ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #489 : Identifying Synonyms

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

INTRACTABLE

Possible Answers:

Magnanimous

Umanageable

Strenuous

Complex

Indefatigable

Correct answer:

Umanageable

Explanation:

"Intractable" means difficult or burdensome; therefore, "unmanageable" is the best answer.

Example Question #111 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

LIBERAL

Possible Answers:

Drinking

Generous

Expensive

Extended

Immoral

Correct answer:

Generous

Explanation:

The word “liberal” has become very charged because of its political connotations. However, the original meaning can be discerned from the general sense that you likely have concerning its political meaning. The word “liberal” comes from the Latin for “free.” When someone gives things liberally, he or she gives them freely (as though they cost nothing). For this reason, the word “liberal” can mean “open-minded” (i.e. free-minded) as well as “generous” and a number of related meanings. Among the options provided for this question, the word “generous” most closely answers to the meaning of “liberal.”

Example Question #41 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

MAGNANIMOUS

Possible Answers:

Beneficent

Unforgiving

Stingy

Free

Particular

Correct answer:

Beneficent

Explanation:

"Magnanimous" is an adjective that means "very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself." So, neither "stingy" nor "unforgiving" can be the correct answer because each of those words is an antonym of "demure." "Beneficent," an adjective that means "of a person: generous or doing good" or "resulting in good," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "magnanimous," so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #42 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

WANTON

Possible Answers:

Reverent

Dormant

Homely

Dissolute

Civilian

Correct answer:

Dissolute

Explanation:

Because "wanton" means immoral or sexually promiscuous, the best answer choice is "dissolute," which means lax in morals or licentious.

Example Question #51 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

HEADSTRONG

Possible Answers:

Portentous

Stubborn

Meek

Yielding

Terrible

Correct answer:

Stubborn

Explanation:

"Headstrong" is an adjective that means "self-willed and obstinate," or "not willing to do what other people want : very stubborn." So, neither "yielding" nor "meek" can be the correct answer because "yielding" and "meek" are both antonyms of "headstrong." "Stubborn" is the closest synonym to "headstrong" amongst the listed answers, so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #52 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

HAUGHTY

Possible Answers:

Wealthy

Affluent

Overstated

Prosperous

Conceited

Correct answer:

Conceited

Explanation:

While one might think that “haughty” is related to someone being wealthy, what it generally means is that someone has a “high opinion” of himself or herself. Such a person would judge others as being “beneath” him or her. An adequate description of such a “haughty person” would be “conceited,” which means “being very proud, judging one’s abilities to be great.”

Example Question #53 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

LETHARGIC

Possible Answers:

Idiotic

Incapable

Vacuous

Worthless

Inert

Correct answer:

Inert

Explanation:

A person who is “lethargic” lacks energy and does not care much for undertaking any activities. Among the options provided, “inert” is closest to this. In chemistry, you may have spoken of “inert” compounds or elements—those that do not undergo chemical reactions. “Inert” is derived from the combination of “in-,” here used as meaning “not” (as in “indivisible”), and the word for “skill” or “art” in Latin. To be “inert” is therefore to lack skills, arts, or (at least) activities.

Example Question #54 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PRUDISH

Possible Answers:

Honorable

Moral

Respectful

Censorious

Boring

Correct answer:

Censorious

Explanation:

A prude is someone who is easily offended about sexual morality, often being judgmental of others. By extension, the term can generally mean “judgmental.” When someone is “censorious,” he or she is very critical—like one who censors the actions of others.

Example Question #55 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PAROCHIAL

Possible Answers:

School

Educational

Dying

Illiberal

Ecclesiastical

Correct answer:

Illiberal

Explanation:

The word “parochial” is related to statutes in the law of the Catholic Church defining the geographic boundaries in which a parish church exists. The word became extended in meaning to signify the character of someone that someone never leaves that small area. If someone becomes limited in travel, that person will likely also be limited in his or her exposure to new ideas. For that reason, the word “parochial” has taken on the additional meaning of “narrow or limited in outlook.” Illiberal can mean “uncultured” in the sense of being “not free-thinking or broad minded.”

Example Question #56 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

VITRIOLIC

Possible Answers:

Glassy

Analytical

Spiteful

Evaluative

Unhappy

Correct answer:

Spiteful

Explanation:

The adjective “vitriolic” describes a kind of speech that is critical not in there merely “evaluative” sense but instead in a nasty and spiteful manner. An example use of the word would be, “She did not merely speak mild words to her adversary but instead, in great anger, shouted vitriolic condemnations against him.”

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors