All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #473 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SAVAGE
Barbaric
Satanic
Proud
Sharp
Stern
Barbaric
To be "savage" means to be violent in a primitive way. To be "barbaric" means acting with unsophisticated aggression. Given how similar these two words are, they are synonyms.
Example Question #474 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DOMESTICATED
Sheltered
Confident
Boring
Tame
Agricultural
Tame
"Domesticated" means tamed or made submissive to human beings. To be "tame" means no longer wild, and rather, under control of humans. Thus, "domesticated" and "tame" mean the same thing and are synonyms.
Example Question #475 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SNEAKY
Illegal
Official
Bad
Sly
Dark
Sly
To be "sneaky" means to be trying to be undetected or unnoticed. To be "sly" means to be able to carry out activities without drawing attention to oneself. Given how similar these words are in meaning, they are synonyms.
Example Question #476 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "auspicious" is . . .
ludicrous
personable
promising
ominous
selected
promising
"Auspicious" is an adjective that can mean either "conducive to success; favorable," or "giving or being a sign of future success." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective and means something like "favorable." So, "ominous" cannot be the correct answer because "ominous" means "giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious," so "ominous" is an antonym of "auspicious." "Promising," however, is an adjective that means "showing signs of future success," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "auspicious," "promising" is the correct answer.
Example Question #477 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PRECISE
Formal
Perfect
Interesting
Exact
Exact
"Precise" means marked by exactness, as in the sentence, "In order for the science experiment to work, we must make very precise measurements." "Exact" is most similar in meaning to "precise," so "exact" is the correct answer.
Incorrect answers:
"Perfect" is not the best answer because although you might describe precise measurements as being "perfect," the word "perfect" means as good as it is possible to be. For example, you might say "That was a perfect book report" or "I got a perfect score on my test." So, "exact" is close in meaning to "precise" than "perfect" is.
"Interesting" means holding or catching attention, as in the sentence, "The museum display of brightly colored butterflies was interesting to the students."
"Formal" means following accepted conventions or rules, as in the sentence, "My teacher's first name is Susan, but we address her formally as Mrs. Brown."
Example Question #478 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "convoluted" is __________.
straightforward
menacing
complex
simple
open
complex
"Convoluted" is an adjective that means "extremely complex and difficult to follow" and is used of arguments, stories, or sentences. So, neither "simple" nor "straightforward" can be the correct answer because each of these words are antonyms of "convoluted," not synonyms. "Complex," however, is an adjective that means "consisting of many different and connected parts" or "not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate." Because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "convoluted," "complex" is the correct answer.
Example Question #479 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTRICATE
Complicated
Straightforward
Unified
Simple
Complicated
The adjective "intricate" refers to something that is complex or nuanced. It is sometimes used to describe physical complexity (like an intricate system of highways), but also applies to ideas that may be difficult to grasp. "Complicated" is the clear synonym here. Of the remaining choices, both "straightforward" and "simple" are antonyms of the given word, since they convey a lack of complexity. "Unified" is used to describe groups that have been united or brought together.
Example Question #480 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRECISE
Careless
Exact
Immature
Serious
Incomplete
Exact
The adjective "precise" refers to an extremely accurate or specific measurement or assessment. "Exact," which also refers to an accurate or correct quantity, is our answer. "Careless" is clearly incorrect, since it describes something that is sloppy and unlikely to be perfectly measured. You might use the word "immature" to describe a person who acts unusually young and inexperienced; neither this term nor "incomplete" (unfinished) is related to the given word.
Example Question #481 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the synonym.
Enchanting
Dueling
Dreadful
Discouraging
Confusing
Delectable
Delectable
Both enchanting and delectable can be defined as highly pleasing.
Discouraging, dueling, and dreadful are antonyms to enchanting.
Something enchanting may or may not be confusing, so that does not work either.
Example Question #482 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
HEINOUS
Benign
Evil
Benevolent
Generous
Evil
"Heinous" means shockingly evil. "Benign" means harmless, while "generous" means giving, and "benevolent" means good. If you can figure out that "benign," "generous," and "benevolent" all have similar meanings and are not synonyms of "heinous," you can narrow down the answer to "evil."
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