ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #652 : Identifying Synonyms

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

UNWITTING

Possible Answers:

Forgetful

Measured

Boastful

Inadvertent

Purposeful

Correct answer:

Inadvertent

Explanation:

"Unwitting" is an adjective that means either "not aware of the full facts" when referring to a person, or "not done on purpose; unintentional." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "not aware of the full facts" or "unintentional." "Purposeful" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "purposeful" is an antonym of "unwitting," not a synonym. "Inadvertent," however, is an adjective that means "not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "unwitting," "inadvertent" is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

VERBALIZED

Possible Answers:

Declined

Constructed

Spoken

Conjugated

Conjoined

Correct answer:

Spoken

Explanation:

Although one can be said to “verbalize” his or her words when he or she writes them, the term most often is used to describe the process of speaking ideas that were heretofore unspoken. For example, you could say, “After thinking about his theory for a number of years, Paul finally decided to verbalize it, hoping that he could clarify his thoughts by speaking them.”

Example Question #881 : Synonyms

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

CANDID

Possible Answers:

Sophisticated

Angsty

Deleterious

Truthful

Insincere

Correct answer:

Truthful

Explanation:

Because "candid" means truthful and straightforward, or frank, the best answer choice is "truthful."

Example Question #282 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

LEGITIMATE

Possible Answers:

Cultured

Scholarly

Political

Valid

Public

Correct answer:

Valid

Explanation:

When something is “legitimate” it is in accord with the laws that would pertain to that class of things. For example, one could speak of a “legitimate action” as being one that is legal. Also, in a more extended sense, it can indicate conformity to the general laws of rationality or that a given thing is rightfully done in a given circumstance. For instance, a “legitimate critique,” is one that is valid given the data of the original argument. Such a critique justly finds something wrong with the argument and is therefore called “valid” or “legitimate.”

Example Question #66 : Synonyms

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

SPECIOUS

Possible Answers:

Circumlocution

Rhetorical

Trivial

Extended

Misleading

Correct answer:

Misleading

Explanation:

The word “specious” comes from the Latin for “appearance” or “beautiful.” When something is “specious,” it appears to be correct but really is not. It is merely apparent. Therefore, it misleads the person who considers it. Often, one will speak of “specious reasoning,” describing thereby some argument that appears to be plausible when in fact it is really false.

Example Question #882 : Synonyms

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

MARGINAL

Possible Answers:

Sharp

Crucial

Frequent

Monumental

Negligible

Correct answer:

Negligible

Explanation:

"Marginal" is an adjective that can besides meaning "of, relating to, or situated at the edge or margin of something," can also mean " of secondary or minor importance; not central." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "of minor importance." Neither "crucial" nor "monumental" can be the correct answer, then, because each word is an antonym of "marginal," not a synonym. "Negligible," however, is an adjective that means "so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "marginal," "negligible" is the correct answer.

Example Question #662 : Identifying Synonyms

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

NOTEWORTHY

Possible Answers:

Intelligent

Important

Cryptic

Brutal

Irritating

Correct answer:

Important

Explanation:

"Noteworthy" means important or interesting. "Irritating" means annoying or bothersome. "Cryptic" means mysterious or puzzling. "Intelligent" means well-informed or smart. "Brutal" means violent and vicious.

Example Question #663 : Identifying Synonyms

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

FRIVOLOUS

Possible Answers:

Inane

Dour

Aristocratic

Pliable

Listless

Correct answer:

Inane

Explanation:

“Frivolous” means purposeless and foolish, often specifically when serious purpose was expected. Thus, the correct answer is "inane," which means goofy and idiotic. As for the other answer choices, "listless" means languid or lethargic; "dour" means dreary and stern; "aristocratic" means having to do with historical high classes; and "pliable" means able to be bent.

Example Question #664 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MARGINAL

Possible Answers:

Doubtful

Filial

Insignificant

Repetitive

Unknown

Correct answer:

Insignificant

Explanation:

The “margins” of a piece of paper are the edges on which nothing is normally written. When someone takes “marginal notes,” he or she writes in this space—as when someone writes in the margins of a book to keep notes on the text being read. To say that something is “marginal” is to imply that it does not sit “in the midst of the important things” but is merely “on the edges.” For this reason, the word is often used to describe something that is believed to be unimportant. For example, someone might say, “His remarks were really of marginal significance for the decision, for he did not know much about the topic.”

Example Question #665 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MONUMENTAL

Possible Answers:

Petrified

Significant

Statuesque

Fervent

Atrocious

Correct answer:

Significant

Explanation:

"Monumental" means very large or very important, so "significant" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "monumental." As for the other answer choices, "atrocious" means terrible and evil, "petrified" means turned to stone or so afraid that one cannot move, "statuesque" means stately and beautiful, and "fervent" means zealous.

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