All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SPECTATOR
Victor
Illustrator
Doctor
Salesperson
Witness
Witness
"Spectator" is derived from the same Latin roots as "spectacles" (glasses), "spectacle" (something that visually attracts a lot of attention), and "inspection" (an event where an authority figure looks over someone and that person's work). All of these words have something in common: seeing. So, it shouldn't be surprising that "spectator" also has to do with seeing. More specifically, a "spectator" is someone watching something, or a "witness." As for the other answer choices, a “victor” is someone who has won some competition; a “salesperson” is someone who sells something; an “illustrator” is someone who draws pictures to go with written articles or books; and a "doctor" is a medical professional who diagnoses illnesses and injuries to help people recover from them.
Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NARRATOR
Chef
Character
Reader
Storyteller
Reporter
Storyteller
A “narrator” is a "storyteller." As for the other answer choices, a “witness” is someone who has seen an event, as to “witness” means to see. A "reporter" is someone who researches and writes news stories. While the narrator might be a character in a story if the story is told in first-person perspective (the "I" perspective), a "narrator" is not necessarily a "character," and the words have distinct meanings.
Example Question #23 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TRAITOR
Businessperson
Employee
Ally
Backstabber
Vehicle
Backstabber
A "traitor" is a person who betrays the trust of another person or organization. A spy who promises to work for one country but secretly sells its secrets to a rival nation could be called a traitor. "Backstabber," similarly, refers to a person who betrayed another. An "ally" is a friend, an "employee" is someone who works for someone else, and a "vehicle" is a moving machine, like a car.
Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BENEFACTOR
Supporter
Protagonist
Detractor
Narrator
Antagonist
Supporter
A “benefactor” is someone who supports a cause and contributes money to it. To provide further help, a “detractor” criticizes or takes away from a cause; a “narrator” is a storyteller; the “protagonist” is the hero of a story and the “antagonist” is the villain of the story.
Example Question #25 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RASCAL
Professor
Delegate
Scoundrel
Genius
Governor
Scoundrel
A "rascal" is a troublemaker, a scoundrel. To provide further help, a "genius" is someone who is very clever; a "governor" is a political figure elected to govern a state; a "delegate" is someone chosen to represent the interests of a group of people.
Example Question #26 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTRUDER
Criminal
Invader
Legality
Robber
Burglar
Invader
The word "intrude" literally means to push oneself into. Thus, you could "intrude on a conversation" by jumping into the conversation even if you aren't actually welcome. Often, we speak of an "intruder" as someone who breaks into a house. Now, such a person is almost certainly a criminal; however, the word "intruder" most directly means someone who goes into a place without being invited or permitted in. Therefore, the best option is "invader." When someone invades an area, he or she enters it without being welcomed. This is the best meaning among the options given.
Example Question #27 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BURGLAR
Thief
Invader
Villain
Prisoner
Criminal
Thief
Sometimes, you should be very careful just to go with your first idea for an answer. Almost everyone knows the word "burglar," meaning someone who steals from another person; however, with some of the options like "prisoner" and "criminal," you might start to wonder if you need to choose something other than "thief." Don't be tricked! "Thief" is the correct answer!
Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
A synonym of "tyrant" is __________.
despot
prince
herald
king
peasant
despot
"Tyrant" is a noun that means either "a cruel and oppressive ruler" or "a person exercising power or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "a cruel ruler." While "king" may seem like a good answer choice because a king is a kind of ruler, a king is not necessarily a cruel ruler like a tyrant is. "Despot," however, means "a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way." Because "despot" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tyrant," "despot" is the correct answer.
Example Question #28 : Synonyms: Nouns For People
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PARTNER
Element
Coworker
Slave
Section
Relative
Coworker
A "partner" is someone who works with another person. Often, we use the word to describe someone's husband or wife, but it can also be used to describe someone's coworker. Think of when we talk about "business partners." This describes the relationship between people who work together in the same company, likely both owning some share of the company. A partner is anyone that we choose to share an activity with.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor