ISEE Upper Level Verbal : ISEE Upper Level (grades 9-12) Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #702 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

RECLUSIVE

Possible Answers:

Reciprocal

Gregarious

Garrulous

Resolute

Hermitlike

Correct answer:

Hermitlike

Explanation:

"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 #703 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INCORRIGIBLE

Possible Answers:

Indelible

Ponderous

Recidivous

Emboldened

Pragmatic

Correct answer:

Recidivous

Explanation:

"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 #46 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

MISANTHROPIC

Possible Answers:

Amoral

Reclusive

Extroverted

Childish

Sickly

Correct answer:

Reclusive

Explanation:

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 #47 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INTRACTABLE

Possible Answers:

Complex

Magnanimous

Indefatigable

Umanageable

Strenuous

Correct answer:

Umanageable

Explanation:

"Intractable" means difficult or burdensome; therefore, "unmanageable" is the best answer.

Example Question #48 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

LIBERAL

Possible Answers:

Expensive

Extended

Generous

Immoral

Drinking

Correct answer:

Generous

Explanation:

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 #49 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

MAGNANIMOUS

Possible Answers:

Unforgiving

Stingy

Beneficent

Free

Particular

Correct answer:

Beneficent

Explanation:

"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 #50 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

WANTON

Possible Answers:

Homely

Dormant

Civilian

Reverent

Dissolute

Correct answer:

Dissolute

Explanation:

Because "wanton" means immoral or sexually promiscuous, the best answer choice is "dissolute," which means lax in morals or licentious.

Example Question #111 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HEADSTRONG

Possible Answers:

Yielding

Portentous

Stubborn

Terrible

Meek

Correct answer:

Stubborn

Explanation:

"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 #112 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HAUGHTY

Possible Answers:

Conceited

Affluent

Wealthy

Overstated

Prosperous

Correct answer:

Conceited

Explanation:

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 #113 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

LETHARGIC

Possible Answers:

Vacuous

Idiotic

Worthless

Incapable

Inert

Correct answer:

Inert

Explanation:

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.

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