ISEE Middle Level Verbal : ISEE Middle Level (grades 7-8) Verbal Reasoning

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #461 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

PRESERVE

Possible Answers:

Lend

Demand

Donate

Maintain

Supplant

Correct answer:

Maintain

Explanation:

The Latin suffix -serv means to keep, to save. So, "preserve" means to save something for the future, to maintain something. To provide additional help, "donate" means give to, usually give to charity; "lend" means allow to borrow; "supplant" means replace.

Example Question #462 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

CONSTRUCT

Possible Answers:

Destroy

Build

Drive

Lift

Plead

Correct answer:

Build

Explanation:

The Latin root -struct- means build. So, to "construct" means to build. Another example of a -struct- word is "destruct," which means to destroy something that has been built. Additionally, "plead" means beg, urge

Example Question #463 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

PERSONIFY

Possible Answers:

Customize

Humanize

Elate

Symbolize

Aggressive

Correct answer:

Symbolize

Explanation:

Notice the little ending on the word "personify." The "-fy" suffix is part of a large family of suffixes and "infixes" (little parts that come inside of words) such as "-fication," "-fac-," and so forth. In general, "-fy" means to do or to make. To "personify" something is to make it a person. Okay, that is a bit strange. But what it means is that one thing makes another thing present in some way. It represents that other thing. Thus, if we say, "Peter personified the very essence of greed," this means that Peter made present the very essence of greed in his person. Thus, "symbolize" is an excellent option.

Example Question #464 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

EFFICIENT

Possible Answers:

Swift

Expensive

Renowned

Rapid

Productive

Correct answer:

Productive

Explanation:

We tend to think of efficient people as being quick at what they do. This is often the case, but the word "efficient" is above all about being able to get things done. It comes from the same Latin root from which we get the suffix "-fy" / "-fication" and several other related forms. All of these mean to do or make. Thus, it is best to use the word "efficient" to refer to someone who is "productive." If a project is just very slow-going, an efficient person may therefore move slowly through the work. However, so long as he or she does it in a productive manner, he or she deserves to be called "efficient."

Example Question #465 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

PESTICIDE

Possible Answers:

Rat feeder

Insect tracker

Insect killer

Insect feeder

Rat tracker

Correct answer:

Insect killer

Explanation:

The suffix "-cide" means related to killing and the prefix "pest-" means related to pests, such as insects or rats. In this instance, since there is no option for “rat killer” the correct answer is “insect killer.”

Example Question #466 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.

ANGLOPHONE

Possible Answers:

Good-humored

Fishing trip

English-speaking

Cell phone

Ill-equipped

Correct answer:

English-speaking

Explanation:

An "anglophone" is someone who speaks English. The prefix anglo- always suggets at a relationship between the word and England, and the suffix -phone relates to language or speaking. To provide further help, "ill-equipped" means not prepared.

Example Question #461 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

XENOPHOBIA

Possible Answers:

Rescind

Sway

Careful

Prejudice

Correct answer:

Prejudice

Explanation:

"Xenophobia" is unreasonable hatred of strangers or foreigners. The best choice is "prejudice" because it means unreasonable feelings, typically negative, towards a particular thing, person, or group. Considering the other choices, "rescind" means take back, "sway" means move back and forth, and "careful" means cautious.

Example Question #467 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

GRAPHOLOGY

Possible Answers:

Study of chemical reactions

Study of statistics

Study of man

Study of writing

Study of language

Correct answer:

Study of writing

Explanation:

The prefix "graph-" means writing and the suffix "-ology" means study of, so “graphology” is the study of writing.

Example Question #468 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

ARACHNOPHOBIA

Possible Answers:

Fear of old age

Fear of animals

Fear of babies

Fear of spiders

Fear of people

Correct answer:

Fear of spiders

Explanation:

The suffix "-phobia" means fear of and the prefix "arachno-" means related to spiders, so “arachnophobia” is a fear of spiders.

Example Question #462 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

ANTHROPOLOGY

Possible Answers:

The study of art 

The study of mammals 

The study of mankind

The study of rock formations

The study of ants

Correct answer:

The study of mankind

Explanation:

The root "anthro-" or "andro­-" means having to do with man. Also, the suffix "-ology" means the study of (something), so we can assume correctly that “anthropology” is the study of mankind.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors