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 #101 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CRAVEN

Possible Answers:

Haughty

Cowardly

Miserly

Parsimonious

Generous

Correct answer:

Cowardly

Explanation:

Someone who is "craven" is cowardly and pathetic. To provide further help, "miserly" and "parsimonious" are synonyms, both words mean stingy, not generous with money. Finally, "haughty" means arrogant, bold and disdainful towards others

Example Question #102 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

IRASCIBLE

Possible Answers:

Regal

Detestable

Petulant

Malleable

Sinewy

Correct answer:

Petulant

Explanation:

"Irascible" means irritable, quick-tempered, easily angered. This is closest in meaning to "petulant," which means bad-tempered, badly-behaved. To provide further help, "sinewy" means strong and muscular; "detestable" means deserving of hatred; "malleable" means flexible, easily changed; "regal" means of or related to royalty

Example Question #103 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

MORDANT

Possible Answers:

Dejected

Hapless

Raucous

Bestial

Scathing

Correct answer:

Scathing

Explanation:

"Mordant" means having a harsh and critical tone, scathing, caustic. To provide further help, "bestial" means savage, like a beast; "hapless" means unlucky, hopeless, useless; "dejected" means very sad; "raucous" means loud and out of control

Example Question #171 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

PERSPICACIOUS

Possible Answers:

Discerning

Pretentious

Factious

Alluring

Gauche

Correct answer:

Discerning

Explanation:

"Perspicacious" means discerning and astute, able to notice things that others would not. To provide further help, "factious" means causing disagreement; "gauche" means tacky and unrefined, lacking grace; "alluring" means attractive, appealing; "pretentious" means trying to impress others by exaggerating one's characteristics or by being fake and trendy

Example Question #172 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

RETICENT

Possible Answers:

Painstaking

Withdrawn

Confident

Arduous

Assiduous

Correct answer:

Withdrawn

Explanation:

"Reticent" means shy, reserved, withdrawn. To provide further help, "arduous" and "painstaking" both describe a challenging or difficult task; "assiduous" means industrious, hard working

Example Question #173 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

COPIOUS

Possible Answers:

Plentiful

Meager

Abrasive

Derelict

Simplistic

Correct answer:

Plentiful

Explanation:

“Copious” means plentiful or available in excess, so "plentiful" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “derelict” means falling apart, in bad condition; “abrasive” means rude and harsh; “simplistic” means not complicated or simple; and “meager” means of insufficient quantity.

Example Question #174 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

EPHEMERAL

Possible Answers:

Fragile

Fleeting

Perpetual

Charming

Customized

Correct answer:

Fleeting

Explanation:

“Ephemeral” means impermanent, not lasting forever, temporary, or "fleeting." "Perpetual" means never-ending or incessant; "fragile" means easily broken; "customized" means personalized or adjusted to meet a particular need; and "charming" means having a pleasant personality or delightful in appearance.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

ABORTIVE

Possible Answers:

contemptuous

elegant

thwarted

premature

Correct answer:

thwarted

Explanation:

Abortive means failing to produce the intended result, or thwarted.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

LANGUID

Possible Answers:

boundary

lazy

nuisance

speech

hyper

Correct answer:

lazy

Explanation:

"Languid" means slow or sluggish, so the best choice for this is lazy.

Example Question #175 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

DELETERIOUS

Possible Answers:

undone

helpful

beneficial

appropriate

baneful

Correct answer:

baneful

Explanation:

We are looking for a synonym of "deleterious," which means harmful. Both "helpful" and "beneficial" are the opposite of harmful, and "undone" is unrelated. "Baneful" means harmful.

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