ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, and Sensory Imagery

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

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

TUMULTUOUS

Possible Answers:

Wordy

Tall

Boisterous

Colorful

Correct answer:

Boisterous

Explanation:

The word "tumultuous" means incredibly loud and disorderly. The word "boisterous" is the best choice because it means rough and noisy and is the closest in definition to "tumultuous." Considering the other choices, "colorful" means having many colors, "tall" means great in height or length, and "wordy" refers to written works and means too lengthy.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

INSIPID

Possible Answers:

Healthy

Boring

Lavish

Obstinate

Prosperous

Correct answer:

Boring

Explanation:

"Insipid" means lacking interest or flavor, which is closest in meaning to "boring."

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

TEPID

Possible Answers:

Lukewarm

Boisterous

Novel

Loud

Indigenous

Correct answer:

Lukewarm

Explanation:

"Tepid" is an adjective that can mean either "showing little enthusiasm" or "only slightly warm," especially when referring to liquids. Neither "loud" nor "boisterous" can't be the correct answer because they are each opposites of "showing little enthusiasm," but "lukewarm" is used of liquids or foods that should be hot and means "only moderately warm." So, because "lukewarm" is synonymous with the second meaning of "tepid," "lukewarm" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

LITHE

Possible Answers:

Awkward

Agile

Long

Gentle

Precarious

Correct answer:

Agile

Explanation:

"Lithe" is an adjective that refers to someone who is "flexible and supple, able to move the body lightly and gracefully." Even though "lithe" sounds like "length," long does not imply grace or agility, so that's not correct. Awkward and precarious are antonyms, and gentle describes how someone behaves, not a quality of their body. Therefore, the closest answer is "agile."

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

MURKY

Possible Answers:

Indifferent

Cloudy

Renowned

Dogged

Scarce

Correct answer:

Cloudy

Explanation:

"Murky" means clouded or depressing and gloomy, so "clouded" is the correct answer. "Dogged" means persistent or determined. "Renowned" means well-known or famous. "Scarce" means rare due to there not being enough of something. "Indifferent" means detached and uninterested.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "nimble" is __________.

Possible Answers:

deft

meticulous

honorary

welcoming

daft

Correct answer:

deft

Explanation:

"Nimble" is an adjective meaning "quick and light in movement or action; agile" or "quick to comprehend" when describing the mind. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective that means something like "quick and agile" or "quick to comprehend." While "deft" and "daft" look and sound quite similar, "daft" means "silly; foolish" or "infatuated with," while "deft" means "neatly skillful and quick in one's movements" or "demonstrating skill and cleverness." Because "deft" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "nimble," "deft" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

A synonym of "robust" is __________.

Possible Answers:

clear

viscous

weak

burly

lithe

Correct answer:

burly

Explanation:

"Robust" is an adjective that means "physically strong; muscular." So, "weak" cannot be the correct answer because "weak" is an antonym of "robust," and while "lithe" may look potentially correct, "lithe" means "thin, supple, and graceful," and is often used to describe a person's body. The closest synonym to "robust" amongst the possible answer choices is "burly," an adjective that means "large and strong; heavily built" and is used to describe people. So, "burly" is the correct answer.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

HIDEOUS

Possible Answers:

hidden

selective

ugly

mysterious

unlucky

Correct answer:

ugly

Explanation:

"Hideous" means ugly or unpleasant looking.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "threadbare" is __________.

Possible Answers:

militant

pristine

watertight

mangy

sequestered

Correct answer:

mangy

Explanation:

"Threadbare" is an adjective that means "becoming thin and tattered with age," when used to describe cloth, clothing, or soft furnishings, "poor or shabby in appearance" when used to describe a person, building, or room, and "used so often that is no longer effective" when used to describe an argument or idea. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "tattered," "shabby," or "overused." That means that "pristine" cannot be the correct answer, because "pristine" is an adjective that can mean "in its original condition; unspoiled" or "clean and fresh as if new; spotless," making the word an antonym, not a synonym, of "threadbare." "Mangy," however, is an adjective that can mean "in poor condition; shabby," and because "mangy" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "threadbare," "mangy" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

HOMELY

Possible Answers:

Sweet

Welcoming

Unattractive

Sermonic

Correct answer:

Unattractive

Explanation:

Because of the obvious root home, it is easy to think that "homely" means warm and welcoming (like "homey"). Be careful not to make this common mistake—"homely" does derive from "home," but it has traveled from there through the sense of plain and unadorned to our modern meaning of plain and unattractive. Be careful also not to confuse "homely" with "homily," which means a sermon.

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