ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #44 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Value, And Rarity

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

INCREDIBLE

Possible Answers:

Implausible

Elaborate

Formulated

Believable

Distracting

Correct answer:

Implausible

Explanation:

The word "incredible" is related to the Latin meaning I believe. Whenever we say that something or someone is "credible", we mean that it is believable. For example, in a court case, we can say that someone is a "credible witness." This means that he or she is the kind of witness that we should believe. When something is "incredible" it is unbelievable. Sometimes, we use this word to mean "remarkable". For example, we would say, "That was an incredible fireworks show!" This means that it was really stupendous. The word "incredible" can also mean unbelievable. That is the sense of "implausible." When something is "plausible" it is probable or at least possible. Something "implausible" is just totally unlikely to be true.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Activity And Energy

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

WEARIED

Possible Answers:

Sore

Careful

Fatigued

Aching

Exercised

Correct answer:

Fatigued

Explanation:

When someone is "weary," he or she is tired. Some times, we are tired because we have worked very hard physically. This might tempt you to pick "sore" or "aching," but "weariness" is tiredness. Therefore, the best option is actually "fatigued," which means very tired.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Activity And Energy

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

TEDIOUS

Possible Answers:

Surprising

Normal

Boring

Irritating

Explanatory

Correct answer:

Boring

Explanation:

When something is "tedious," it is very boring. Often, this is because it is a repetitive thing, like a task that we have to do over and over again. The main meaning, however, of "tedious" is dull or boring.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Activity And Energy

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

WEARIED

Possible Answers:

Sore

Careful

Aching

Fatigued

Exercised

Correct answer:

Fatigued

Explanation:

When someone is "weary," he or she is tired. Some times, we are tired because we have worked very hard physically. This might tempt you to pick "sore" or "aching," but "weariness" is tiredness. Therefore, the best option is actually "fatigued," which means very tired.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

A synonym of "famished" is __________.

Possible Answers:

exceptional

satiated

ravenous

futuristic

gigantic

Correct answer:

ravenous

Explanation:

"Famished" is an adjective that means "extremely hungry," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "extremely hungry." "Satiated," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "satiated" means "satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "famished." "Ravenous," however, is an adjective that means "extremely hungry" or when referring to hunger or need, "very great; voracious." Because "ravenous" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "famished," "ravenous" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

RAVENOUS

Possible Answers:

Content

Hungry

Colorful

Overwhelmed

Correct answer:

Hungry

Explanation:

When someone is "ravenous," they are very hungry, often in a ferocious way. If you've ever said you were "starving," or eaten your dinner in a matter of minutes, you've probably felt ravenous before. When a person is "content," he or she is happy with his current situation, which would not be the case if he were uncomfortably hungry. An "overwhelmed" person feels like he or she has been overcome by responsibility or feelings, and "colorful" simply means containing many colors or is used to refer to an interesting person.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

ABRUPT

Possible Answers:

Benevolent

Proud

Sudden

Tiresome

Correct answer:

Sudden

Explanation:

"Abrupt" is an adjective that means sudden and unexpected. So, the answer choice closest in meaning to "abrupt" is "sudden", an adjective that means occuring unexpectedly. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "abrupt": "tiresome" means causing one to feel bored; "proud" means feeling satisfaction over achievements; and "benevolent" means kind.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

RASH

Possible Answers:

Poor

Rich 

Sluggish

Hasty 

Vibrant 

Correct answer:

Hasty 

Explanation:

“Rash,” when used to describe an action, means hasty, rushed. To provide further help, “sluggish” means tired, lacking energy; “vibrant” means bright and colorful

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

EERIE

Possible Answers:

Reassuring

Weird

Soothing

Usual

Correct answer:

Weird

Explanation:

"Soothing" and "reassuring" are synonyms, so go ahead and eliminate them. "Usual" means normal or everyday. "Eerie" means strange or creepy. "Weird" has the closest meaning to "eerie," so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

EXEMPT

Possible Answers:

Dismiss

Free

Incorporate

Restrain

Correct answer:

Free

Explanation:

If someone is "exempt" from something, such as chores or taxes, it means they are excused fromfree from, or not subject to doing the chores or paying the taxes; so, "excused" is the correct answer. "Exempt" has a meaning different from that of "dismiss," which means send away, "incorporate," which means include as part of a larger thing, and "restrain," which means prevent or control.

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