All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1711 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The lady's dress was simply __________ and she drew many __________ glances from the guests at her party.
pristine . . . irritated
impeccable . . . covetous
garish . . . envious
bewildering . . . bellicose
elegant . . . casual
impeccable . . . covetous
From the context you know that the subject was wearing a dress that drew a certain reaction from the guests at the party. It is up to you to determine which adjective describing the dress matches with which adjective describing the reaction. The best answer is "impeccable" (perfect) and "covetous" (envious, desiring). The lady's dress was perfect so many people wanted it. To provide further help, "envious" means jealous; "elegant" means refined, dignified; "pristine" means spotless, clean; "garish" means showy and tacky; "bewildering" means confusing; "bellicose" means hawkish, aggressive, desiring war.
Example Question #1712 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the pair of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ man used his savings to start a charity that aimed to help __________ families that couldn't afford food or rent in the city.
lax . . . impecunious
gaudy . . . inaugural
altruistic . . . destitute
refined . . . amiable
philanthropic . . . distinguished
altruistic . . . destitute
Since we know that the man used his savings to start a charity, we know that we're looking for an adjective for the first blank that means something like "generous." Both "altruistic" ("showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish") and "philanthropic" ("seeking to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes; generous and benevolent") seem like good choices. For the second blank, we need an adjective that means something like "poor," since we know the families can't afford food or rent. Either "destitute" ("lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished") or "impecunious"("having little or no money") could work. Of the potential answers we've identified, the only two to line up in a single answer choice are "altruistic" and "destitute," so that is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RAMBLE
Mob
Crowd
Consider
Disheveled
Wander
Wander
Often, we use the term “ramble” to mean that someone is talking without ceasing and without making any discernable point. This sense of the word is related to another meaning, namely, “to wander” or “to go walking without any real destination.” When someone rambles in words, he or she merely lets his or her thoughts wander about whatever topic is pleasing—like one wandering on forest pathways.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Distinguishing Between Multiple Definitions
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PATRONIZE
Support
Dismiss
Adjudicate
Father
Overlook
Support
Here, the only option for “patronize” that is appropriate is “support.” Often, the word “patronize” or “patronizing” means “condescending kindness” or “showing superiority veiled in kind words.” It can also mean, “To support or often go to a store, restaurant, or other business.” Here, think of being a “patron” (a customer). This is the sense of the word. Among the options provided, “support” most closely matches this usage.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PATRONIZE
Generate
Oversee
Condescend
Natal
Father
Condescend
When someone is “patronizing,” he or she shows care for someone but does so in a way that shows that he or she feels superior or in a condescending manner. For example, one might say, “When John would say to Jenna, ‘You’re a sweet one,’ his tone always belied his haughty attitude toward her.”
Example Question #1 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MASSES
Diseases
Ignorance
Shekels
Obese
People
People
The word “masses” used in the plural can have two main meanings. The first would be “masses” as in certain amounts of matter. For example, we talk about a tumor as being a “mass,” meaning that it is an undefined amount of matter in one place in the body. It can be used, of course, for any such set of masses. However, it can also be extended from this basic sense to indicate a large amount of “human matter” (speaking metaphorically). Thus, it comes to mean a large group of people, generally undifferentiated. At the foot of the U.S. Statue of Liberty is a plaque containing the words of the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. It contains the famous words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” It is calling other countries to send to the U.S. the “masses” (the trapped crowds, at least as portrayed in the poem) from other nations. Often, the word “masses” has a negative sense, as in “the uneducated masses.” Among the answers provided, "people" is the only one that describes the "masses" as the "people" in general.
Example Question #1713 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ARRESTING
Illegal
Patrolling
Defensive
Authoritative
Fascinating
Fascinating
When someone is "arrested" by the police, he or she is stopped (among other things). The adjective “arresting” describes something that stops a person, as when someone sees an “arresting view” in nature. Such a sight makes the person “stop in his or her tracks.” Such things could be called "fascinating," for arresting things are generally quite interesting and engrossing as are fascinating ones. All of the other answers are attempting to draw you into false resonances with the “police sense” of “arrest.”
Example Question #2 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MECHANISM
Engineering
Physical
Procedure
Lever
Computer
Procedure
The word “mechanism” is likely somewhat familiar. It is clearly relate to words like “mechanical” and “mechanic.” It is likewise related to “machine” and words like that. Often, a word is used in an extended sense, as when we call a group of people working together “a perfectly working machine.” A “mechanism” can be such a procedure of things working together. For instance, one could call the process of governmental action leading up to the passing of a bill “the mechanisms of the state.” We do not always use such language, but it is appropriate.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PREMISES
Endorsements
Failures
Agreements
Precursor
Building
Building
The word “premise” can be used in logic regarding the ideas and statements that are presupposed in an argument. However, when the word is used in the plural, it can mean—depending upon the context—a building and its surrounding land. You likely have experienced the word used in a sentence like, “The young man was escorted from the store’s premises, for his rowdy behavior was disturbing many of the patrons.” Here, the implication is that the young man was physically taken from the property because of his actions.
Example Question #1714 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DELICATE
Squeamish
Difficult
Firm
Gregarious
Broken
Squeamish
"Delicate" means physically fragile or not able to handle much stress. The best choice is "squeamish," since its definition is the closest in meaning to "delicate" when "delicate" is used figuratively—easily shocked. Considering the other choices, "firm" is an antonym of this word and means hard and durable, and "broken" means reduced to fragments or not functioning properly.
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All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
