All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #168 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TRIAL
Manufactured
Difficulty
Sadness
Greeting
Surprise
Difficulty
The word "trial" has several meanings. It can mean attempt, as when we talk about a "trial run." This is a first attempt before we actually do something. We can have a trial run of a new machine to see if it works well enough. A "trial" can also be a difficulty. Have you ever heard someone speak of something that is "trying"? It is in this sense that "trial" can mean "difficult."
Example Question #169 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FURY
Anger
Displeasure
Sadness
Rage
Sorrow
Rage
For this question, you need to match the intensity of "fury." Whenever we are "furious," we are not merely annoyed. We are very angry. Therefore, the best answer is "rage." When we speak of someone's "rage," we are talking about his or her extreme anger.
Example Question #170 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CONSEQUENCES
Delivery
Amazement
Punishment
Outcome
Awareness
Outcome
The "consequences" of an action are the results that happen because of that action. Interestingly, the word comes from roots that literally mean what follows after something else. We most often think of negative consequences. Hence, the option "punishment" is likely tempting; however, "consequences" are better called "outcomes"—there can be positive as well as negative consequences. This is the best option among those provided.
Example Question #171 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEBACLE
Process
Disaster
Success
Party
Fight
Disaster
"Debacle" means a total and complete failure. Therefore, the closest word to this would be a "disaster." A disaster would be considered a failure.
Example Question #211 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FRAGILE
Firm
Robust
Logical
Breakable
Stern
Breakable
“Fragile” means easy to break or "breakable." As for the other answer choices, “robust” means sturdy and strong; “stern” means enforcing the rules or strict; “firm” means strong or hard and not easily forced into a different shape; “logical” means rational or not breaking any of the rules of formal logic.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Materiality
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FIRM
Joyful
Ignorant
Solid
Lively
Angry
Solid
The word "firm" is an adjective used to describe something that is physically solid. For example, a firm pillow is one that is somewhat hard—as opposed to a very soft pillow. Sometimes, too, this word is used to describe someone's actions. For example, to say, "He was firm about his wish to have at least eight hours of sleep," means that the person did not give up his desire for the sleep (even if others protested).
Example Question #381 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COMPACT
Pushy
Organized
Dense
Regular
Slippery
Dense
The word "compact" comes from root words meaning joined together. When we compact our garbage, we compress it into a small space. When we describe the garbage as being "compact," we are indicating that it is very densely packed together. "Dense" things do not have much air space. The same is true for compact materials.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, And Size
Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COLOSSAL:
diminutive
immense
magnificent
perilous
beneficial
immense
If something is colossal, it means that it is massive or immense. For example, a mistake can be colossal if it is large.
Example Question #221 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "immense" is __________.
puny
excited
quiet
meddlesome
gargantuan
gargantuan
"Immense" is an adjective that means "extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "very big." That means that "puny" can't be the correct answer, because "puny" means "small and weak" or "poor in quality, amount, or size," so "puny" is an antonym of "immense." "Gargantuan," however, is an adjective that means "enormous," so "gargantuan" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "immense."
Example Question #222 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of “diminutive” is __________.
minute
subpar
enormous
fragrant
tremulous
minute
“Diminutive” is an adjective that means “extremely small,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “very small.” That means that “enormous” cannot be the correct answer, because “enormous” means “very large in size, quantity, or extent,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “diminutive.” “Minute,” however, is a word that means “extremely small” when used as an adjective, and because “minute” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “diminutive,” “minute” is the correct answer.
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All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
