ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

DISSOLUTE

Possible Answers:

Imperious

Vulnerable

Depraved

Meddlesome

Laudable

Correct answer:

Depraved

Explanation:

“Dissolute” means of poor moral character, depraved and debauched. “Depraved” means lacking moral character or doing sinful or immoral things, so it is the correct answer. “Imperious” means arrogant and controlling; “laudable” means deserving of praise; “meddlesome” means interfering or prone to getting involved in situations in which one is not supposed to; “vulnerable” means able to be hurt or damaged.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CONTEMPTUOUS

Possible Answers:

Remorseful

Surreptitious

Docile

Impregnable

Scornful

Correct answer:

Scornful

Explanation:

“Contemptuous” means showing scorn and hatred for something, so "scornful" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “remorseful” means full of guilt and sadness over something one did wrong; “docile” means calm and compliant; “impregnable” means unable to be captured or broken; and “surreptitious” means secret and sneaky.

Example Question #23 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

GREGARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Implacable

Supplementary

Domineering

Complementary

Sociable

Correct answer:

Sociable

Explanation:

“Gregarious” means friendly and sociable, so "sociable" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “implacable” means unappeasable, unable to be placated, or not forgiving; “domineering” means controlling; “complementary” means something that works well with something else; and “supplementary” means additional.

Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

STOIC

Possible Answers:

Fortuitous

Critical

Frivolous

Unemotional

Responsive

Correct answer:

Unemotional

Explanation:

Someone who is “stoic” is unemotional and unresponsive when faced with painful or difficult situations, so "unemotional" is the best answer. As for the other answer choices, “responsive” means reacting or done in response; “critical,” when referring to the significance of something, means highly important, though it can also mean pointing out the faults in something; “fortuitous” means owed to good-fortune or lucky; and “frivolous” means purposeless and not serious.

Example Question #25 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

GARRULOUS

Possible Answers:

Talkative

Austere

Jovial

Condemning

Ironic

Correct answer:

Talkative

Explanation:

“Garrulous” means talkative, so "talkative" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “austere” means severe or severe-looking; “ironic” describes a situation in which what you get is not what you expected, often in a funny or wry way; “jovial” means friendly; and “condemning” means heavily criticizing.

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PRECOCIOUS

Possible Answers:

Learned

Cumbersome

Gifted

Frustrated

Incongruous

Correct answer:

Gifted

Explanation:

“Precocious” means developing more quickly than is usual, though it can also mean talentedclever, or "gifted." As for the other answer choices, “cumbersome” means burdensome or difficult to carry or transport; “incongruous” means not matching the situation at hand and overtly out of place; "frustrated" means annoyed; and "learned" means wise as a result of much time spent learning in an academic setting.

Example Question #32 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

QUIXOTIC

Possible Answers:

Romantic

Inquisitive

Restrained

Forgetful

Astonishing

Correct answer:

Romantic

Explanation:

The word “quixotic” entered the English language from the literary work Don Quixote by Cervantes. It tells tales of idealized chivalry, portraying a stylized and “romantic” ideal of the knight. To be “quixotic” is therefore to be idealistic or romantic (in the sense of being idealistic). The name became an adjective, and this word may be well represented for you on many standardized tests.

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

SOPHISTICATED

Possible Answers:

Academic

Enlightened

Conceited

Arrogant

Snobbish

Correct answer:

Enlightened

Explanation:

Although we can think of “sophistication” as implying some sort of academic or mental prowess, this is really just an additional characteristic that follows from the primary meaning of the word. In its strictest sense, something that is “sophisticated” is very developed and perhaps complex. When this is said of a human person, that person is often so named because he or she has a lot of worldly wisdom. In such cases, the person is considered “enlightened”—perhaps only in a worldly way but still more aware of the complexities of life than one less experienced. Among the options given, the non-correct answers all attempt to have you choose based on secondary associations you might have with the word “sophisticated.” Stick as closely as possible to the correct definition. Here “enlightened” does that.

Example Question #91 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

SUPERCILIOUS

Possible Answers:

arrogant

radical

unnecessary

taciturn

Correct answer:

arrogant

Explanation:

Supercilious means arrogant or haughty.

Example Question #32 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

EXTROVERTED

Possible Answers:

Fickle

Outgoing

Harsh

Merciful

Reclusive

Correct answer:

Outgoing

Explanation:

"Extroverted" means sociable or outgoing, so "outgoing" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "extroverted": "reclusive" is an antonym of "outgoing" and means solitary and avoiding other people; "fickle" means constantly changing; "harsh" means severe or cruel; and "merciful" means sympatheitc or forgiving.

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