ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

CREDIBLE

Possible Answers:

Doable

Reliable

Sociable

Daring

Correct answer:

Reliable

Explanation:

"Credible" means believable or trustworthy. The best choice is "reliable" because it also means trustworthy. Considering the other choices, "doable" means able to be done, "sociable" means friendly, and "daring" means courageous. 

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DUBIOUS

Possible Answers:

Doubtful

Double

Wrong

Hasty

Correct answer:

Doubtful

Explanation:

The word "dubious" means doubtful or untrustworthy. The best choice is "doubtful" because it is part of the definition of "dubious." Considering the other choices, "double" means two of something, "wrong" means not correct, and "hasty" means quick.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

OBSCURE

Possible Answers:

Show

Depict

Hide

Reveal

Display

Correct answer:

Hide

Explanation:

Obscure can be used as a verb or an adjective. As an adjective, it means hard to understand; as a verb, it means to hide. To further help you, reveal means to make known; display means to show; depict means to represent.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

INCOHERENT

Possible Answers:

Unable to be killed

Unable to be happy

Unable to get married 

Unable to be understood

Unable to be employed

Correct answer:

Unable to be understood

Explanation:

"Incoherent" describes someone or something that is unable to be understood.

Example Question #521 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

PERSUASIVE

Possible Answers:

Convincing

False

Weak

Extraordinary

Correct answer:

Convincing

Explanation:

"Persuasive" is an adjective that means good at convincing others to adopt your viewpoint. So, the answer choice closest in meaning to "persuasive" is "convincing," an adjective that means capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "persuasive": "weak" means lacking power; "false" means not true; and "extraordinary" means very unusual or remarkable.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

AUTHENTIC

Possible Answers:

Striated

Genuine

Flagrant

Fraudulent

Correct answer:

Genuine

Explanation:

If an object is "authentic," it actually is what it is supposed to be as opposed to fake. For example, if a dinosaur bone found at a dig site is found to be authentic, then it truly is a dinosaur bone and not a hoax. "Fraudulent" is clearly wrong, since it is synonymous with "fake" and therefore an antonym. "Striated" means striped and "flagrant" means conspicuous or bold, especially when referring to an offense; these words are also improper choices. Our final answer, the correct one, is "genuine," which means real or authentic.

Example Question #522 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DECEPTIVE

Possible Answers:

Wicked

Vicious

Problematic

Thieving

Misleading

Correct answer:

Misleading

Explanation:

When you deceive someone, you lie to them. Therefore, the word "deceptive" is an adjective describing someone who is a liar or something that misrepresents the truth. The word can also be used to describe a situation that misrepresents the general truth of a matter. For example, a "deceptive laugh" is one that really is not a laugh—like when someone laughs without really being happy (perhaps to fit in). Also, a big piece of cake could look "deceptively tasty," though it might really be disgusting and poorly made. The look of the cake deceives by making us think it is good.

While being deceptive is a character flaw, it does not mean "vicious" or "wicked." "Deceptive" indicates that something lies or at least misrepresents the truth.  That means that "misleading" is the best option among the answer choices given.

Example Question #532 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

A synonym of "improbable" is __________.

Possible Answers:

moist

unlikely

boisterous

expected

veritable

Correct answer:

unlikely

Explanation:

"Improbable" is an adjective that means either "not likely to be true or to happen" or "unexpected and apparently inauthentic." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "not likely." "Expected" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "expected" means "regarded as likely to happen," making it an antonym, not a synonym, or "improbable." "Unlikely," however, is an adjective that means "not likely to happen, be done, or be true; improbable," and because "unlikely" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "improbable," "unlikely" is the correct answer.

Example Question #533 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

INCREDIBLE

Possible Answers:

Recognizable

Edible

Acceptable

Unbelievable

Correct answer:

Unbelievable

Explanation:

"Incredible" means not able to be believed. "Unbelievable" is a synonym of "incredible." None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "incredible": "recognizable" means able to be recognized or noticeable; "acceptable" means passable or just meeting a standard; and "edible" means able to be eaten.

Example Question #534 : Isee Lower Level (Grades 5 6) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

IMPLICIT

Possible Answers:

Implicated

Impecunious

Implacable

Implied

Correct answer:

Implied

Explanation:

"Implicit" is an adjective that means recognized but not actually stated. So, the best answer choice is "implied," which also means recognized but not actually stated. While all of the incorrect answer choices also begin with "im-," none of them are close in meaning to "implicit": "implicated" means accused of a crime; "implacable" means unable to be appeased; and "impecunious" means having no money or very poor.

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