All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2081 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FLUCTUATE
Form
Respond
Alter
Ventilate
Return
Alter
The word "fluctuate" comes from Latin roots meaning wave or to make a wave-like motion. Thus, when something fluctuates, it continually changes. Thus, a fluctuating position is one that moves from place to place, and someone's weight fluctuates when it increases and decreases variously. The word broadly means, thus, to change. The only option that directly corresponds to this meaning is "alter." To "alter" something is to make it become different.
Example Question #2082 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
JEOPARDY
Peril
Thriving
Exciting
Affluent
Amazing
Peril
When something is "in jeopardy," it is at risk. Therefore, the best synonym for "jeopardy" is "peril." Something is also at risk when it is "in peril" or "imperiled." The two options "exciting" and "amazing" might be tempting. Risky things are often exciting or amazing; however "excitement" is not a direct synonym for "jeopardy" itself.
Example Question #2083 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INDICATION
Diagnosis
Evidence
Argument
Conclusion
Prognosis
Evidence
An indication is a sign of something else. Thus, someone's fever can be an indication of illness. The only option that is synonymous in this manner is "evidence." For instance, it is basically the same thing to say, "The fever is an indication of illness," as it is to say, "The fever is evidence of illness."
Example Question #2084 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LENIENCY
Voracity
Clemency
Laziness
Redundancy
Instability
Clemency
When someone is lenient, he or she is not overly harsh in some regard. For example, a lenient grader is someone who gives grades that are not overly critical. Also, someone can be lenient with regard to a punishment, meaning that he or she does not give out very harsh punishments. For this reason, a good synonym for "leniency" is "mercy." The word "clemency" means either "mercy" or "leniency."
Example Question #2085 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RETALIATION
Restitution
Replication
Reconsideration
Retribution
Reparation
Retribution
When someone "retaliates," he or she responds to a damaging event by creating an equal amount of damage to the person or entity that harmed him or her. Now, it is important to note that retaliation thus deals with doing equal damage. This fact eliminates "reparation" and "restitution" as options. These deal with making a payment to the person whom you have harmed. This is quite different from retaliating. (Indeed, the one who makes reparation or restitution is the very person who caused the harm. The retaliating person is the person who was harmed.) "Retribution" is a kind of punishment that is enacted against a person for the harm that he or she did. Generally, it is implied to be a punishment equal to the crime in question. Thus, among the options provided here at least, this is the best.
Example Question #151 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXPOSITION
Speech
Presentation
Explication
Syllogism
Expression
Explication
An "exposition" is a complete explanation of some topic. For example, we could say, "The Summa Logicae of William of Ockham was an excellent exposition of all the topics discussed in the logic of his day." Now, do not be tricked by the options presented here. Some, such as "speech" and "presentation" try to trick you into picking certain particular media that are used for giving expositions. Granted, "presentation" can also merely indicate the general act of presenting something; however, insofar as this does not indicate a great depth of explanation, it is not quite the same as "exposition." Thus, the best option is "explication," which is an in depth treatment of a topic.
Example Question #2086 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INVENTORY
Warehouse
Shop
Magazine
Design
Catalog
Catalog
An "inventory" is a list of things in a place or a supply of goods stored in a place.
In this case "catalog," meaning a systemized list, closely matches the first definition. A "magazine" is a publication and related to an alternate definition of catalog, a "shop" is a store where one purchases things rather than a store of items, a "warehouse" is a place where inventory might be stored, and a "design" is a systemized plan.
Example Question #2087 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
REVERIE
Focus
Lunch
Celebration
Daydream
Meal
Daydream
"Reverie" is a noun meaning a meandering train of thought or a state of being lost in pleasant thoughts. A "daydream" is a chain of distractingly pleasant thoughts. The word "focus" is an antonym of "reverie," "meal" and "lunch" are both times when a person eats, and a "celebration" is a large party.
Example Question #2088 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HARBINGER
portent
affirmation
hybrid
delusion
jargon
portent
A "harbinger" is a portent, omen, or indication of something. An "affirmation" is a declaration of truth. A "delusion" is a misconception or misbelief. A "hybrid" is a mixture or combination of something. "Jargon" is a specialized language or dialect.
Example Question #2089 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DISARRAY
Order
Harshness
Fairness
Chaos
Boor
Chaos
"Disarray" means chaos, not in order. When you here the phrase "in disarray" that means in a chaotic state, out of control. To provide further help, a "boor" is a rude, insensitive person.
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All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
