All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #71 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTRUDER
Legality
Invader
Burglar
Robber
Criminal
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 #72 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BURGLAR
Invader
Criminal
Thief
Prisoner
Villain
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 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "tyrant" is __________.
herald
peasant
despot
prince
king
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 #73 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PARTNER
Relative
Coworker
Element
Slave
Section
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.
Example Question #74 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VERMIN
Tyrants
Lawyers
Pests
Quacks
Animals
Pests
“Vermin” are pests. For instance, rats and mosquitos could be considered vermin. To provide further help, a “lawyer” is someone who understands and practices the law; a “tyrant” is a ruler whose power is absolute is often cruel to his people; a “quack” is a phony.
Example Question #75 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FELINE
Horse
Dog
Subway
Cat
Car
Cat
A "feline" is another word for a "cat." "Canine" is a similar synonym for "dog," and "equine" is a similar synonym for "horse." As a word "feline" has no relation to subways or cars.
Example Question #76 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "catastrophe" is __________.
creation
tranquility
understanding
calamity
veracity
calamity
"Catastrophe" is a noun that means "an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "disaster." "Tranquility" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "tranquility" means "the quality or state of being tranquil; calm," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "catastrophe." "Calamity," however, is a noun that means "an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster," and because "calamity" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "catastrophe," "calamity" is the correct answer.
Example Question #78 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "havoc" is __________.
measurement
tidiness
devastation
complaint
memory
devastation
"Havoc" is a noun that means either "widespread destruction" or "great confusion or disorder." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "destruction" or "disorder." So, "tidiness" cannot be the correct answer, because "tidiness" means "the quality of being not messy, but neat and controlled," making "tidiness" an antonym, not a synonym, of "havoc." "Devastation," however, is a noun that means "great destruction or damage" or "severe and overwhelming shock or grief," and because "devastation" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "havoc," "devastation" is the correct answer.
Example Question #77 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
THREAT
Danger
Safety
Hurry
Calm
Danger
The correct answer is "danger," because both "threat" and "danger" mean something that can potentially harm someone. "Safety" is an opposite of "danger," and the other two words do not have to do with "threat."
Example Question #78 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
FIASCO
Disaster
Numbness
Boredom
Success
Disaster
"Fiasco" is another word for an event that fails in a disastrous way. You might call your birthday party a fiasco if it rains all day, everyone gets lost on the way to your house, and the ice cream melts—in other words, if everything goes wrong. So, "disaster" is the word that we're looking for here. "Success" implies that the event went well, and both "boredom" and "numbness" imply a lack of interest or feeling about the situation.
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