ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #241 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

DISRUPT

Possible Answers:

Displease

Discover

Dismay

Disturb

Disparage

Correct answer:

Disturb

Explanation:

"Dis-" is a negative prefix that often means not, and "rupt" is a Latin root that means to break—think of English words like "rupture" (a tear or break in something or to tear or break) and "interruption" (the act of breaking into someone else's conversation or something that breaks into someone else's planed activity). Given this, it makes sense that "disrupt" means to break the progress something, or to "disturb," a verb that can mean to interrupt the progress of

As for the other answer choices, “discover” means find; “dismay” means sadden and disappoint; “disparage” means make fun of and say that that person or thing is not worth anything; and "displease" means to anger or annoy.

Example Question #243 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

CONCLUDE

Possible Answers:

Confuse

Commence

Finish

Measure

Suspend. 

Correct answer:

Finish

Explanation:

To “conclude” means to bring to a close, to end, or to "finish." “Commence” means begin, and “suspend” means pause or stop.

Example Question #244 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

PRESERVE

Possible Answers:

Evade

Save

Portray 

Demand

Escalate

Correct answer:

Save

Explanation:

"Preserve" means to save or to keep safe. To further help you, "evade" means to get out of the way of; "escalate" means make worse or make more severe; "portray" means show.

Example Question #245 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

AIL

Possible Answers:

Fix

Pale

Pail

Encourage

Hurt

Correct answer:

Hurt

Explanation:

The verb "ail" means hurt. The best choice is "hurt," as it a part of the definition of "ail." Considering the other choices, "pale" means having light or muted colors"fix" means repair, and a "pail" is a bucket.

Example Question #246 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

REQUIRE

Possible Answers:

Despise

Detest

Need

Abhor

Dislike

Correct answer:

Need

Explanation:

If you "require" something, then you need it, so "need" is the correct answer. To help you, the other four answer choices are all synonyms of one another; "abhor," "detest," and "despise" are all verbs that mean extremely dislike.

Example Question #247 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

MANIPULATE

Possible Answers:

Discontinue

Abandon

Destroy

Pull

Influence

Correct answer:

Influence

Explanation:

"Manipulate" means control something or someone to serve one’s purpose. "Influence" is the best choice, because "influence" means change or affect someone or something when used as a verb.

Example Question #248 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

DETERIORATE

Possible Answers:

Invent

Retrieve

Earn

Worsen

Discover

Correct answer:

Worsen

Explanation:

The word "deteriorate" describes something that is becoming worse. For instance, we might say, "Her health was deteriorating for some time before she died," meaning that her health was getting worse before she died. Several of the options are trying to confuse you into thinking that "deteriorate" is the same as "determine." (These are "learn" and "discover".) The obvious correct answer is "worsen."

Example Question #61 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

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

EXTERMINATE

Possible Answers:

Damage

Eradicate

Injure

Depart

Poison

Correct answer:

Eradicate

Explanation:

Your synonym must match the intensity of your word if it can. When we "exterminate" something, we completely destroy it. This word might have been used by your parents if your house has ever had a lot of ants (or other bugs) in it. An "exterminator" is someone who completely kills the bugs in the house—or at least tries to! The word does not mean to poison. It means to destroy completely. Thus, the best option is "eradicate", which means to destroy completely.

Example Question #250 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

DEPLETE

Possible Answers:

Insane

Join

Consume

Erase

Remove

Correct answer:

Consume

Explanation:

The word "deplete" is not the same as "delete." They are somewhat alike, but they are not the same. When something is "depleted," it is emptied out. For example, we could say, "The group depleted the stores of food," meaning that they used them up. The word "consume" does not merely mean to eat. It can also mean to use up. Therefore, it is quite a good option for this question!

Example Question #921 : Synonyms

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

MOCK

Possible Answers:

Irritate

Harm

Ridicule

Enrage

Detest

Correct answer:

Ridicule

Explanation:

When we mock someone, we make fun of that person. We make that person an object of laughter and (sometimes) scorn. When we "ridicule" someone, we do the same thing. The word "ridicule" is related to words like "deride" and "ridiculous." These words come from Latin roots meaning to laugh. When something is ridiculous, it is amusing. When we mock someone, we could be said to make him or her appear to be ridiculous.

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