All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
UNKEMPT
Lost
Smelly
Unattractive
Rare
Messy
Messy
Something that is "unkempt" is disorderly and disorganized in appearance. The word from the answer choices that most closely means this is "messy," which is therefore the correct answer.
Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SHROUDED
Dark
Covered
Sugary
Unhappy
Strict
Covered
"Shrouded" means cloaked or veiled. Thus, something that is "shrouded" is "covered," making "covered" the best synonym. While something that is "shrouded" may be "dark," those words are not the same in meaning. Therefore, "dark" is a tempting wrong answer choice.
Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRISTINE
Confusing
Spotless
Self-assured
Dirty
Marred
Spotless
Have you ever been in a friend's house that seems almost too clean? Or walked by a lawn that was perfectly manicured? In situations like these, you could use the adjective "pristine," which means perfectly clean or untouched. The best choice for a synonym is clearly "spotless," which could also describe an impeccably clean environment. Both "dirty" and "marred" are antonyms, and "self-assured" simply describes a confident or assertive person.
Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AROMA
Taste
Appearance
Sound
Texture
Smell
Smell
The “aroma” of something is how it smells, so one could say that a flower has a nice aroma.
Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FRAGRANT
Soft
Sweet
Nauseating
Aromatic
Delicious
Aromatic
Something that is "fragrant" has a "fragrance," another word for a smell or an aroma. Therefore, "aromatic" is the correct answer, as both "fragrant" and "aromatic" mean nice-smelling.
Example Question #23 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DILAPIDATED
Ramshackle
Sturdy
Lucky
Ingenious
Clean
Ramshackle
"Dilapidated" means not maintained over time and therefore run-down and in poor condition, so "ramshackle," which means run-down, is the correct answers. None of the other answer choices is close in meaning to "dilapidated."
Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HANDSOME
Attractive
Careful
Foolish
Persistent
Worrisome
Attractive
“Handsome” means attractive and good looking, and in contemporary usage, it is most often used to describe a man. So, "attractive" is the correct answer.
Example Question #25 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SLENDER
Dreary
Slim
Clever
Resolute
Pointed
Slim
“Slender” means skinny or "slim." As for the other answer choices, the word “clever” means quick-witted; “resolute” means determined; "dreary” means drab in appearance and causing sadness; and "pointed" means coming to a sharp, narrow tip.
Example Question #26 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MURKY
Clear
Mighty
Dark
Intentional
Sore
Dark
Something that is “murky” is dismal and dark, so "dark" is the correct answer. So, water might be “murky” if it were very dirty. “Murky” is also the opposite of “clear,” which means transparent and unclouded. “Sore” means in pain due to overexertion of muscles; “intentional” means done on purpose; and “mighty” means strong.
Example Question #27 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance And Sensory Imagery
A synonym of "hardy" is __________.
clear
expensive
firm
rugged
cheap
rugged
"Hardy" is an adjective that means "robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions," or when used of a plant, "able to survive outside during winter." One might assume that "firm" is the best answer because "hardy" contains the word "hard," but "hardy" does not mean the same thing as "hard," so "firm" cannot be the correct answer. One meaning of "rugged," however, is " having or requiring toughness and determination." Because "rugged" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "hardy," "rugged" is the correct answer.