ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #212 : Synonyms: Adjectives

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

OBVIOUS

Possible Answers:

Regular

Clear

Foolish

Minor

Delightful

Correct answer:

Clear

Explanation:

When something is "obvious," it doesn't take much work to discover it. For example, your friend might look out the window and say, "There is a world out there." Perhaps, the same friend could tell you, "The leaves are on the outside of the tree." In both of these cases, you can say, "That's obvious!" Thus, we can say that a synonym for "obvious" is "clear." We do use "clear" to describe something that does not need to be explained. Think of when your teacher or parent asks, "Am I clear about this?"  He or she means, "Do you understand me completely?  Is my point now totally obvious?"

Example Question #213 : Synonyms: Adjectives

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

ENLIGHTENING

Possible Answers:

Informative

Polar

Grammatical

Lunar

Scholarly

Correct answer:

Informative

Explanation:

The word "enlightening" comes from the word light, but it is used in a metaphorical sense. It means making something understandable. Think of when we say, "That was an enlightening explanation."It is like the explanation "shines" and makes its topic obvious. The best option for this is "informative," for informative things or actions help to explain something else.

Example Question #214 : Synonyms: Adjectives

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

IGNORANT

Possible Answers:

Studying

Failure

Uninformed

Embarrassed

Learning

Correct answer:

Uninformed

Explanation:

When someone is "ignorant," he or she does not know something. Thus, we can be "ignorant" of someone's name, meaning that we do not know it. Now, when we just say that someone is "ignorant" without any particular reason or explanation, we mean to say that the person is rather ill-informed. He or she is ignorant of things that he or she should know. Therefore, the best option that we have here is "uninformed." This can apply to both senses. None of the other options really express this idea of not knowing something.

Example Question #215 : Synonyms: Adjectives

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

PLANNED

Possible Answers:

Arrogant

Financial

Eliminated

Deliberate

Inexpensive

Correct answer:

Deliberate

Explanation:

When something is "planned out," we actively make sure that we think through the steps involved. "Intentional activity" is this kind of planned activity. Maybe you have heard something like, "He unintentionally bumped into the old man." This means that the person bumped into the old man without planning to do so. To do something intentionally is to plan it out before executing it.

Example Question #216 : Synonyms: Adjectives

What is a synonym for fictional?

Possible Answers:

amusing

realistic

entertaining

focused

imaginary

Correct answer:

imaginary

Explanation:

Fiction is a particular kind of literature.  A fictional story is one that is made up.  This could be a novel or just a short story.  However, what is true of all fiction is that it doesn't repeat facts about reality.   That kind of writing is non-fiction!  The word "fiction" comes from the Latin "to make."   Thus, the best option for "fictional" is "imaginary."

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Value, And Rarity

A synonym of "singular" is __________.

Possible Answers:

expected

everyday

light

peculiar

plural

Correct answer:

peculiar

Explanation:

"Singular" is an adjective that can mean "exceptionally good or great; remarkable," or "strange and eccentric in some respect." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "remarkable" or "eccentric." Neither "expected" nor "everyday" can be the correct answer, then, because each of these answer choices is an antonym of "eccentric." "Peculiar," however, is an adjective that means "strange or odd; unusual," and because it is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "singular," "peculiar" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Value, And Rarity

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

MAGNIFICENT

Possible Answers:

Wander

Frank

Austere

Splendid

Correct answer:

Splendid

Explanation:

"Magnificent" means exceptional in appearance or amazing. "Splendid" is the best choice because it also means exceptional in appearance. Considering the other choices, "austere" means strict or serious, "wander" means walk without a definite purpose, and "frank" means direct and unreserved in speech.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Value, And Rarity

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

PATHETIC

Possible Answers:

useful

useless

suspicious

hopeful

despondent

Correct answer:

useless

Explanation:

Pathetic means good for nothing, useless. To further help you, despondent means very sad and without hope; suspicious means showing doubt, acting sneaky.

Example Question #391 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DANDY

Possible Answers:

Normal

Tasteful

Terrific

Useful

Correct answer:

Terrific

Explanation:

One of the meanings of "dandy" is excellent. The best choice is "terrific" because it is a synonym of "excellent."

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Value, And Rarity

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

SUPERB

Possible Answers:

Average

Excellent 

Outrageous 

Mediocre

Poor

Correct answer:

Excellent 

Explanation:

“Superb” means excellent or close to perfect, so "excellent" is the correct answer. To provide further help, “mediocre” means average when higher quality was expected, and “outrageous” means disgraceful and shocking.

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