All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #486 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RECLUSIVE
Resolute
Hermitlike
Reciprocal
Garrulous
Gregarious
Hermitlike
"Reclusive" and "hermitlike" both mean unsociable. "Gregarious" means friendly and sociable. "Garrulous" means talkative. "Resolute" means determined or strong-willed. "Reciprocal" means exchanged or alternating.
Example Question #487 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INCORRIGIBLE
Emboldened
Indelible
Ponderous
Recidivous
Pragmatic
Recidivous
"Incorrigible" means recidivous or incapable or being corrected. "Emboldened" means encouraged or invigorated. "Indelible" means indestructible or unable to be erased. "Ponderous" means heavy or weighty. "Pragmatic" means sensible, practical, or logical.
Example Question #41 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MISANTHROPIC
Sickly
Reclusive
Childish
Extroverted
Amoral
Reclusive
A misanthrope is somewhat like a scrooge: someone who is antisocial and avoids human society; therefore "reclusive," which is a word for someone who acts like a bit of a hermit and spends most of his or her time away from others, is the correct answer.
Example Question #711 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTRACTABLE
Strenuous
Umanageable
Indefatigable
Magnanimous
Complex
Umanageable
"Intractable" means difficult or burdensome; therefore, "unmanageable" is the best answer.
Example Question #711 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LIBERAL
Extended
Expensive
Generous
Immoral
Drinking
Generous
The word “liberal” has become very charged because of its political connotations. However, the original meaning can be discerned from the general sense that you likely have concerning its political meaning. The word “liberal” comes from the Latin for “free.” When someone gives things liberally, he or she gives them freely (as though they cost nothing). For this reason, the word “liberal” can mean “open-minded” (i.e. free-minded) as well as “generous” and a number of related meanings. Among the options provided for this question, the word “generous” most closely answers to the meaning of “liberal.”
Example Question #2421 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MAGNANIMOUS
Free
Unforgiving
Beneficent
Particular
Stingy
Beneficent
"Magnanimous" is an adjective that means "very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself." So, neither "stingy" nor "unforgiving" can be the correct answer because each of those words is an antonym of "demure." "Beneficent," an adjective that means "of a person: generous or doing good" or "resulting in good," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "magnanimous," so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #713 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
WANTON
Dissolute
Homely
Civilian
Dormant
Reverent
Dissolute
Because "wanton" means immoral or sexually promiscuous, the best answer choice is "dissolute," which means lax in morals or licentious.
Example Question #714 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HEADSTRONG
Yielding
Terrible
Portentous
Meek
Stubborn
Stubborn
"Headstrong" is an adjective that means "self-willed and obstinate," or "not willing to do what other people want : very stubborn." So, neither "yielding" nor "meek" can be the correct answer because "yielding" and "meek" are both antonyms of "headstrong." "Stubborn" is the closest synonym to "headstrong" amongst the listed answers, so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #491 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HAUGHTY
Wealthy
Prosperous
Affluent
Overstated
Conceited
Conceited
While one might think that “haughty” is related to someone being wealthy, what it generally means is that someone has a “high opinion” of himself or herself. Such a person would judge others as being “beneath” him or her. An adequate description of such a “haughty person” would be “conceited,” which means “being very proud, judging one’s abilities to be great.”
Example Question #492 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LETHARGIC
Incapable
Worthless
Idiotic
Vacuous
Inert
Inert
A person who is “lethargic” lacks energy and does not care much for undertaking any activities. Among the options provided, “inert” is closest to this. In chemistry, you may have spoken of “inert” compounds or elements—those that do not undergo chemical reactions. “Inert” is derived from the combination of “in-,” here used as meaning “not” (as in “indivisible”), and the word for “skill” or “art” in Latin. To be “inert” is therefore to lack skills, arts, or (at least) activities.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
