All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #326 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
STRATAGEM
Patron
Villain
Addict
Battle
Scheme
Scheme
A “stratagem” is a plan or scheme designed to outwit or deceive someone. To provide further help, an “addict” is someone who cannot stop repeating the same behavior; a “patron” is a customer.
Example Question #327 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
INSIGHT
Perceptiveness
Vague
Ferociousness
Encouragement
Admonishment
Perceptiveness
“Insight” is the ability to perceive something, to notice something most people might not. To provide further help, “vague” means unclear; “admonishment” means criticism; “ferociousness” means wildness, aggressiveness.
Example Question #328 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
HYPERBOLE
Poetry
Distinction
Exaggeration
Suggestion
Standard
Exaggeration
"Hyperbole" is non-literal statements of exaggeration, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "hyperbole" is "exaggeration."
Example Question #329 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
IMPROVEMENT
Detriment
Progress
Calamity
Facade
Proposition
Progress
To “improve” something means to make it better, so an “improvement” is very similar to “progress.” To provide further help, “detriment” means harmful thing; “facade” means a fake display or an act meant to conceal the truth; “calamity” means disaster; “proposition” means proposal.
Example Question #330 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
APLOMB
Confidence
Probability
Violence
Anxiety
Confidence
The word "aplomb" means self-assurance, calmness, or composure. "Confidence" is therefore the word that mostly closely matches the definition of "aplomb." "Anxiety" is incorrect because it is, in fact, an opposite of "aplomb": it means worry or nervousness. "Impotence," which means powerlessness, "violence," which means the act of physically injuring or killing someone or cause damage to something, and "probability," which means the statistical likelihood of an event happening, are unrelated to the definition of "aplomb."
Example Question #36 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
COINCIDENCE
Acknowledgment
Disagreement
Joyous
Chance
Verification
Chance
The word "coincidence" is comprised of two parts: "co-incidence." An "incident" is something that happens in a given place. The prefix "co-" means with or together. "Coincidences" are things that happen together. Often, the word is used to describe things that happen together without any expectation. For instance, we both walk into the room and see each other, though we had not intended this meeting. Thus, we met by coincidence. To put it another way, we met by chance. Therefore, "chance" is the best option among the answer choices given.
Example Question #37 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
GLUTTONY
Greed
Hunger
Fulfillment
Starvation
Obesity
Greed
You might associate the word "gluttony" with food. In Christian theology, "gluttony" is numbered as one the "seven deadly sins." It has a number of meanings, though many of them are associated with overeating food or liking food too much. This is why most people think that the word "gluttony" has only to do with food. However, "gluttony" often can mean greed in a more general sense. (It is, of course, most normally associated with greed for food.) Note that the only option that expresses this is the simple "greed." One can be starving or hungry without being gluttonous.
Example Question #331 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PHOBIA
Preference
Fear
Displeasure
Meaning
Surprise
Fear
"Phobia" is a noun that means a strong fear of something particular, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is also a noun and means something like an extreme fear. While "displeasure" may look like a potentially correct answer because a phobia might give one displeasure, "displeasure" does not mean the same thing as "phobia," so it cannot be the correct answer. Because "fear" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "phobia," "fear" is the correct answer.
Example Question #332 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TEMPO
Music
Quick
Sound
Slow
Pace
Pace
"Tempo" is a noun that means either pace, often specifically the pace of music. While "quick" and "slow" may describe different speeds, neither word means the same thing as "tempo," and while "music" may proceed at a certain tempo, "music" does not mean "tempo" either. "Pace," however, is a noun that means speed or rate, and because "pace" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tempo," "pace" is the correct answer.
Example Question #333 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
REPRISAL
Competition
Apathetic
Distraction
Corpulence
Retaliation
Retaliation
A “reprisal” is an attack made to avenge some previous attack. In this sense, it is most similar to the answer choice “retaliation,” which has the same meaning. To provide further help, “apathetic” describes the attitude of not caring; a “distraction” is something that causes a loss of focus; “competition” is a fight or rivalry; “corpulence” means obesity or beefiness.