All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2261 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
EXACERBATE
appease
contort
patent
aggravate
oscillate
aggravate
"Exacerbate" and "aggravate" both mean to infuriate or make worse. "Appease" means to satisfy or pacify. "Contort" means to disfigure or distort. "Oscillate" means to change back and forth. "Patent" means to secure a copyright on an invention.
Example Question #2262 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
INFURIATE
Endorse
Grovel
Enrage
Pursue
Indicate
Enrage
"Infuriate" means enrage or make someone angry, so "enrage" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "infuriate": "grovel" means beg or crawl on the floor while begging; "indicate" means designate or mark; "pursue" means continue or follow; and "endorse" means approve or support.
Example Question #2263 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DETEST
Abhor
Disapprove
Destroy
Forget
Dislike
Abhor
When someone detests another person or thing, he or she does not merely dislike it but instead has an intense hatred for it. For that reason, the weaker answer choices like “dislike” and “disapprove” do not really capture the sense as does “abhor.” Someone “abhors” something or someone when he or she is disgusted by it or has a strong hatred for it.
Example Question #2264 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PLACATE
Regress
Eradicate
Supplant
Exacerbate
Soothe
Soothe
“Placate” means assuage, or give someone what they want to make them feel better, so "soothe" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “exacerbate” means make worse, intensify, or heighten; “eradicate” means completely destroy; “supplant” means replace; and “regress” means go backwards or return to a former state.
Example Question #2265 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MOURN
Lament
Embalm
Bellow
Whine
Pity
Lament
To "mourn" something means to express sadness regarding that thing. Now, do not be tempted by options like "bellow" (meaning, to shout loudly) or "whine." Although the mourning person may make various kinds of sounds, the essence of mourning is being sad. To "lament" something, however, is to express one's sadness just like someone mourning. This is a good synonym, given the options.
Example Question #2266 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPAIR
Vex
Fortify
Weaken
Renounce
Postulate
Weaken
“Impair” means weaken, damage, or have a negative effect on. "Fortify” means reinforce and make more secure; "postulate” means posit, or state an unsupported point to consider as the start of a hypothetical argument; "renounce" means swear off one's association with; and "vex" means annoy.
Example Question #2267 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FORSAKE
Desert
Satire
Patronize
Preempt
Slander
Desert
“Forsake” means desert or renounce. “Preempt” means to act in advance of something else in order to stop that thing from occurring; “slander” means say bad, false things about something to damage their reputation; “satire” means mock something by adopting its style in a humorous way; and “patronize” means interact with in a condescending manner.
Example Question #2268 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXONERATE
Prosecute
Condemn
Convict
Acquit
Postulate
Acquit
“Exonerate” means release from blame, free from guilt in court, or "acquit." As for the other answer choices, “condemn” means heavily criticize or punish; “convict," when used as a verb, means demonstrate in court that someone committed a crime; “prosecute” means start legal action against someone; and “postulate” means posit.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SUCCUMB:
appease
yield
concur
sanction
acquiesce
yield
If someone succumbs, it means they yield or surrender; an example is succumbing in battle.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.
AMELIORATE
quiet
improve
provoke
grind
improve
Ameliorate means to make better or improve.
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All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
