All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #371 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CULTIVATE
Complicate
Refine
Adore
Rural
Pastoral
Refine
The word "cultivate" is often used to describe the activities undertaken to prepare and nurture the land for the growing of plants, but it can also be used to describe any process of developing something, especially a skill that a person might have. Thus, someone can "cultivate his or her mind" by reading more. The only acceptable option among the given words is "refine." When someone "refines" his or her mind, he or she improves it and makes it better. Do not be tricked by options like "rural" and "pastoral." These are trying to trick you into picking words that are related to farming only in an indirect manner.
Example Question #372 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TAUNT
Fraternize
Despise
Fulminate
Ridicule
Dislike
Ridicule
Likely, you know that taunt means to tease. It is possible that several of the options, like "dislike" and "despise" are tempting. Sometimes a person may taunt another person because he or she does not like the person he or she is teasing, but neither of these options are strict synonyms for "taunt." Instead, the best option is "ridicule", which means to mock or to make laughable. (The word comes from the Latin for to laugh. Think about something that is ridiculous—it is certainly an amusing thing!)
Example Question #373 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BERATE
Amend
Rebuke
Correct
Suggest
Interrogate
Rebuke
When someone berates another person, he or she scolds him or her very strongly. The intensity is a key part of the meaning of the word, so "correct," "amend," and "suggest" are all too weak of words to function as synonyms. The only option that makes sense (and is quite correct, being almost a literal synonym) is "rebuke." To "rebuke" someone is to critique that person strongly for what he or she does.
Example Question #374 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BELITTLE
Scold
Disparage
Criticize
Shrink
Decline
Disparage
Now, it is not without reason that the word "belittle" has "little" in it, but you must be careful. It is about making a person feel smaller and of less worth. It is not about making something to be physically smaller. Thus, the best option for this is "disparage," which is almost an exact synonym. (Notice, that "belittle" does not have "criticize" or "scold" as good synonyms either. While scolding and criticizing can be used to belittle someone, these are not synonymous with belittling. The essence of belittling someone is making that person feel less important.)
Example Question #375 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NECESSITATE
Require
Legalize
Enforce
Conjoin
Follow
Require
The word "necessitate" clearly is related to necessary. It is used to describe how one thing leads to another thing being necessary. Thus, a given choice may end up necessitating further actions to be taken in response to it. For instance, we could say, "The deep gash in Peter's hand necessitated immediate action to stop the bleeding." All of this is the same as saying that something that necessitates requires something else to be done. Thus, the sentence above could be translated, "The deep gash in Peter's hand required immediate action to stop the bleeding."
Example Question #43 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
REPARATION
Injury
Legislation
Taxation
Compensation
Retaliation
Compensation
"Reparation" is a kind of repayment made to someone because of wrongs done to that person. It is of the essence of reparation to be a repayment—this is quite important. The only option that expresses this idea of repaying is "compensation," which is a kind of payment given in return for something, usually for damages or injuries caused.
Example Question #376 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRIORITIZE
Overlook
Order
Alleviate
Laud
Acclaim
Order
The word "prioritize" is clearly related to "prior," which means coming before something else. When we prioritize things, we place them before less important matters; however, the word "prioritize" can be used in general to indicate the activity involved in setting the relative importance of many things. Thus, to "prioritize the tasks" means to put them in order (according to priority, of course). Thus, it is acceptable to choose something like "order" for a synonym here. Do not be tempted by options "laud" or "acclaim," which mean to praise. Just because we often like what we prioritize, this does not mean that the word means the same thing as the actual act of praising.
Example Question #378 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RESCIND
Cancel
Placate
Inspect
Contend
Order
Cancel
To "rescind" something means to repeal, to cancel. To provide further help, "contend" means to argue something is the truth; "placate" means sooth, calm.
Example Question #377 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ALLURING
Responsible
Cute
Unstable
Concerning
Deliberate
Cute
"Alluring" is an adjective that means beautiful or attractive. The best choice is "cute," since it means attractive. Considering the other choices, "concerning" means causing worry, "unstable" means constantly changing states of being, "responsible" means able to be relied upon to complete tasks, and "deliberate" means done on purpose or working carefully.
Example Question #378 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DULCET
Delicious
Mellifluous
Ambiguous
Simple
Soft
Mellifluous
The word "dulcet" is an adjective that means sweet and calming and is used to describe sounds and music. The best choice is the word "mellifluous," as it means sweet-sounding. Considering the other choices, "simple" means not complicated, "delicious" mean tasting very good, "soft" means having a fuzzy texture, and "ambiguous" means having multiple ways in which the meaning of something could be interpreted.
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