ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Identifying Synonyms

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

INTRUDER

Possible Answers:

Robber

Legality

Burglar

Criminal

Invader

Correct answer:

Invader

Explanation:

The word "intrude" literally means to push oneself into. Thus, you could "intrude on a conversation" by jumping into the conversation even if you aren't actually welcome. Often, we speak of an "intruder" as someone who breaks into a house. Now, such a person is almost certainly a criminal; however, the word "intruder" most directly means someone who goes into a place without being invited or permitted in. Therefore, the best option is "invader." When someone invades an area, he or she enters it without being welcomed. This is the best meaning among the options given.

Example Question #72 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BURGLAR

Possible Answers:

Criminal

Prisoner

Villain

Invader

Thief

Correct answer:

Thief

Explanation:

Sometimes, you should be very careful just to go with your first idea for an answer. Almost everyone knows the word "burglar," meaning someone who steals from another person; however, with some of the options like "prisoner" and "criminal," you might start to wonder if you need to choose something other than "thief." Don't be tricked! "Thief" is the correct answer!

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Nouns For People

A synonym of "tyrant" is __________.

Possible Answers:

despot

prince

peasant

herald

king

Correct answer:

despot

Explanation:

"Tyrant" is a noun that means either "a cruel and oppressive ruler" or "a person exercising power or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "a cruel ruler." While "king" may seem like a good answer choice because a king is a kind of ruler, a king is not necessarily a cruel ruler like a tyrant is. "Despot," however, means "a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way." Because "despot" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tyrant," "despot" is the correct answer.

Example Question #73 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PARTNER

Possible Answers:

Slave

Coworker

Relative

Section

Element

Correct answer:

Coworker

Explanation:

A "partner" is someone who works with another person. Often, we use the word to describe someone's husband or wife, but it can also be used to describe someone's coworker. Think of when we talk about "business partners." This describes the relationship between people who work together in the same company, likely both owning some share of the company. A partner is anyone that we choose to share an activity with.

Example Question #74 : Identifying Synonyms

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

VERMIN

Possible Answers:

Animals

Pests

Tyrants 

Quacks

Lawyers 

Correct answer:

Pests

Explanation:

“Vermin” are pests. For instance, rats and mosquitos could be considered vermin. To provide further help, a “lawyer” is someone who understands and practices the law; a “tyrant” is a ruler whose power is absolute is often cruel to his people; a “quack” is a phony.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonhuman Living Things

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

FELINE

Possible Answers:

Car

Horse

Subway

Cat

Dog

Correct answer:

Cat

Explanation:

A "feline" is another word for a "cat." "Canine" is a similar synonym for "dog," and "equine" is a similar synonym for "horse." As a word "feline" has no relation to subways or cars.

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Nouns

A synonym of "catastrophe" is __________.

Possible Answers:

veracity

tranquility

understanding

creation

calamity

Correct answer:

calamity

Explanation:

"Catastrophe" is a noun that means "an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "disaster." "Tranquility" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "tranquility" means "the quality or state of being tranquil; calm," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "catastrophe." "Calamity," however, is a noun that means "an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster," and because "calamity" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "catastrophe," "calamity" is the correct answer.

Example Question #32 : Synonyms: Nouns

A synonym of "havoc" is __________.

Possible Answers:

tidiness

complaint

memory

devastation

measurement

Correct answer:

devastation

Explanation:

"Havoc" is a noun that means either "widespread destruction" or "great confusion or disorder." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "destruction" or "disorder." So, "tidiness" cannot be the correct answer, because "tidiness" means "the quality of being not messy, but neat and controlled," making "tidiness" an antonym, not a synonym, of "havoc." "Devastation," however, is a noun that means "great destruction or damage" or "severe and overwhelming shock or grief," and because "devastation" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "havoc," "devastation" is the correct answer.

Example Question #33 : Synonyms: Nouns

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

THREAT

Possible Answers:

Calm

Hurry

Safety

Danger

Correct answer:

Danger

Explanation:

The correct answer is "danger," because both "threat" and "danger" mean something that can potentially harm someone. "Safety" is an opposite of "danger," and the other two words do not have to do with "threat."

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Nouns

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

FIASCO

Possible Answers:

Boredom

Success

Numbness

Disaster

Correct answer:

Disaster

Explanation:

"Fiasco" is another word for an event that fails in a disastrous way. You might call your birthday party a fiasco if it rains all day, everyone gets lost on the way to your house, and the ice cream melts—in other words, if everything goes wrong. So, "disaster" is the word that we're looking for here. "Success" implies that the event went well, and both "boredom" and "numbness" imply a lack of interest or feeling about the situation.

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