ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

COMPILE

Possible Answers:

Educate

Avoid

Assemble

Smash

Inflate

Correct answer:

Assemble

Explanation:

"Compile" means put together or assemble, so "assemble" is the correct answer. "Smash" means hit something very hard and cause it to break. "Avoid" means stay or keep away from someone or something. "Inflate" means increase or fill with air. "Educate" means instruct or teach.

Example Question #142 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

QUENCH

Possible Answers:

Portray 

Suspend

Obliterate

Refute

Satisfy 

Correct answer:

Satisfy 

Explanation:

To "quench" means to satisfy, particularly with relation to satisfying a thirst. So, "satisfy" is the correct answer. To hep you, "suspend" means pause or hang from a specified location, "refute" means demonstrate to not be true, "portray" means show or represent, and to "obliterate" means to completely destroy.

Example Question #143 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

PURSUE

Possible Answers:

Chase

Correct

Obey

Explain

Polish

Correct answer:

Chase

Explanation:

"Pursue" means chase or run after, so "chase" is the correct answer. To "polish" means to clean and make shiny. "Explain" means describe or provide more details that make something more understandable. "Obey" means listen tocomply, or listen to someone and comply with rules and directions they give you. "Correct," when used as a verb, means make right.

Example Question #144 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

SHRIVEL

Possible Answers:

Antagonize

Shrink

Outline

Displace

Enhance

Correct answer:

Shrink

Explanation:

To "shrivel" means to become smaller, to wrinkle and lose size. To provide further help, "outline" means draw out a plan of; "enhance" means make better and larger; "antagonize" means annoy; "displace" means replace, move out the way

Example Question #145 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

THRUST

Possible Answers:

Slap

Harm

Shove

Distress

Deliver

Correct answer:

Shove

Explanation:

The general idea behind "thrusting" is pushing or shoving. This might tempt you to thinking of choosing "slap." However, this is not quite correct. Think of how we use the word "thrust." We might say, "He thrust himself out into the crowd." This means that he pushed his way into the crowd. We could also say, "He thrust the duck at her," meaning that he pushed the bird toward the other person. Someone could thrust an object into a bag, meaning that he or she shoved it into the bag. Thus, the best option among those given is "shove."

Example Question #146 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

STROLL

Possible Answers:

Walk

Jog

Wander

Run

Crawl

Correct answer:

Wander

Explanation:

Notice that all of these options deal with walking or running in some way; However, to "stroll" is to walk in an aimless manner. When we stroll, we just "walk around" without anywhere in particular to go, often in a very slow manner. Thus, the best option is "wander." This best expresses this kind of walking (or, strolling)!

Example Question #147 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

DETAIN

Possible Answers:

Condemn

Torture

Force

Hold

Belittle

Correct answer:

Hold

Explanation:

The word "detain" means to hold or to imprison. Because it can indicate imprisonment, you may be tempted to pick "condemn" or "torture," but these are not correct. Yes, condemned people can be imprisoned, and imprisoned people can be tortured; however, this is not the meaning of "detain." Thus, the best option is "hold." You could say, "I detained him for three hours in the room." This means that you kept the person in the room for that long—effectively "holding" him there.

Example Question #148 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

SWELL

Possible Answers:

Jump

Pummel

Tighten

Drain

Grow

Correct answer:

Grow

Explanation:

The word "swell" means to grow larger. For example, if you have a "swollen" throat, you have a throat that is likely enlarged from illness. The word "swell" is also used informally to say that you are doing well. For example, to say, "I am doing swell," means, "I am doing very well!" The best option among those given here, however, is "grow."

Example Question #149 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

INTERROGATE

Possible Answers:

Permeate

Lighten

Facilitate

Frighten

Question

Correct answer:

Question

Explanation:

The word "interrogate" comes from roots that mean to ask or to question. You could say, "He interrogated her for many hours, trying to discover the cause of the murder." This means that he asked the other person questions for hours to discover the murder's cause. The word "question" can be used as a verb. You could rewrite that sentence with just that basic replacement: "He questioned her for many hours, trying to discover the cause of the murder."

Example Question #150 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

FASTEN

Possible Answers:

Cancel

Attach

Adapt

Regulate

Deliver

Correct answer:

Attach

Explanation:

When you "fasten" two things together, you somehow tie or attach them together. When you "fasten your belt" in the car, you are connecting its parts together, "snapping them into place." Although many words could be used as synonyms for "fasten," the simple "attach" works best among the options provided. If you fasten something to the wall, you do, certainly, attach it to the wall.

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