All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2201 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FORECAST
Germinate
Weather
Prediction
Meteorology
News
Prediction
The word "forecast" is something like a copy of "predict," though the words are not exactly the same. The prefix "fore-" means before or prior to. Something in the "foreground" is in the front of a picture or scene as opposed to the "background." A "forecast" is something that looks to see what will happen before it actually happens. A weather forecaster is someone who makes such predictions about the weather.
The word "predict" has the prefix "pre-," which also means before. The "-dict" portion of the word comes from roots meaning to speak or say. To "pre-dict" is to "say before"—that is, to speak about an event before it occurs. Thus, it is a good synonym for "forecast." Indeed, it is basically its definition!
Example Question #2202 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PREAMBLE
Introduction
Explanation
Constitution
Lesson
Outline
Introduction
The word "preamble" is composed of two parts. The prefix "pre-" means before—as you likely know from words like "precede" and, of course, "prefix." The "-amble" portion is a bit rarer. It comes from the Latin for to walk and is found in words like "amble" and "ambulatory." (The latter means able to walk.) The "preamble" of a document is the beginning portion—the part that "walks before" the rest of the document. It is the "introduction" to the document. It does not necessarily outline or explain the document, though it can. Primarily, what it means to be a "preamble" is to be an introduction or a beginning to a text.
Example Question #2203 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
UNLAWFUL
Despite
Illegal
Benevolent
Famine
Malevolent
Illegal
“Lawful” means allowed or within the law so “unlawful” must mean not allowed or not within the law. “Illegal” is the closest synonym. To provide further help, “despite” means regardless of something; a “famine” is a massive scarcity of food; “malevolent” means bad-natured and “benevolent” means good-natured.
Example Question #2204 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MALFUNCTION
Break
Trace
Overlook
Mechanize
Repair
Break
When used as a verb, "function" means work. The prefix "mal-" means bad, so if something “malfunctions,” it stops working, works incorrectly, or breaks. "Break" is thus the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “repair” means fix; "overlook" means miss some detail when considering the bigger picture, "trace" means outline or track down; and "mechanize" means begin to use machines to do something that previously wasn't done by machines.
Example Question #2205 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
OVERCONFIDENT
Cantankerous
Meek
Rude
Arrogant
Quaint
Arrogant
The prefix "over-" means excessively, so “overconfident” means excessively confident, or "arrogant." As for the other answer choices, “meek” means shy and quiet; “cantankerous” means grumpy, angry, and easily annoyed; “quaint” means old-fashioned and charming; and "rude" means disrespectful.
Example Question #2206 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
OMNIPRESENT
Nowhere
Greedy
Everywhere
Unfortunate
Fortunate
Everywhere
In order to solve this synonym problem you have to consider both the prefix and suffix of the word "omnipresent." The prefix omni- means every, all and the suffix -present means place, where. So the word "omnipresent" means everywhere, in all places. To provide further help, "greedy" means wanting more than you have/need; "fortunate" means lucky and "unfortunate" means unlucky. Notice the impact of the prefix un-.
Example Question #2207 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ANTIDOTE
Vehicle
Medicine
Schoolyard
Teacher
Hospital
Medicine
The prefix anti- means against. So an "antidote" is something used against poisons, used to provide a solution to poison. This is closest in meaning to "medicine."
Example Question #2208 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DUPLICATE
Copy
Monument
Drawing
List
Schedule
Copy
To solve this synonym you need to rely on your knowledge of prefixes. The prefix du- means two of, so a "duplicate" is a second copy of something. It is common to make a "duplicate" of something if it is important and you do not want to lose it, like a "duplicate" key.
Example Question #2209 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DISPATCHED
Sent
Forgiven
Spent
Lent
Replaced
Sent
To solve this synonym you will again need to rely on your knowledge of prefixes. The prefix dis- means away. So to "dispatch" something is to send it away. To provide further help, "lent" means let someone borrow.
Example Question #2210 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PREVENT
Stop
Accompany
Displace
Continue
Dispatch
Stop
The prefix pre- means before, so "prevent" means to stop something before it happens. To provide further help, "accompany" means go with; "continue" means keep going; "dispatch" means send away; "displace" means replace, take over.
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All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
