ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Identifying Synonyms

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

INTRUDER

Possible Answers:

Legality

Invader

Burglar

Robber

Criminal

Correct answer:

Invader

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Invader

Criminal

Thief

Prisoner

Villain

Correct answer:

Thief

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

herald

peasant

despot

prince

king

Correct answer:

despot

Explanation:

"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

Possible Answers:

Relative

Coworker

Element

Slave

Section

Correct answer:

Coworker

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Tyrants 

Lawyers 

Pests

Quacks

Animals

Correct answer:

Pests

Explanation:

“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

Possible Answers:

Horse

Dog

Subway

Cat

Car

Correct answer:

Cat

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

creation

tranquility

understanding

calamity

veracity

Correct answer:

calamity

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

measurement

tidiness

devastation

complaint

memory

Correct answer:

devastation

Explanation:

"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

Possible Answers:

Danger

Safety

Hurry

Calm

Correct answer:

Danger

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Disaster

Numbness

Boredom

Success

Correct answer:

Disaster

Explanation:

"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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