ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

GORGE

Possible Answers:

Era

Color

Food

Blizzard

Canyon

Correct answer:

Canyon

Explanation:

A "gorge" is a narrow valley with a stream at the bottom, so "canyon," which means a deep ravine in the ground carved by a river over time, is the correct answer. When used as a verb, "gorge" means eat a great amount in a small amount of time; someone might be said to gorge themselves on food at a buffet if they eat a lot there. While "food" is an answer choice and the verb "gorge" is related to food, "gorge" does not mean "food," so it cannot be the correct answer.

Example Question #92 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

DUPE

Possible Answers:

Tease

Instruct

Goad

Trick

Mock

Correct answer:

Trick

Explanation:

The word "dupe" can be used either as a noun or as a verb. In both cases, it deals with fooling or tricking someone or being the person tricked. A "dupe" is someone who has been deceived or is easy to deceive. Often we use the word negatively to imply that the tricked person was stupid (and hence able to be tricked). It does not need this negative sense, though. The verb use would be found in a sentence like, "The merchant duped the buyer into thinking the metal was real gold when it was in fact nothing more than painted clay." Therefore, the best option among the answer choices is "trick," as in "to trick," meaning to fool.

Example Question #93 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

YIELD

Possible Answers:

Observe

Prevent

Judge

Reflect

Relent

Correct answer:

Relent

Explanation:

To yield means to give in or to relent; for example, a parent may relent in terms of the requests of a child.

Example Question #94 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

JUMBLE

Possible Answers:

Organization

Plan

Muddle

Step

Exhibit

Correct answer:

Muddle

Explanation:

"Jumble" is a word that when used as a noun means "an untidy collection or pile of things," and when used as a verb means "mix up in a confused or untidy way." "Muddle" means "bring into a disordered or confusing state" when used as a verb, and either "an untidy and disorganized state or collection" or "a mistake arising from or resulting in confusion" when used as a noun. So, "muddle" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "jumble."

Example Question #95 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

MORAL

Possible Answers:

Fable

Message

Protection

Song

Confusion

Correct answer:

Message

Explanation:

Because all of the potential answer choices are nouns, we will be looking for a word that is synonymous with "moral" when "moral" is used as a noun, and means "a lesson, especially one concerning what is right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an experience." While a fable usually includes a moral, "fable" does not mean the same thing that "moral" does, so "fable" cannot be the correct answer. "Message," however, when used as a noun, can mean "a significant point or central theme, especially one that has political, social, or moral importance." Because "message" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "moral," "message" is the correct answer.

Example Question #96 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

PROCESS

Possible Answers:

Revolution

Painting

Procedure

Graph

Bureau

Correct answer:

Procedure

Explanation:

"Process" means procedure.

Example Question #97 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

WOUND

Possible Answers:

Announcement

General

Injury

Crowd

Quotation

Correct answer:

Injury

Explanation:

A "wound" is a cut or an injury, so "injury" is the correct answer. A "crowd" is a large mass of people in one particular location. An "announcement" is a statement that makes previously private information public, usually made to the public or a group of people. A "general" is a commander of the military. A "quotation" is a saying or phrase taken verbatim from a text or from the speech of a person.

Example Question #98 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

ATTRIBUTE

Possible Answers:

Occupation

Memorial

Characteristic

Realization

Idea

Correct answer:

Characteristic

Explanation:

“Attribute” is a word that can be used as noun or a verb, but because all of the potential words are nouns, we will need to consider “attribute” as a noun. When used as a noun, “attribute” means “a characteristic of someone or something.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “quality” or “feature.” That means that “memorial” cannot be the correct answer, because while “attribute” sounds like “tribute” and “memorial” is a synonym of “tribute,” “memorial” does not mean the the same thing as “attribute.” “Characteristic,” however, is a noun that means “a quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing,” and because “characteristic” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “attribute,” “characteristic” is the correct answer.

Example Question #99 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

FRAY

Possible Answers:

Fight

Atone

Light

Scared

Correct answer:

Fight

Explanation:

A "fray" is a fight or a disturbance. The best choice is "fight," as it is a part of the definition of "fray." Considering the other choices, "light" refers to the thing that makes things visible or means not heavy, "atone" means make up for an offense, and "scared" means frightened.

Example Question #100 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

TOIL

Possible Answers:

Open

Work

Bath

Harm

Correct answer:

Work

Explanation:

"Toil" is work, and to "toil" means to work. The best choice is "work" because it is a part of the definition of "toil."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors