ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #731 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ATTAIN

Possible Answers:

Persevere

Obtain

Abandon

Obscure

Overcome

Correct answer:

Obtain

Explanation:

By "attaining" something, like a dream or goal, you obtain it or accomplish it.

Example Question #732 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ABOLISH

Possible Answers:

Leave

Begin

Arrive

Continue

End

Correct answer:

End

Explanation:

"Abolish" is a verb that means formally put an end to a rule or manner of acting. So, we need to pick out a word that means something like put an end to. "End," when used as a verb, means stop, so "end" is the best answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "abolish."

Example Question #733 : Identifying Synonyms

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

NULLIFY

Possible Answers:

Void

Warn

Uphold

Compliment

Describe

Correct answer:

Void

Explanation:

"Nullify" is a verb that means "make legally null and void; invalidate" or "make of no use or value; cancel out." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "invalidate" or "cancel out." "Uphold," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "uphold" is a verb that means "confirm or support (something that has been questioned)" or "maintain (a custom or practice)," making "uphold" an antonym, not a synonym, of "nullify." "Void," however, when used as an adjective, means " declare that (something) is not valid or legally binding" or "discharge or drain away (water, gases, etc.)." Because "void" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "nullify," "void" is the correct answer.

Example Question #734 : Identifying Synonyms

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

REGULATE

Possible Answers:

Monitor

Attack

Return

Persecute

Correct answer:

Monitor

Explanation:

A "regulation" is a type of limitation or a kind of rule that is set for some activity. For instance, when someone builds a power plant, it must have certain kinds of "scrubbers" to reduce the pollution that comes out of the plant's smoke stacks. These scrubbers are required because of regulations that have been put in place by the government. When used as a verb, to "regulate" means to watch over the regulations or merely to watch over. When we "monitor" something, we watch its progress. The word "monitor" is often used as a noun to describe the person or thing which is monitoring. A "hall monitor" is someone who watches the halls in a school to make sure that nothing bad happens. A computer monitor—the screen—is what allows you to watch a digital display of the computer's processes.

Example Question #735 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ABOLISH

Possible Answers:

Decree

Begin

Law

End

Institute

Correct answer:

End

Explanation:

To "abolish" means to end, ban, or completely do away with something, such as a law. To "abolish" can mean to end, so "end" is the best match.

Example Question #736 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DESIST

Possible Answers:

Complain 

Carp 

Forbid 

Prevent 

Stop 

Correct answer:

Stop 

Explanation:

“Desist” means to stop or to make something stop. To provide further help, “forbid” means ban, not allow; “prevent” means stop something from happening before it happens; “carp” means complain

Example Question #737 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ADHERE

Possible Answers:

Stick

Eliminate

Sample

Conquer

Surpass

Correct answer:

Stick

Explanation:

"Adhere" means stick or cling to, so "stick" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "adhere": "eliminate" means remove or get rid of; "surpass" means exceed or go beyond; "conquer" means take over an area or defeat others; and "sample," when used as a verb, can mean try something.

Example Question #738 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ANTICIPATE

Possible Answers:

Predict

Mingle

Overtake

Surprise

Handle

Correct answer:

Predict

Explanation:

"Anticipate" is a verb that means "regard as probable; expect or predict," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "regard as possible." "Surprise" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "surprise" can mean " capture, attack, or discover suddenly and unexpectedly; catch unawares," so if an event surprises someone, that person was obviously not anticipating the event. "Predict," however, is a verb that means "say or estimate that (a specified thing) will happen in the future or will be a consequence of something," and because "predict" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "anticipate," "predict" is the correct answer.

Example Question #911 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

DEPRIVE

Possible Answers:

Allow

Deplore

Concede

Contend

Deny

Correct answer:

Deny

Explanation:

To “deprive” someone of something means to not let them have that thing, to “deny” them. The word “allow” means the opposite of “deprive” and “deny.” The word “deplore” means to hate someone or something. The word “contend” means to argue something. The word “concede” means to give up, to stop trying, or to admit you are wrong.

Example Question #912 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

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

CURTAIL

Possible Answers:

Block

Follow

Demand

Yearn

Limit

Correct answer:

Limit

Explanation:

To "curtail" something is to reduce its current degree or prevent it from expanding as much as it might have otherwise. The correct answer is thus "limit." If you associated "curtail" with "tail," you may have chosen "follow," but "curtail" does not mean the same thing as "tail," so "follow" is incorrect.

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