All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #201 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SIMILARITY
Equivalence
Replica
Resemblance
Interchangeability
Duality
Resemblance
When two things are "similar," they are not completely equal in appearance or nature, but they are at least "alike." A strict equivalence is too alike to be called a "similarity." For example, two cars of the same make, model, year, and color could be called identical. However, we would call two cars that have bodies that are alike to each other, though not quite the same and of different colors "similar." Likewise, we might say that someone has eyes that are similar to his or her parents, even though they are not exactly alike. Therefore, the word "resemblance" is the best option since it expresses such "likeness" without absolute equivalence.
Example Question #202 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VERGE
Edge
Prank
Voyage
Agreement
Continent
Edge
If you are on the "verge" of something, you are on the edge or border of that thing, so "edge" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "verge": a "continent" is a large land mass; a "voyage" is a trip by sea; a "prank" is a joke or trick usually played on another person; and "agreement" means the state in which one has the same opinion or position as another person or other people.
Example Question #203 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DISTRESS
Danger
Wicked
Peaceful
Aggressive
Suspicious
Danger
When someone is in "distress," he or she is in danger. For instance, there is the classic phrase about a "damsel in distress," meaning there is a lady in danger in some way. "Distress" can describe being in great pain or sorrow. It can also be used for those kinds of situations that cause pain and sorrow. Such situations are dangerous. Thus, just as in the expression used above, to be "in distress" means to be in danger. Hence, danger is the best option for this question at least.
Example Question #204 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ARROGANCE
Sadness
Legality
Intelligence
Pride
Rage
Pride
The adjective "arrogant" is used to describe someone who is very "full of himself or herself." That is, such a person has a very big opinion of himself or herself, thinking that he or she is the best person (at least in some set of traits or activities). The word "arrogance" is used to describe the character trait of "being arrogant." For example, we could say, "Peter's arrogance prevented him from seeing that he was actually making a fool of himself." This means that Peter had such a high opinion of himself that he couldn't even see that he was behaving foolishly. Arrogance is a lot like pride, which is the best option among those provided here.
Example Question #205 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TRAIT
Fitness
Agreement
Disclosure
Allowance
Feature
Feature
A "trait" is some characteristic or property of a given person or thing. For instance, we speak of "character traits" to describe someone's personality. We can also say that an inanimate object has certain traits. For example, a couch could have the trait of being very soft. These kinds of properties are also "features" of the given thing. Think of a microwave that has certain "features" such as special timers and the ability to cook at various degrees of intensity. Though we usually use "trait" to describe people, we could also call these features "traits" of the microwave.
Example Question #206 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TREATY
Agreement
Dispute
Conversation
Warfare
Discussion
Agreement
A "treaty" is a kind of agreement reached between two groups. Often, treaties are spoken of being made between two countries. For example, at the end of Revolutionary War in the US, the Treaty of Paris was the name of the agreement (signed in Paris) that ended the war. The best option given for this question is "agreement."
Example Question #207 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MANUFACTURE
Produce
Iron
Attempt
Strain
Labor
Produce
The word "manufactor" comes from Latin words that mean to make with your hands. The "manu-" part is related to "manual". A small book is called a "manual" because you can hold it easily in your hands. We tend to think of "manufacturing" as a big deal. There are "manufacturing plants" that produce all sorts of large items; however, the main meaning of "manufacture" is "to produce or make." Thus, "produce" is the best option.
Example Question #208 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SUBSTITUTE
Destroy
Replacement
Slap
Regulation
Surprise
Replacement
The word "substitute" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adjective. In general, it means to replace. As a noun, it means a replacement. When you have a "substitute teacher," this means that the person is standing in for another teacher, replacing him or her.
Example Question #209 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SYMPATHY
Disgust
Anger
Concern
Charity
Joy
Concern
The word "sympathy" comes from Greek roots that literally mean to suffer with.... Thus, when you "have sympathy" for someone, you try to share in his or her feelings. For example, you could say, "The old man had sympathy for his neighbor whose wife recently died. His own wife had died recently, and he understood his neighbor's pain." This kind of "suffering with someone else" is a kind of concern or care.
Example Question #210 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PROCEDURE
Explanation
Process
Paperwork
Boredom
Intensity
Process
A "procedure" is a process for accomplishing some task. It applies to any set of steps that we take to do something. Thus, there can be a procedure for building a desk but also a procedure for filling out a form. The best option is the simple word "process". Although we can explain what a procedure is, the procedure itself is not the explanation. It is the activity of making or doing the thing.
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All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
