ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, and Importance
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #681 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
WARY
Choleric
Suspicious
Lethargic
Fatigued
Sympathetic
Suspicious
When someone is describe as being "wary," that person is cautious with regard to the things that they believe are dangerous. For instance, a person might be wary about listening to sales people, whom they suspect of lying in order to sell their products. The options "fatigued" and "lethargic" attempt to trick you into misreading "wary" as "weary," meaning tired. The best option, however, for "wary," given its meaning, is "suspicious".
Example Question #682 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SYMPATHETIC
Mutual
Understanding
Reciprocal
Unpleasant
Painful
Understanding
The word "sympathetic" literally means sharing a feeling with. The "-pathetic" portion of the word comes from the Greek pathos, meaning feeling. The "sym-" prefix means with. (A "symphony" is a kind of group that creates sounds together with one another.) Primarily, sympathy is about being able to understand someone else and feel his or her feelings. Such a feeling is indeed shared, but it is not exactly mutual or indeed not "reciprocal" usually. The essence of sympathy is understanding and "co-feeling." Therefore, this is the best option among those given.
Example Question #683 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INCONGRUOUS
Abrasive
Pernicious
Fitting
Unsuited
Apt
Unsuited
Incongruous means not continuous with, not appropriate for. To provide further help, "fitting" and "apt" are synonyms of one another and antonyms of "incongruous" - both words mean appropriate. "Pernicious" means harmful; "abrasive" means rude and aggressive.
Example Question #684 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPERATIVE
Unwise
Likely
Unlikely
Unnecessary
Necessary
Necessary
Something that is "imperative" is highly necessary. So, if you want to do well on any test you take it is "imperative" that you practice. To provide further help, "unwise" means not wise, foolish. The prefix un- is a negating prefix. This means it takes the original meaning of the word "wise" and causes it to mean the opposite "not wise."
Example Question #685 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PAROCHIAL
Posh
Naive
Ponderous
Limited
Heavenly
Limited
"Parochial" means having a limited worldview, provincial. So the best answer choice is "limited." To provide further help, "posh" means wealthy and refined; "ponderous" means slow moving, boring; "naive" means gullible, easily tricked into believing lies; "heavenly" means lovely, divine.
Example Question #686 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EQUIVOCAL
Impatient
Obstinate
Vague
Stubborn
Obvious
Vague
Equivocal means ambiguous, unclear, hazy, vague. To provide further help, "obstinate" means stubborn, inflexible.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
