All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTERIOR
Inside
Complete
Amplified
Outgoing
Pensive
Inside
The prefix "in-" here means inside, so the word “interior” means having to do with or located inside of something, making "inside" the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXTRACT
Remove
Persuade
Expect
Applaud
Inter
Remove
The prefix "ex-" can mean out, so it makes sense that "extract" means pull out of someone or something. For example, if one of your teeth became infected, you would probably have a dentist extract the infected tooth—that is, pull it out. Just because "expect" and "extract" both begin with "ex-" doesn't mean they are synonyms—in "expect," the "ex-" isn't functioning to mean out; it just intensifies another root's meaning. (To "inter" something or someone is to bury that thing or person.)
Example Question #3 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IRRESPONSIBLE
Mature
Immature
Immense
Miniature
Gigantic
Immature
The prefixes "ir-" and "im-" mean not, so it makes sense that "irresponsible" means not responsible and “immature” means not mature. If you are “responsible,” you are mature and dependable. “Immense” means massive or very large. “Immense” is a synonym of “gigantic,” and an antonym of “miniature.” “Gigantic” means very big and “miniature” means very small.
Example Question #4 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SUPERIOR
Better
Worse
Found
Lost
Worst
Better
The prefix "super-" means better or best, so it makes sense that “superior” means better than something else. If you really like chocolate chip cookies, you might claim that they are "superior to" all other kinds of cookies.
Example Question #5 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NONFICTIONAL
Mocking
False
True
Fraudulent
Adapted
True
The prefix "non-" means not, so “nonfictional” describes a story that is not fictional, or in other words, true and based on things that really existed or happened. Something that is “false” is not true; an “adapted” means transferred from one medium to another, e.g. a movie adaptation of a book; “mocking” means ridiculing and taunting; and “fraudulent” means pretending to be authentic while actually being inauthentic.
Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PREPARED
Emergency
Fortunate
Desolate
Ready
Unintentional
Ready
The prefix "pre-" means before, so it makes sense that "prepared" means ready for something before it happens or having been made before needed. "Ready" is thus the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, "desolate" means uninhabited and stark; "fortunate" means lucky; "unintentional" means not done on purpose or unwitting; and "emergency," when used as an adjective, means reserved for use during emergencies.
Example Question #7 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
POSTPONE
Intend
Dispel
Commence
Desire
Delay
Delay
The prefix "post-" means after or behind, so it makes sense that "postpone" means delay, especially until a defined time after something occurs. As for the other answer choices, “commence” means begin or start up; “intend” means purposely mean to do something; “desire” means want; and “dispel” means get rid of some type of bad feeling.
Example Question #8 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MISBEHAVE
Discover
Disobey
Adhere
Declare
Uncover
Disobey
The prefix "mis-" can mean not or wrong, so it makes sense that to "misbehave" means to behave badly or to do the wrong thing, or “disobey.” As for the other answer choices, "adhere" means listen to or obey when used in the context of rules, and stick to when used in the context of physical materials; “discover” means find or find out; “uncover” means show, reveal, or bring out from hiding; and "declare" means state or make known.
Example Question #9 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
OPTIMUM
Least
Primary
Secondary
Best
Worst
Best
The “optimum” thing in a group of things or set of choices is is the best one. “Primary” means coming first in a sequence or most important and “secondary” means coming second in a sequence or of lesser importance than other things.
Example Question #10 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXTRAORDINARY
Pitiable
Unique
Persistent
Incredible
Despicable
Incredible
The prefix "extra-" means beyond, so it makes sense that “extraordinary” means beyond ordinary, or "incredible." As for the other answer choices, “unique” means one-of-a-kind or different; “despicable” means evil or terrible and thus deserving to be hated; "persistent" means stubborn or continuing; and "pitiable" means evoking emotions of feeling sorry for something or someone.
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