All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1011 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRESUMPTUOUS
Apt
Bubbly
Audacious
Justified
Ashamed
Audacious
"Presumptuous" is an adjective that is used of a person or their behavior and means "failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "not appropriate." "Apt," then, cannot be the correct answer because "apt" means "appropriate or suitable in the circumstances," making it an antonym, not a synonym of "presumptuous." "Audacious," however, is an adjective that means either "showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks," or "showing an impudent lack of respect." Because "audacious" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "presumptuous," "audacious" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1012 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ADAPTIVE
Careful
Charming
Flexible
Shy
Sneaky
Flexible
Someone who is "adaptive" is good at adjusting to his or her surroundings. Someone who is "flexible" is able to accommodate different types of situations. Therefore, "adaptive" is most similar to "flexible."
Example Question #1013 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEFT
Overt
Unclear
Harmful
Skillful
Confusing
Skillful
Someone who is “deft” is very skillful at a particular activity. Something that is “harmful” is damaging. Something that is “overt” is obvious, palpable, or not at all hidden.
Example Question #1014 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CHATTY
Distant
Fluent
Belligerent
Casual
Talkative
Talkative
"Chatty" is the adjectival form of the word "chat," which means talk casually about relatively unimportant subjects. Someone who is "chatty" likes to chat, so they are "talkative." "Fluent" may look like a potentially correct answer, but someone "fluent" in a language is able to speak that langauge very well, so it is not close in meaning to "chatty."
Example Question #1015 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
STERN
Envious
Serious
Fair
Pompous
Unkind
Serious
Someone who is “stern” is very strict and serious, so "stern" is closest in meaning to “severe,” a word that means very serious.
Example Question #1016 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
WITTY
Clever
Desirable
Difficult
Silly
Spontaneous
Clever
Someone who is "witty" is able to say clever things that are funny and entertaining. Therefore, "clever" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1017 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
GREGARIOUS
Rude
Shy
Introspective
Eager
talkative
talkative
Do you have a friend who is always happiest in large groups, or loves to talk to others more than anything else? Such a person would be "gregarious," or extremely social. "Talkative" certainly shares a similar meaning, so it is our correct choice. "Shy" is the opposite of "gregarious," and the same goes for "introspective," or deeply thoughtful and reflective. Finally, a "rude" person is impolite, not necessarily social or talkative.
Example Question #1018 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BASHFUL
Timid
Active
Resilient
Corrupt
Prudent
Timid
We would use the adjective "bashful" to describe someone who is nervous around others and would likely avoid being noticed whenever possible. In other words, "bashful" is synonymous with "shy" or "timid," and we have found our answer! Just to be thorough, let's take a look at the three incorrect choices. "Resilient" refers to the quality of being strong or able to endure hardship. "Active" can either relate to physical exercise or simply mean busy, and a "corrupt" individual acts dishonestly or otherwise immorally, especially in a position of power. None of these choices relate to the term "bashful" at all, so "timid" should be our final choice.
Example Question #1019 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HUMOROUS
Funny
Sad
Soft
Tough
Lonely
Funny
The word “humorous” means funny, so "funny" is the correct answer. The word “lonely” means feeling sad about being by yourself.
Example Question #1020 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SINCERE
Immoral
Bold
Optimistic
Genuine
Proud
Genuine
To be “sincere” means honest and truthful. It can also be used to describe an effort that is heartfelt as opposed to merely feigned. "Genuine" is thus the answer choice closest in meaning to "sincere," as it is close in meaning to this second usage. While "sincere" contains the syllable "sin," it does not derive from any word meaning "sin"; however, this may have encouraged you to pick "immoral," a synonym of "sinful," as your answer. As for the other terms, "bold" means brazen and undaunted; and "proud" means taking pleasure from what one has accomplished; and "optimistic" means choosing to see the future in a positive, hopeful light.
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