ISEE Lower Level Verbal : ISEE Lower Level (grades 5-6) Verbal Reasoning

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #467 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

TIRED

Possible Answers:

Hungry

Embellished

Young

Exhausted

Correct answer:

Exhausted

Explanation:

"Tired" is an adjective that means lacking energy or needing to sleep. So, the answer choice closest in meaning to "tired" is "exhausted," an adjective that means drained of bodily resources or tired. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "tired": "hungry" means needing food; "young" means not very old; and "embellished" means having details or additional components that make something more attractive.

Example Question #468 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DROWSY

Possible Answers:

Agile

Painful

Excited

Tired

Concise

Correct answer:

Tired

Explanation:

"Drowsy" means sleepy and exhausted, so "tired" is the correct answer. "Excited" means very eager to do something or interested in something. "Painful" means causing pain or suffering. "Concise" means short and to the point. "Agile" means nimble or able to move swiftly.

Example Question #471 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DORMANT

Possible Answers:

Scary

Portable

Energetic

Inactive

Awake

Correct answer:

Inactive

Explanation:

"Dormant" is an adjective that means "not doing anything at this time : not active but able to become active," or "having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep." So, neither "awake" nor "energetic" can be the correct answer because each is an antonym of "dormant," not a synonym. "Inactive" is the closest synonym to "dormant" amongst the listed answer choices, so "inactive" is the correct answer.

Example Question #472 : Identifying Synonyms

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

HECTIC

Possible Answers:

Solitary

Determined

Radiant

Busy

Surprised

Correct answer:

Busy

Explanation:

To have a "hectic" schedule is to have an extremely busy one, so "busy" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "hectic": "solitary" means alone; "radiant" means glowing; "surprised" means astounded or shocked; and "determined" means firmly decided on something.

Example Question #641 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

SAVAGE

Possible Answers:

Barbaric

Satanic

Stern

Sharp

Proud

Correct answer:

Barbaric

Explanation:

To be "savage" means to be violent in a primitive way. To be "barbaric" means acting with unsophisticated aggression. Given how similar these two words are, they are synonyms.

Example Question #642 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

DOMESTICATED

Possible Answers:

Confident

Boring

Tame

Agricultural

Sheltered

Correct answer:

Tame

Explanation:

"Domesticated" means tamed or made submissive to human beings. To be "tame" means no longer wild, and rather, under control of humans. Thus, "domesticated" and "tame" mean the same thing and are synonyms.

Example Question #643 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

SNEAKY

Possible Answers:

Dark

Sly

Illegal

Official

Bad

Correct answer:

Sly

Explanation:

To be "sneaky" means to be trying to be undetected or unnoticed. To be "sly" means to be able to carry out activities without drawing attention to oneself. Given how similar these words are in meaning, they are synonyms. 

Example Question #644 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

A synonym of "auspicious" is . . .

Possible Answers:

selected

personable

ominous

ludicrous

promising

Correct answer:

promising

Explanation:

"Auspicious" is an adjective that can mean either "conducive to success; favorable," or "giving or being a sign of future success." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective and means something like "favorable." So, "ominous" cannot be the correct answer because "ominous" means "giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious," so "ominous" is an antonym of "auspicious." "Promising," however, is an adjective that means "showing signs of future success," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "auspicious," "promising" is the correct answer.

Example Question #645 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PRECISE

Possible Answers:

Perfect

Formal

Exact

Interesting

Correct answer:

Exact

Explanation:

"Precise" means marked by exactness, as in the sentence, "In order for the science experiment to work, we must make very precise measurements." "Exact" is most similar in meaning to "precise," so "exact" is the correct answer.

 

Incorrect answers:

"Perfect" is not the best answer because although you might describe precise measurements as being "perfect," the word "perfect" means as good as it is possible to be. For example, you might say "That was a perfect book report" or "I got a perfect score on my test." So, "exact" is close in meaning to "precise" than "perfect" is.

"Interesting" means holding or catching attention, as in the sentence, "The museum display of brightly colored butterflies was interesting to the students."

"Formal" means following accepted conventions or rules, as in the sentence, "My teacher's first name is Susan, but we address her formally as Mrs. Brown."

 

Example Question #646 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

A synonym of "convoluted" is __________.

Possible Answers:

menacing

complex

open

simple

straightforward

Correct answer:

complex

Explanation:

"Convoluted" is an adjective that means "extremely complex and difficult to follow" and is used of arguments, stories, or sentences. So, neither "simple" nor "straightforward" can be the correct answer because each of these words are antonyms of "convoluted," not synonyms. "Complex," however, is an adjective that means "consisting of many different and connected parts" or "not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate." Because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "convoluted," "complex" is the correct answer.

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