ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #37 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

DEPRESSED

Possible Answers:

Worried

Fussy

Miserable

Angry

Concerned

Correct answer:

Miserable

Explanation:

The word "depressed" is used to describe someone who is very unhappy. When a person is "miserable," he or she is not happy or is very negative about life. Among the options given, this is the only one that closely matches "depressed".

Example Question #38 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States

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

FURIOUS

Possible Answers:

Superb

Enraged

Annoyed

Gruff

Correct answer:

Enraged

Explanation:

"Furious" is an adjective meaning extremely angry. The only answer choice with a similar meaning is "enraged," which means very angry. The other words do not have similar meanings: "gruff" can mean no-nonsense or abrupt; "superb" means excellent; and "annoyed" means only slightly angry.

Example Question #43 : Synonyms: Adjectives

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

ERRATIC

Possible Answers:

Unpredictable

Organized

Predictable

Lazy

Lucky

Correct answer:

Unpredictable

Explanation:

When someone behaves "erratically" they are acting in a way that is not expected, usual, nor even predictable. Therefore, "unpredictable" would be the word closest to this meaning and is a synonym for erratic.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Nouns

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

VISIONARY

Possible Answers:

Potent 

Damaged goods 

Portent 

Creative thinker 

Uncontrollable desire

Correct answer:

Creative thinker 

Explanation:

A “visionary” is someone who has the vision to see creative solutions to problems, a creative thinker. To provide further help, “uncontrollable” means not able to be controlled; “potent” means powerful; a “portent” is an omen.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Nouns

A synonym of "kin" is __________.

Possible Answers:

spark

relative

child

connected

person

Correct answer:

relative

Explanation:

"Kin" is a noun that means "one's family and relations," or an adjective that means "related." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "one's family." While "connected" may look like the correct answer, because people who are "kin" are connected to each other, "connected" does not mean the same thing as "kin," so "connected" cannot be the correct answer. "Relative," however, can not only function as an adjective that means "considered in relation or in proportion to something else," but also as a noun that means "a person connected by blood or marriage." So, because "relative" is the closest synonym to "kin" amongst the listed answer choices, "relative" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Nouns

Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

FOE:

Possible Answers:

partner

enemy

miser

comrade

tyrant

Correct answer:

enemy

Explanation:

A foe is the opposite of a comrade and is defined as an enemy.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Nouns

Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PACIFIST:

Possible Answers:

instigator

ally

philanthropist

peacemaker

orator

Correct answer:

peacemaker

Explanation:

A pacifist is someone who keeps the peace or who is a peacemaker.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Nouns

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

BEGINNER

Possible Answers:

Benevolent

Novice

Biased

New

Correct answer:

Novice

Explanation:

The best answer choice is "novice," because another word for a "beginner" is "novice." Considering the other choices, "benevolent" means kind or charitable, and "biased" means expressing a particular prejudice. While the word "new" is related, it is an adjective that describes a beginner and is not a synonym of "beginner."

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Nouns

Select the synonym.

Heroine

Possible Answers:

Adventurer

Anthropologist

Hero

Adolescent

Female

Correct answer:

Hero

Explanation:

A heroine is a female hero, so hero is the best synonym here.  

None of the other answer choices work.  Not all females are heroines, so that answer choice does not work.  Similarly, heroines can be young or old, so adolescent is incorrect.  Someone can also be an adventurer without being a hero.  Lastly, anthropologists study humans, which has nothing to do with heroines.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For People

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

NEMESIS

Possible Answers:

Namesake

Relative

Acquaintance

Rival

Correct answer:

Rival

Explanation:

A "nemesis" is an opponent or rival, a person or group with which you are especially competitive. For example, pretend that your school football team often plays against another team. You and your friends get excited for those games, especially hate when your team loses, and might even talk about the opposing team members as enemies. The opposing team would be your nemesis. Of the other choices, an "acquaintance" is someone that you know, a "relative" is a family member or someone to whom you are related, and a "namesake" is a thing that shares its name with something else, or is directly named after it.

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