All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2091 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
QUANDARY
Peer
Dilemma
Luminary
Equilibrium
Suffrage
Dilemma
A "quandary" is a difficult situation, a problem. As such the best possible answer choice is "dilemma." To provide further help, a "peer" is an equal, someone in your social group; "suffrage" is the right to vote; "equilibrium" is a state of balance; a "luminary" is a notable person in his or her field.
Example Question #2092 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ENNUI
Sorrow
Hope
Friendship
Boredom
Irritation
Boredom
"Ennui" is a state of extreme or long-lasting boredom, a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from a complete lack of excitement or entertainment.
Example Question #2093 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AVARICE
Fortune
Greed
Love
Pride
Envy
Greed
"Avarice" means greed. Someone who is "avaricious" is greedy. "Fortune" is related to "avarice," they are not synonyms, not all avaricious people possess a fortune, and not all fortunate people are avaricious (note also that fortune refers to wealth and luck, not just wealth). "Love" is an emotion unrelated to "avarice." "Envy" is closer in meaning to jealousy than it is to "avarice."
Example Question #2094 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LASSITUDE
Prophecy
Venal
Lethargy
Pantheon
Sinecure
Lethargy
"Lassitude" is a state of physical or mental exhaustion, lethargy. To provide further help, a "prophecy" is a prediction; a "pantheon" is a group of Gods within a religion; a "sinecure" is an easy job; "venal" means corrupt.
Example Question #2095 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXPLETIVE
Profanity
Calamity
Enmity
Infamy
Amnesty
Profanity
An "expletive" is a swear word, a curse word. So the closest correct answer is "profanity." To provide further help, "infamy" is the quality of being famous for the wrong reasons; a "calamity" is a disaster, a farce; "enmity" means hostility; an "amnesty" is a pardon for an offense.
Example Question #2096 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TREPIDATION
Remorse
Envy
Dread
Honesty
Suspicion
Dread
"Trepidation" means dread, a feeling of great unease and anxiety that something bad will happen. "Remorse" is a similarly negative feeling, but it is reserved for sadness about events that have already transpired.
Example Question #2097 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AUSTERITY
Travesty
Excellency
Luminary
Severity
Trajectory
Severity
"Austerity" means severity or sternness. To provide further help, a "trajectory" is the expected path of something that is moving; a "travesty" is a mockery, an injustice; "luminary" means notable, important in a certain area.
Example Question #2098 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VOGUE
Recreation
Culture
Fashion
Politics
Economics
Fashion
"Vogue," when used as a noun, means fashion, style, rage, trend. It can also be used as an adjective in which case it's meaning is very similar, it means fashionable or cool. "Culture" refers to any kind of culture (arts, fashion, shared experiences, media), fashionable or otherwise.
Example Question #2099 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PARSIMONY
Selflessness
Cheapness
Selfishness
Generosity
Thoughtfulness
Cheapness
"Parsimony" means not inclined towards spending money, cheapness. "Generosity" is a rough antonym to parsimony. It is almost impossible to be generous, free with one's goods or money; willing to give to others, if you are "parsimonious." Selfishness" is similar in spirit to "parsimony," but parsimony has a specific meaning related to money, which is not true of "selfishness."
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
HONOR
revere
accept
repudiate
portend
solace
revere
Repudiate means to reject, solace is peace, and portend means to predict. The word that is a synonym of honor is revere.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
