ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.

TURNCOAT

Possible Answers:

Supporter

Ally

Traitor

Financier

Enemy

Correct answer:

Traitor

Explanation:

A “turncoat” is a traitor; someone who betrays his allies and helps his former enemies. Almost every American school child has heard of Benedict Arnold, the famous turncoat from the Revolutionary War. To provide further guidance, an "ally" is someone on your side; an "enemy" is someone who you are fighting against; a "supporter" is a fan; a "financier" is someone who provides the money to make something happen.

Example Question #11 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CAUCUS

Possible Answers:

Script

Meeting

Cautious

Zenith

Correct answer:

Meeting

Explanation:

A "caucus" is a gathering of members of an organization in order to discuss a special interest or cause. The best choice is "meeting," which means a coming together of people. Considering the other choices, "zenith" means the highest point, "script" means handwriting or a document detailing what should be said and done in a movie or play, and "cautious" means careful.

Example Question #12 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PATRON

Possible Answers:

Critic 

Cacophony 

Establish 

Customer 

Portray 

Correct answer:

Customer 

Explanation:

A “patron” is a customer, someone who visits a business. To provide further help, a “critic” is someone who judges things, usually art, and often harshly; a “cacophony” is a loud and unpleasant pairing of noises; “establish” means set up; “portray” means depict or show.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Nouns

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

BUFFOON

Possible Answers:

Liberator

Erudite

Fool

Patriarch

Chaperone

Correct answer:

Fool

Explanation:

"Buffoon" is a noun meaning "a ridiculous but amusing person; a clown," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun and means "a ridiculous, but amusing person." Of the possible answer choices, "erudite" is not a noun but an adjective, so it cannot be the correct answer. Picking between "fool," "liberator," "patriarch," and "chaperone," "fool" is the best answer choice because "fool" means "a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person," or "a jester or clown, especially one retained in a noble household."

Example Question #14 : Identifying Synonyms

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

QUACK

Possible Answers:

Scribe 

Creditor 

Genuine 

Phony 

Doctor 

Correct answer:

Phony 

Explanation:

A "quack" is someone who is not genuine, a fake, a phony. To further help you, "genuine" means real; a "scribe" is someone who writes information; a "creditor" is someone who lends money under the expectation that it is favorably paid back.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Nouns

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

MONARCH

Possible Answers:

Achievement

Protagonist

King

Document

Narrator

Correct answer:

King

Explanation:

"Monarch" means ruler or king, so "king" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "monarch": a "narrator" is a person who tells a story; an "achievement" is the completion of a task or goal; a "document" is a paper with written material on it; and a "protagonist" is the main character in a novel or movie.

Example Question #16 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CHAPERONE

Possible Answers:

Catastrophe

Supervisor

Protagonist

Voyage

Destruction

Correct answer:

Supervisor

Explanation:

A "chaperone" is a supervisor or a person who looks after another person or group, so "supervisor" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "chaperone": a "voyage" is a journey made by traveling via ship; a "protagonist" is the main character of a story; a "catastrophe" is a disaster or great event of terror and suffering; and "destruction" is the action of causing great damage.

Example Question #17 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PUPIL

Possible Answers:

Worker

Student

Teacher

Parent

Expert

Correct answer:

Student

Explanation:

"Pupil" is a noun that can mean apprentice or novice, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "pupil" is "student," a noun meaning a person who is going to school. Considering the other answer choices, "expert" is a noun meaning a specialist or a skilled person, "parent" is a noun meaning a mother or father of a child, and "worker" is a noun meaning someone who does work.

Example Question #18 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ENTOURAGE

Possible Answers:

Debut

Vacation

Corruption

Escort

Tour

Correct answer:

Escort

Explanation:

An “entourage” is a group of people who accompany one person, or an “escort.” A “debut” is the act of doing something, often publicly, for the first time; and “corruption” means dishonesty.

Example Question #19 : Identifying Synonyms

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

SOPHOMORE

Possible Answers:

Second-year student 

Academic 

First-year student

Professor 

Itinerant 

Correct answer:

Second-year student 

Explanation:

If you break “sophomore” down into its Latin word parts, it's literal meaning is wise-fool. In American English, we use it to describe a second-year student.” To provide further help, an “itinerant” is a nomad, someone who walks from place to place without living in any one place; an “academic” is someone who studies or teaches for a living

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