All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #261 : Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The __________ material felt really unpleasant to touch.
vast
coarse
populous
serene
tranquil
coarse
Based on the context you know that the adjective that you are looking for must relate to something that is not pleasant to touch. The correct answer is therefore "coarse." "Coarse" means not soft, rough. Additionally, "serene" means quiet and peaceful; "populous" means heavily populated, full of many people; "vast" means very large; "tranquil" means calm and peaceful.
Example Question #262 : Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
A glass of warm milk before bed makes me feel __________ and helps me to sleep.
industrious
courteous
coy
drowsy
apologetic
drowsy
Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer must relate to being sleepy or to falling asleep. The correct answer is therefore "drowsy" which means sleepy, lacking energy, half-asleep. Additionally, "apologetic" means feeling sorry; "industrious" means hard-working; "courteous" means polite; "coy" means shy and reserved and secretive.
Example Question #1870 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The money was __________ and the bank would not accept it.
permitted
elevated
counterfeit
genuine
titanic
counterfeit
If the bank would not accept the money then there must have been something wrong with it. The correct answer needs to reflect this. Therefore the correct answer is "counterfeit" which means not real, fake, fraudulent. Additionally, "genuine" means real, it is an antonym of "counterfeit"; "permitted" means allowed; "titanic" means giant, very big; "elevated" means raised up.
Example Question #1871 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
The __________ tower of bricks collapsed easily.
brawny
sturdy
sinewy
reliable
flimsy
flimsy
If the tower collapsed easily then it stands to reason that it cannot have been very secure or stable. Something that is not secure, easily broken or ruined is called "flimsy." The other answer choices are all loosely synonyms of one another and antonyms of "flimsy." For example, "brawny" means strong; "sinewy" means muscular; "sturdy" means stable, reliable, firm.
Example Question #1872 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Peter did not feel the need to have many belongings but, instead, was _____________ with his few possessions.
invested
saddled
content
housed
irritated
content
The general implication is that Peter is happy enough with his current possessions. He does not want anything more really. This means that he is content with them. To be "content" is to be satisfied. Since Peter doesn't want anything more, he is well satisfied with his belongings.
Example Question #1873 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The paths by the railroad were quite ______________ to the two old men. When they were children, they would walk along them for hours every day after school, getting to know every detail about them.
familiar
questionable
intriguing
orderly
emotional
familiar
Be careful. All that the sentence says is that the old men got to know every detail of the trails when they were young. This does not indicate anything about their emotional attachment to the trails. We only know that they have an excellent knowledge of them. This means that they are familiar with them. The word is related to "family." Just as family members are "close" to us, so too are familiar things "close" in the sense of being well known.
Example Question #1874 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ evening inspired little passion or emotion of any kind.
dreary
menacing
ominous
compiled
vigorous
dreary
In this sentence the evening seems to be boring and uninspiring and dull. It could best be described as "dreary," which means dull, unexciting, lacking energy, uninspiring. Additionally, "compiled" means put together, made a list of; "vigorous" means strong and healthy, full of energy; "menacing" means threatening; "ominous" means warning, suggesting some future danger.
Example Question #1875 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The teacher told the children to be careful with the baby rabbits because the baby rabbits have __________ bones.
ancient
zany
jolly
sturdy
brittle
brittle
To solve this problem you need to figure out which of these answers is an adjective that describes something fragile that children need to be careful not to break. The correct answer is therefore "brittle," which means not tough or firm, easily broken. Additionally, "sturdy" means tough, reliable, not likely to break or fall; "ancient" means very old; "zany" means wacky, wild, crazy; "jolly" means good-natured, happy and cheerful.
Example Question #1876 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His advisors urged caution so that he would not make another __________ decision.
just
rash
supreme
delicate
prudent
rash
To begin with "urged" means strongly encouraged, begged, pleaded and "caution" means carefulness. So, if the subject's advisors suggested that he be extra careful this time it probably means his decision last time was foolish and reckless. The correct answer is therefore "rash" which means done foolishly without proper planning, reckless, imprudent, careless. Additionally, "prudent" means careful, not rash, not foolish; "just" means fair, right, equal and balanced; "delicate" means soft, fine, easily broken; "supreme" means ideal, best.
Example Question #1877 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Thousands of men are needed to manage the __________ empire.
vast
portly
sacred
petite
oblivious
vast
If a large number of men are needed to manage the empire than it can be safely assumed to be very large, massive, or "vast." Additionally, "portly" means chubby, fat; "petite" means very small; "sacred" means holy; "oblivious" means unaware.
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