All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #993 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ACUTE
Translucent
Opaque
Obtuse
Transparent
Sharp
Sharp
“Acute” can be used to describe a person in which case it refers to someone who is sharp-minded or quick-witted, or it can be used to describe an angle in a triangle, in which case it means measuring less than ninety degrees. When an angle is exactly ninety degrees we call it a “right” angle; when it is greater than ninety degrees we call it an “obtuse” angle. Just like how either a person or an angle can be “acute,” so too can a person or an angle be “obtuse." When a person is “obtuse,” we say they are dull-minded or slow-witted, or in other words, not easily understanding things that most other people understand. To provide further help, “transparent” means able to been seen through, “translucent” means partially able to be seen through, and “opaque” means unable to be seen through. The three words are used to describe how light passes through objects. A window is “transparent,” the ocean is “translucent,” and a brick wall is “opaque.”
Example Question #994 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FRANK
Emotional
Confident
Critical
Determined
Candid
Candid
"Frank" means honest, upfront, or candid, so "candid" is the synonym.
Example Question #443 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CRYPTIC
Frightening
Ghostly
Unfortunate
Somber
Mysterious
Mysterious
“Cryptic” derives from the Greek word for "secret," so it makes sense that it means difficult to understand or having a hidden or secret meaning. "Mysterious" is thus the best answer. “Potent” means strong and powerful and is often used to describe medicine and solutions; “unfortunate” means unlucky, not fortunate; and "ghostly" means like a ghost or spectral; "somber" means severe, serious, and gloomy.
Example Question #444 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.
APOCRYPHAL
Honest
Succinct
Mythical
Foolish
Accurate
Mythical
An “apocryphal” story is one that is probably not true, but widely believed to be true. This is closest in definition to "mythical." To provide further guidance, "foolish" means not clever, stupid; "succinct" means expressed clearly in as few words as possible; "accurate" means exact, precise, on target.
Example Question #445 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to that of the word in capital letters.
SALIENT
discounted
prominent
different
salty
prominent
The word "salient" comes from a Latin word meaning to leap. If someone makes a salient point, it's as if that point is leaping out at you, leading to its meaning of prominent or relevant. Don't be deceived by false cognates, such as "saline" (salty), or "sale" (discounted).
Example Question #446 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
A synonym of "erroneous" is __________.
simple
mistaken
correct
fallible
complex
mistaken
"Erroneous" is an adjective that means "wrong; incorrect," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "wrong." "Correct," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "correct" is an antonym of "erroneous," not a synonym. "Mistaken," however, is an adjective that means either "wrong in one's opinion or judgment" or especially of a belief, "based on or resulting from a misunderstanding or faulty judgment." Because "mistaken" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "erroneous," "mistaken" is the correct answer.
Example Question #447 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
COVERT
Illegal
Federal
Hidden
Distasteful
Thematic
Hidden
Something that is "covert" is hidden, or more specifically, hidden from the general public. For example, some police officers will walk around public places in a covert manner so that they can more easily find unsuspecting criminals without being identified as police officers. So, "hidden" is the correct answer.
Example Question #448 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
SALIENT
Significant
Circumstantial
Exquisite
Irrelevant
Unstable
Significant
"Salient" means significant or noteworthy. To help you, "irrelevant" means not important and is an antonym of "salient." To further help you, "unstable" means not balanced, mentally unbalanced, prone to experiencing problems of a psychiatric nature, or volatile; circumstantial means accidental or owed to circumstance; and "exquisite" means perfect, divine, or gorgeous.
Example Question #1001 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
fragile
certain
Example Question #1002 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
AMBIGUOUS
Vague
Unusual
Alien
Frustrating
Unsure
Vague
"Ambiguous" means "vague," or indefinite and undefined.
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