ISEE Middle Level Verbal : ISEE Middle Level (grades 7-8) Verbal Reasoning

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #115 : Synonyms

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

MALEVOLENT

Possible Answers:

Virtuous

Laden

Good

Gaunt

Evil

Correct answer:

Evil

Explanation:

"Malevolent" is the direct antonym of "benevolent." Whilst "benevolent" means good-natured, "malevolent" means bad-natured or evil and wicked. So, "evil" is the correct answer. To help you, "virtuous" is a synonym of "benevolent," "gaunt" means very skinny to the point of ill-health, and "laden" means burdened.

Example Question #341 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

DISARRAY

Possible Answers:

Migration

Concession

Disorder

Trek

Bias

Correct answer:

Disorder

Explanation:

"Disarray" means disorder or chaos, so "disorder" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "disarray": "migration" is the annual journey animals make from one area to another; "trek" is a long and often difficult journey; "concession" is something given up, usually in a compromise or negotiation; and "bias" means prejudice or partiality.

Example Question #111 : Synonyms

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

MALODOROUS

Possible Answers:

Malevolent

Benevolent

Sincere

Smelly

Loud

Correct answer:

Smelly

Explanation:

"Malodorous" means bad-smelling. Whenever you see -odor you can guess that the word has something to do with smells, likewise the prefix -mal means bad. To provide further help, "malevolent" means bad-natured, evil; and "benevolent" means good-natured, kind.

Example Question #112 : Synonyms

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

UNSURPASSED

Possible Answers:

Uncommitted 

Insipid 

Uncontrollable 

Banal

Supreme 

Correct answer:

Supreme 

Explanation:

“Unsurpassed” literally means not taken over, however it is most commonly used to mean best or supreme. To provide further help, “insipid” and “banal” are synonyms and both mean boring, dull, lifeless; "uncommitted" means not interested, casual; “uncontrollable” means not able to be controlled.

Example Question #342 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

PRELUDE

Possible Answers:

Conclusion 

Introduction 

Epilogue 

Plot

Glossary 

Correct answer:

Introduction 

Explanation:

The prefix "pre-" means before and is opposite in meaning to the prefix "post-." When you see a world like “prelude,” it is reasonable to assume it means something coming before something else. Indeed, “prelude” means introduction. To provide further help, the “plot” is the sequence of events that take place in a story; the “conclusion” of something is the end of it; the “epilogue” is a part of a story that comes after the end of the main story; and a “glossary” is a list of terms used in a book that are presented with their definitions, usually at the back of a book.

Example Question #71 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

EXCLAIM

Possible Answers:

Duplicate

Declare

Reassure

Portray

Abolish

Correct answer:

Declare

Explanation:

The Latin root "-claim" here means shout or out loud, so “exclaim” means to cry out loudly. “Abolish” means get rid of; “reassure” means to say something to make someone feel better; “portray” means to depict; and “duplicate” means to copy or to make a second of something.

Example Question #72 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

CONCUR

Possible Answers:

Amplify

Announce

Argue

Agree

Astound

Correct answer:

Agree

Explanation:

The Latin prefix "con-" means with, so “concur” means to agree with. “Astound” means to surprise someone with something incredible; “announce” means declare or say out loud to many people, and "amplify" means to make stronger or louder.

Example Question #343 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

INTROVERTED

Possible Answers:

Confident

Shy

Unseemly

Grumpy

Miserly

Correct answer:

Shy

Explanation:

The Latin prefix "intro-" means inward, so someone who is “introverted” is someone who "lives inside him- or herself," or in other words, someone who is shy and quiet. The opposite of being “introverted” is being “extroverted” which means someone who is talkative and likes to be in the company of others. Here, you can see that the prefix "extra-" means outside. The word “confident” means feeling good about yourself and your chances of doing something; “grumpy” means not happy and feeling down and annoyed; “miserly” means not generous with money; and “unseemly” means unattractive or rude.

Example Question #344 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

ENCLOSE

Possible Answers:

Provoke

Surround

Escape

Catalogue

Encroach

Correct answer:

Surround

Explanation:

The Latin prefix "en-" means inside, so it makes sense that “enclose” means to completely surround something. “Escape” means to successfully run away from; “encroach” means to step into territory that you should not; "provoke" means cause someone to do something, usually bad, often by making them mad; and "catalogue" means make a comprehensive list of a collection of things.

Example Question #345 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

MORTICIAN

Possible Answers:

Director

Groundbreaker

Magnate

Author

Undertaker

Correct answer:

Undertaker

Explanation:

The Latin root "mort" means death, so a “mortician” is someone who assists with funeral preparations and helps process a burial, or anundertaker." A “magnate” is a successful businessman; a “director” is someone in charge of an organization or someone in charge of making a movie; “author” means writer; and someone who is a “groundbreaker” is someone who does something for the first time, also known as an innovator.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors