incongruous” →
In harsh winter conditions, the thin ice covering the lake can be quite ____.
B — brittle. “brittle” means adj. hard but liable to break or shatter easily. Study “brittle” →
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.