All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AROMA
Scent
Environment
Atmosphere
Sound
Setting
Scent
An "aroma" is a smell or "scent." This is different than a "setting" or place; one's "environment" or surroundings; and the "atmosphere" or the air in a certain place.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CONVERT
Change
Allow
Discover
Stay
Detail
Change
To "convert" something is to alter or "change" it. This differs from the other answer choices: "allow" means permit; "discover" means find; and "detail" means give particulars about or describe.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEDICATE
Share
Sign
Devote
Etch
Partition
Devote
To "dedicate" something (such as a book) to someone means to "devote" it to them. This differs from "etch," which means to write or draw by scratching into a hard material like stone; "partition," which means to separate by putting up a wall; and "sign," which means to write one's name on a document, making it official.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HEARTY
Weak
Strong
Fragile
Legendary
Exhausted
Strong
Something or someone who is "hearty" is healthy and "strong." "Exhausted" means tired; "legendary" means epic; and "fragile" means delicate.
Example Question #11 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RESEMBLE
Tolerate
Observe
Appear
Mirror
Consider
Mirror
Something that "resembles" something else looks like it. The other answer choices mean the following: "tolerate" means allow; "consider" means think about; and "appear" means look a certain way on the surface, often different from how someone or something really is. (For example, someone might say, "Although those flowers may appear harmless, do not touch them: they are poisonous.")
Example Question #12 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PERIODICALLY
Frequently
Rarely
Occasionally
Always
Occasionally
When something occurs "periodically," it occurs regularly in a given period of time. For instance, the periodic swinging of a pendulum is the time that it takes for it to swing back and forth. Likewise, the occurrence of a full moon occurs periodically—according to a fixed period of the moon's orbiting around the earth. By itself, the word "periodically" does not indicate whether or not something occurs frequently, quickly, or rarely. It merely indicates that something happens at regular intervals.
The word "occasionally" is an adverb that could be rewritten, on occasion or on a given occasion. The implication is that it describes something that happens sometimes but not always. It does not necessarily state that it occurs rarely. Likewise, it is not proper to use "occasionally" to indicate that you do something frequently. You wouldn't say, "I occasionally eat asparagus," but actually mean that you eat it every day of the year. To indicate that you eat it every day of the year, you would say, "I always eat asparagus." To say "occasionally" is to indicate that the activity being described is sporadic—now and then, on occasion.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.
Annually
Weekly
Daily
Hourly
Yearly
Monthly
Yearly
Annually means every year or yearly.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SELDOM
Rarely
Spontaneously
Often
Immediately
Potentially
Rarely
"Seldom" is an adverb that means not happening often. The best choice is "rarely" because it means infrequently and is a synonym of "seldom." Something that seldom happens rarely happens.
Example Question #13 : Synonyms
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Michelle has been unable to commit herself to a regular exercise regime, and instead exercises very __________.
intently
sporadically
quickly
unsurely
fairly
sporadically
Given that Michelle has not been able to commit to a regular exercise regime, the best answer is a word that describes irregularity. "Sporadically" means to do something at inconsistent intervals. Therefore, "sporadically" is the word that best fits the sentence.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NATURALLY
Quickly
Slyly
Temporarily
Angrily
Genuinely
Genuinely
The word "natural" comes from roots related to birth. Something that is "natural" is inborn. Thus, if someone has a naturally happy attitude, that person is happy in an unreflective way. He or she just "is happy"—as though he or she was born that way. The word has taken on the meaning "genuinely" because such a natural disposition is not something that is faked.
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