ISEE Lower Level Verbal : ISEE Lower Level (grades 5-6) Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Lower Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

AROMA

Possible Answers:

Atmosphere

Scent

Sound

Setting

Environment

Correct answer:

Scent

Explanation:

An "aroma" is a smell or "scent." This is different than a "setting" or place; one's "environment" or surroundings; and the "atmosphere" or the air in a certain place.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CONVERT

Possible Answers:

Allow

Change

Discover

Detail

Stay

Correct answer:

Change

Explanation:

To "convert" something is to alter or "change" it. This differs from the other answer choices: "allow" means permit; "discover" means find; and "detail" means give particulars about or describe.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

DEDICATE

Possible Answers:

Etch

Sign

Partition

Share

Devote

Correct answer:

Devote

Explanation:

To "dedicate" something (such as a book) to someone means to "devote" it to them. This differs from "etch," which means to write or draw by scratching into a hard material like stone; "partition," which means to separate by putting up a wall; and "sign," which means to write one's name on a document, making it official.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HEARTY

Possible Answers:

Exhausted

Legendary

Fragile

Weak

Strong

Correct answer:

Strong

Explanation:

Something or someone who is "hearty" is healthy and "strong." "Exhausted" means tired; "legendary" means epic; and "fragile" means delicate.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

RESEMBLE

Possible Answers:

Mirror

Appear

Observe

Tolerate

Consider

Correct answer:

Mirror

Explanation:

Something that "resembles" something else looks like it. The other answer choices mean the following: "tolerate" means allow; "consider" means think about; and "appear" means look a certain way on the surface, often different from how someone or something really is. (For example, someone might say, "Although those flowers may appear harmless, do not touch them: they are poisonous.")

Example Question #12 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PERIODICALLY

Possible Answers:

Rarely

Frequently

Occasionally

Always

Correct answer:

Occasionally

Explanation:

When something occurs "periodically," it occurs regularly in a given period of time. For instance, the periodic swinging of a pendulum is the time that it takes for it to swing back and forth. Likewise, the occurrence of a full moon occurs periodically—according to a fixed period of the moon's orbiting around the earth. By itself, the word "periodically" does not indicate whether or not something occurs frequently, quickly, or rarely. It merely indicates that something happens at regular intervals.

The word "occasionally" is an adverb that could be rewritten, on occasion or on a given occasion. The implication is that it describes something that happens sometimes but not always. It does not necessarily state that it occurs rarely. Likewise, it is not proper to use "occasionally" to indicate that you do something frequently. You wouldn't say, "I occasionally eat asparagus," but actually mean that you eat it every day of the year. To indicate that you eat it every day of the year, you would say, "I always eat asparagus." To say "occasionally" is to indicate that the activity being described is sporadic—now and then, on occasion.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Annually

Possible Answers:

Weekly

Daily

Monthly

Yearly

Hourly

Correct answer:

Yearly

Explanation:

Annually means every year or yearly.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

SELDOM

Possible Answers:

Potentially

Immediately

Rarely

Often

Spontaneously

Correct answer:

Rarely

Explanation:

"Seldom" is an adverb that means not happening often. The best choice is "rarely" because it means infrequently and is a synonym of "seldom." Something that seldom happens rarely happens.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Michelle has been unable to commit herself to a regular exercise regime, and instead exercises very __________.

Possible Answers:

intently

fairly

sporadically

quickly

unsurely

Correct answer:

sporadically

Explanation:

Given that Michelle has not been able to commit to a regular exercise regime, the best answer is a word that describes irregularity. "Sporadically" means to do something at inconsistent intervals. Therefore, "sporadically" is the word that best fits the sentence. 

Example Question #11 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

NATURALLY

Possible Answers:

Angrily

Genuinely

Temporarily

Slyly

Quickly

Correct answer:

Genuinely

Explanation:

The word "natural" comes from roots related to birth. Something that is "natural" is inborn. Thus, if someone has a naturally happy attitude, that person is happy in an unreflective way. He or she just "is happy"—as though he or she was born that way. The word has taken on the meaning "genuinely" because such a natural disposition is not something that is faked.

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