ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Nouns For People

A synonym of "tyrant" is __________.

Possible Answers:

prince

herald

king

peasant

despot

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 #28 : Synonyms: Nouns For People

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

PARTNER

Possible Answers:

Section

Slave

Coworker

Element

Relative

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 #241 : Synonyms

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

VERMIN

Possible Answers:

Pests

Animals

Quacks

Lawyers 

Tyrants 

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 #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonhuman Living Things

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

FELINE

Possible Answers:

Horse

Cat

Subway

Car

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 #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things

A synonym of "catastrophe" is __________.

Possible Answers:

creation

veracity

calamity

understanding

tranquility

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 #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things

A synonym of "havoc" is __________.

Possible Answers:

measurement

complaint

memory

devastation

tidiness

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 #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things

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

THREAT

Possible Answers:

Calm

Safety

Hurry

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 #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things

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

FIASCO

Possible Answers:

Numbness

Success

Disaster

Boredom

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.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things

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

COLLISION

Possible Answers:

Achievement

Route

Reign

Crash

Homonym

Correct answer:

Crash

Explanation:

A "collision" is the event of one object hitting another, or a "crash." An "achievement" is an accomplishment or the completion of some task or goal. "Reign," when used as a noun, means the period when a person rules or governs. "Homonym" refers to a word that is pronounced in the same way as another word, but has a different meaning than that other word. A "route" is a path or road.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things

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

HARBINGER

Possible Answers:

Guard

Omen

Auxilliary

Chaos

Correct answer:

Omen

Explanation:

A "harbinger" is something or someone that is a sign of a future event. The best choice is "omen," which shares the same definition. Considering the other choices, "chaos" means a state of utter confusion, "auxiliary" means additional, and "guard" means a person that protects someone or something.

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