ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #171 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

RESENT

Possible Answers:

Decipher

Approve

Dislike

Mail

Welcome

Correct answer:

Dislike

Explanation:

When you "resent" someone or something, you greatly "dislike" that person or thing. "mail" means to send a letter or package through a postal service from one location to another; "approve" means agree; and "decipher" means to unlock meaning.

Example Question #172 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ENTICE

Possible Answers:

Repel

Suggest

Crave

Consider

Tempt

Correct answer:

Tempt

Explanation:

"Entice" means attract. "Tempt" is the best choice because it also means attract. Considering the other choices, "repel" is an antonym of "entice" and means to drive away.

Example Question #173 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

DESPISE

Possible Answers:

Hate

Disagree

Loosen 

Dissect

Hurt

Correct answer:

Hate

Explanation:

"Despise" means abhor or hate something. "Hate" means to have an intensely strong dislike for something. Given the similarities between these two words, they are synonyms, and "hate" is the correct answer.

Example Question #174 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ASTOUND

Possible Answers:

Arrange

Announce

Tremble

Hear

Amaze

Correct answer:

Amaze

Explanation:

To “astound” means to surprise or to amaze, so "amaze" is the correct answer. While "astound" may look and sound something like "sound" and may have led you to pick "hear" as your answer choice, these three words have very different meanings.

Example Question #175 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ABHOR

Possible Answers:

Enamor 

Adore

Hate

Worship 

Love

Correct answer:

Hate

Explanation:

Abhor means very strong hate. Something you abhor is opposite to something you love; abhor and love are antonyms of one another. To further help you, adore means love; worship means treat somebody very respectfully, like a god or goddess; enamor means charm.

Example Question #176 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

PESTER

Possible Answers:

Irritate

Suffice

Detest

Assure

Correct answer:

Irritate

Explanation:

To "pester" someone is to annoy or irritate him or her, so "irritate" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "pester": "assure" means boost the confidence of someone elseconvince, or affirm; "suffice" means be of an amount that is just enough to meet a certain need, without excess; and "detest" means greatly dislike.

Example Question #177 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

INTIMIDATE

Possible Answers:

Evade

Linger

Fear

Threaten

Evolve

Correct answer:

Threaten

Explanation:

"Intimidate" means to frighten somebody into doing something, "which is very similar to the meaning of "threaten," which is the correct answer. One could write, "The dishonorable politician tried to intimidate his opponents so they would drop out of the race." One could also achieve a very similar meaning by writing, "The dishonorable politician threatened to hurt his opponents to make them drop out of the race."

 

Incorrect answers:

"Fear," when used as a verb, means to be afraid of, as in the sentence, "Bobby feared Susan because Susan had threatened to steal his lunch money."

"Evolve" means to develop or achieve something gradually, as in the sentence, "What started as a small family-owned flower shop evolved into an international business."

"Linger" means to stay somewhere beyond the usual time, as in the sentence, "School ended several hours ago, but several teachers lingered in their classrooms to prepare for the following day."

"Evade" means avoid, oftentimes by not encountering, as in the sentence, "No matter how many times we chased the dog around the yard, it always evaded us until it was ready to go back inside."

Example Question #178 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

OFFEND

Possible Answers:

Harm

Destroy

Insult

Upset

Slam

Correct answer:

Upset

Explanation:

When we "offend" someone else, we make that person angry or upset. Often we do this by our remarks but can also do so through our actions. For example, if you were to shout at your grandmother and tell her that she was not beautiful, this would be offensive. Not all actions need to be "insults" (though many "insults" are "offensive"). The main meaning of "offending" someone is to make that person angry or upset. Hence, "upset" is the best option.

Example Question #179 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

DISTURBED

Possible Answers:

Vexed

Raging

Aware

Upset

Angry

Correct answer:

Upset

Explanation:

Whenever we "disturb" someone, we distract his or her attention. A "disturbance" is something that upsets the balance of things. When we "disturb" the surface of water, we make it move. When we "disturb" someone else, we upset or distract that person's attention.

Example Question #180 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

CONSOLE

Possible Answers:

Depress

Weep

Enact

Comfort

Forget

Correct answer:

Comfort

Explanation:

Whenever we "console" someone, we make him or her feel better because of some kind of sadness. For example, you could write, "Gretchen tried to console Peter after his hamster died, for he was very attached to the little animal." Thus, "comfort" is a good synonym, describing such comforting action.

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