ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #691 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ERRATIC

Possible Answers:

Foolish

Forgetful

Irregular

Wrong

Unreliable

Correct answer:

Irregular

Explanation:

Among your options, it might be tempting to choose “unreliable”; however, the closest meaning for “erratic” is “irregular” or unpredictable. The word comes originally from the Latin meaning to stray or wander. When someone “errs,” he or she might make a mistake, but the strict sense is that person “goes the wrong way.” Someone might be “unreliable” because they are erratic; however, that is only because that person is irregular or unpredictable. Because they are so, they are thus unreliable.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

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

PROLIFIC

Possible Answers:

Prominent

Ornate

Flowery

Famous

Abundant

Correct answer:

Abundant

Explanation:

The word “prolific” comes from the Latin for “bearing offspring.” When an animal is “prolific” it bears much fruit or many children. When an artist is prolific, he or she produces many works. An example sentence would be, “The old man had been a prolific author during his lifetime, writing over a hundred best-selling thriller novels.”

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

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

VAPID

Possible Answers:

Appropriate

Steamy

Dull

Risky

Quick

Correct answer:

Dull

Explanation:

Originally used to describe beverages lacking in flavor, "vapid" came to describe anything that is dull or insipid.

Example Question #692 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BANAL

Possible Answers:

Profound

Popular

Ridiculous

Vapid

Pitiful

Correct answer:

Vapid

Explanation:

When something is banal, it is extremely overused and has little meaning because of that. For instance, one might speak of a “banal phrase” that is really nothing but empty words or “banal song lyrics” that really express no meaning at all. When something is “vapid,” it does not stimulate at all. The word “vapid” comes from the Latin for “flat” or “tasteless.”

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

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

FRUITFUL

Possible Answers:

Innocuous

Blighted

Amiable

Fecund

Growing

Correct answer:

Fecund

Explanation:

“Fruitful” means fertile, plentiful, fecund, or producing a lot of something, so "fecund," meaning fertile, is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “innocuous” means harmless; "blighted" means diseased and specifically refers to plants; "amiable" means friendly and warm in demeanor; and "growing" means maturing.

Example Question #693 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PEDESTRIAN

Possible Answers:

Heavy

Languid

Uneventful

Exquisite

Thrilling

Correct answer:

Uneventful

Explanation:

When used as a noun, "pedestrian" means "a person walking along a road or in a developed area." When used as an adjective, however, "pedestrian" means "lacking inspiration or excitement; dull." "Thrilling" cannot be the correct answer because "thrilling" is an antonym of "vim," and while "languid" may seem close in meaning to "pedestrian," "languid" means "displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed" when describing a person, manner, or gesture, "pleasantly lazy and peaceful" when describing an occasion or period of time, or "weak or faint from illness or fatigue." "Uneventful," an adjective that means "not marked by interesting or exciting events," is the closest synonym to "pedestrian" amongst the listed answer choices, so "uneventful" is the correct answer.

Example Question #694 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MYRIAD

Possible Answers:

Describable

Measurable

Variable

Acceptable

Innumerable

Correct answer:

Innumerable

Explanation:

If a high school offers a myriad of classes, it means that there is a vast amount or a seemingly innumerable number of classes.

Example Question #695 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MYRIAD

Possible Answers:

Overabundance

Portrait

Structure

Pyramid

Innumerable

Correct answer:

Innumerable

Explanation:

The word “myriad” is derived from the Greek for "10,000." In general, it is used to describe a countless multitude of things. For that reason, the best option among the provided answers is “innumerable.” An example usage would be, “Roger wished to do something so foolish that his friends were able to provide him with myriad reasons, overwhelming him with reasons for making such a stupid choice.”

Example Question #321 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

PLATITUDINOUS

Possible Answers:

Unhelpful

Tedious

Annoying

Overused

Boring

Correct answer:

Overused

Explanation:

You might be more familiar with the word “platitude” than with “platitudinous.” The former is the related noun form of the same base. A “platitude” is an expression, often moral in nature, that has been so overused that it has lost its meaning. You might know someone who recites such expressions as, “Everything happens for a reason.” Such remarks either tell you nothing or often just frustrate you when horrible things happen. They provide little consolation or direction. Although a “platitudinous” expression could be called “annoying,” it is most properly said to be something “overused.” The annoyance follows on the fact that overuse has totally shorn it of its meaning and significance.

Example Question #322 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

REPLETE

Possible Answers:

Scant

Pugnacious

Abounding

Evanescent

Disingenuous

Correct answer:

Abounding

Explanation:

"Replete" and "abounding" both mean full or well-stocked. "Scant" means meager or paltry. "Disingenuous" means insincere or deceitful. "Evanescent" means transient or brief. "Pugnacious" means belligerent or aggressive.

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