All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1561 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
I am trying to __________ my appearance so as to seem more professional.
attend
alter
accommodate
attach
accompany
alter
The speaker of this sentence wants to seem more professional so it makes sense that they would want to change or "alter" their appearance. "Alter" means change, edit, adjust. Additionally, "attend" means be present at, go to; to "accompany" means to go with someone; "attach" means join, connect to; "accommodate" means help, assist, meet the needs of.
Example Question #1562 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The cat __________ in the shadows, waiting to pounce on its prey.
lurked
advised
murdered
trembled
sheltered
lurked
You know that the cat is waiting to attack its prey so the verb you are looking for must relate to hiding or waiting in the shadows. The correct answer is therefore "lurked." To "lurk" means to hide and wait to attack something. Additionally, to "shelter" means to provide a home for; to "murder" means to kill; to "tremble" means to shake (usually with fear); to "advise" means to offer help or suggestions.
Example Question #1563 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The captives are __________ a plan to escape.
devising
wrecking
eroding
permitting
vanishing
devising
To begin with "captives" are prisoners. Based on the context of this sentence you know that the verb you are looking for must mean something like coming up with, making. So, the correct answer is "devising." To "devise" means to come up with, to plan, to make. Additionally, to "erode" means to wear down over time; to "vanish" means to disappear; to "wreck" means to destroy; to "permit" means to allow.
Example Question #1564 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The winning team finally __________ over their rivals when they scored in overtime.
succumbed
jockeyed
engorged
implored
prevailed
prevailed
The team is described as "winning" and you are told that they scored in overtime, so it makes sense that they triumphed, defeated, won. The correct answer is therefore "prevailed." To "prevail" means to triumph, to overcome, to win. Additionally, to "jockey" is to compete for position; to "implore" means to beg, to urge; to "succumb" means to give in to, to fail to resist any more; to "engorge" means to fill with liquid, often blood or water.
Example Question #1565 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
We have run out of eggs, so I am running to the store to __________ our stock.
exterminate
rectify
replenish
annihilate
harass
replenish
The speaker notes that his family has run out of eggs, so it would make sense that he would go to the store to replace, restock, fill up their supply. The correct answer is therefore "replenish." Additionally, "exterminate" and "annihilate" both mean to kill or to completely destroy; "rectify" means fix; "harass" means irritate, bother, annoy.
Example Question #1566 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The man was __________ by the sudden loud sound.
cherished
submerged
startled
chortled
commenced
startled
A sudden loud sound would probably be shocking, unsettling, disturbing. So, the correct answer is "startled." If you have been "startled" you have been shocked and surprised by something sudden. Additionally, "cherish" means love and adore; "chortle" means laugh at; "submerged" means under water; "commence" means begin, start.
Example Question #1567 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
They took the turkey out of the freezer and left it to __________ so that they could cook it the next day.
bewilder
thaw
cleanse
demolish
strive
thaw
In this sentence the subjects take a turkey out of the freezer and leave it to become unfrozen. The correct answer is therefore "thaw." To "thaw" means to defrost, to become unfrozen. Additionally, "strive" means work hard for; "demolish" means tear down, destroy; "bewilder" means confuse; "cleanse" means clean, purify.
Example Question #1568 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The hunters set a trap in order to __________ the animal.
sanctify
desert
enlarge
snare
reprimand
snare
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the verb you are looking for must mean something like to trap, to catch (an animal). The correct answer is therefore "snare." Additionally, "reprimand" means scold, yell at, punish; "desert" means leave, abandon; "sanctify" means make holy, make sacred; "enlarge" means make larger.
Example Question #1569 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although it is not always the case, television commercials ____________ to be a bit ridiculous in order to shock viewers into watching them.
lie
emerge
captivate
appear
tend
tend
The sentence is discussing the general tendency for commercials to be a given way. When something "tends" to something, it generally or often does so. For instance, if you were to say, "I tend to go to bed at 10 PM," this would mean that you generally go to bed then. Of course, some times you go to bed earlier or later. This is all that the sentence is trying to say about the tendencies of television commercials.
Example Question #1570 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although she was not totally sure about her suspicion, Elizabeth ___________ that something bad had happened that morning.
evaluated
sensed
asserted
agreed
declared
sensed
The general idea is that Elizabeth can't exactly "put her finger" on her reason for thinking that something bad had happened. Nevertheless, she has a "sense" that there was something wrong. To "sense" something does not just mean that you see or smell it. It also can mean that you have some general idea that something is the case. If you think that someone doesn't like your answer to a question, you might say, "I sense that you don't like my answer." This does not mean that you are sure that they don't like it. It just means that you are picking up on something that they are doing or saying that makes you think that they do not like it.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
![Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors](https://vt-vtwa-app-assets.varsitytutors.com/assets/problems/og_image_practice_problems-9cd7cd1b01009043c4576617bc620d0d5f9d58294f59b6d6556fd8365f7440cf.jpg)