ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

ARGUMENTATIVE

Possible Answers:

Decisive

Rational

Deliberate

Disputatious

Reasonable

Correct answer:

Disputatious

Explanation:

When someone is called "argumentative," he or she is being described as prone to having arguments. Such a person takes delight in arguing for one side of a topic against someone else. When two people disagree in this way, they are "disputatious" in character. That is, they like to dispute things. Thus, this word—"disputatious'—is the best option for a synonym. Though people who argue may be using reasoned arguments, to be "rational" or "reasonable" generally indicates that the person is "measured" and not just "arguing for the sake of arguing."

Example Question #92 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

LETHARGIC

Possible Answers:

Lifeless

Foolhardy

Indulgent

Idiotic

Associated

Correct answer:

Lifeless

Explanation:

The word "lethargic" is just one of those words that are best memorized. It means, sluggish or having or showing little energy. The abstract noun for the state of being "lethargic" is "lethargy." Thus, the best option among the options given is "lifeless." Someone who is sluggish is also rather lifeless. The word "indulgent" may be confused with "indolent," which means lazy, but "indulgent" actually means, allowing someone to have pleasures (often to an excess). We "indulge" in the pleasure of chocolate when we eat a lot of it.

Example Question #93 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

TIMID

Possible Answers:

Hushed

Tranquil

Shy

Unimportant

Fearful

Correct answer:

Fearful

Explanation:

When someone is "timid," he or she is fearful. Often, such a person is shy and unlikely to engage in activity in crowds; however, the essence of being timid is the fearfulness involved in it. Thus, the best option among those given is "fearful." This might seem too strong, but because it is closer to the basic meaning of the word, it is a better choice than the tempting options "shy" and "hushed."

Example Question #94 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

FRENZIED

Possible Answers:

Enraged

Cold

Outspoken

Elated

Wild

Correct answer:

Wild

Explanation:

A "frenzy" is a wild situation, filled with a lot of energy, excitement, and disorder. When someone is "frenzied," he or she has uses lot of such energy and thus is rightly described as being "wild." We might say, "Because of all the work he had to do that night, Bill was in a frenzied state, quickly passing from one task to another with little attention or care." Someone who is "frenzied" does not have to be "angry," though often an angry person might become frenzied in his or her demeanor!

Example Question #704 : Synonyms

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

ASSERTIVE

Possible Answers:

Confident

Egocentric

Irate

Heated

Arrogant

Correct answer:

Confident

Explanation:

When we "assert" something, we state that it is the case, boldly and clearly. For instance, I might say, "I continued to assert the fact that I had finished the homework, even though my teacher did not believe me." The idea is that we are confident in what we assert and do not back down from asserting it. Thus, someone who has an assertive personality can be very "pushy," but he or she also can be confident. If someone is confident that he or she is right (or has a set of skills or something else), it is likely that he or she will assert what he or she believes to be truly the case. Thus, among the options given, the best one is "confident." An assertive person by no means needs to be angry ("irate"), "arrogant," or "egocentric." We tend to think of assertive people as being any one of these, but the primary meaning of the word indicates confidence, energy, and assurance.

Example Question #96 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

ELATED

Possible Answers:

Cheerful

Content

Happy

Joyful

Thrilled

Correct answer:

Thrilled

Explanation:

This question is very easy, so long as you don't get tripped up. All of these words are roughly synonymous; however, there is one important thing to note: the word "elated" means overjoyed or very joyful. Therefore, the best option will be the one that expresses this idea of being overjoyed. Only "thrilled" does this.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

A synonym of "eloquent" is __________.

Possible Answers:

limber

articulate

argumentative

passive

glib

Correct answer:

articulate

Explanation:

"Eloquent" is an adjective that means "fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing" or "clearly expressing or indicating something," so we need to pick out another adjective that means something like "fluent in speech or writing." "Glib" might look like a close synonym of "eloquent," as "glib" means "fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow," and is used to describe words or the person speaking them; however, "articulate" is the better answer, because "articulate" also describes a person or their words and means "having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently." Because articulate does not include any negative connotations like "glib" does (in meaning "insincere and shallow"), "articulate" is the closer synonym to "eloquent" and the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

A synonym of "pompous" is __________.

Possible Answers:

wobbly

recycled

sententious

important

ashamed

Correct answer:

sententious

Explanation:

"Pompous" is an adjective meaning "affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important." While "important" may look like a good answer because someone who is pompous merely thinks they are important, "important" and "pompous" are not synonyms, so "important" cannot be the correct answer. "Sententious," however, is an adjective that means "given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner," and the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "pompous."

Example Question #91 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "brash" is __________.

Possible Answers:

gregarious

demanding

insolent

lenient

refined

Correct answer:

insolent

Explanation:

"Brash" is an adjective that can mean "self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way," "strong, energetic, or irreverent," or when describing a place or a thing, "having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance." "Gregarious" means "fond of company; sociable," so it can't be the correct answer, and while "interruptive" and "demanding" are both nearer in meaning to "brash" than "gregarious" is, neither of them are synonymous with "brash." "Insolent," an adjective that means "showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect," is the closest synonym to "brash" amongst the listed answer choices, so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

A synonym of "benign" is __________.

Possible Answers:

warmhearted

hurried

bewildered

beneficial

plausible

Correct answer:

warmhearted

Explanation:

"Benign" is an adjective that can take on several meanings: "gentle; kindly," "mild and favorable" when used to describe a climate or environment, "not harmful to the environment" or, when used of a disease, "not harmful in effect: in particular, not malignant (when describing a tumor)." While "bewildered" and "beneficial" might each start with "be-" like "benign" does, neither word is synonymous with any of the meanings of "benign," so neither "bewildered" nor "beneficial" can be the correct answer. "Warmhearted," however, is an adjective that means "sympathetic and kind" and is used of a person or their actions, and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "benign," it is the correct answer.

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