All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #457 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
TRIVIAL
Whimsical
Solitary
Unintentional
Unimportant
Small
Unimportant
"Trivial" means unimportant, so "unimportant" is the synonym.
Example Question #458 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
CRUCIAL
Unimportant
Vital
Extra
Diminutive
Vital
The word "crucial" refers to something that is necessary to achieve a certain end. For example, if one more loss will eliminate your team from the baseball championship, then winning the next game is crucial. Basically, we are looking for a word that implies great importance. "Vital," which means essential, is the best choice here. "Unimportant" is the opposite of the answer that we want, and "extra" implies that something is present in addition to a certain quantity and unnecessary, not that it is necessary. Finally, "diminutive" means short or unusually small.
Example Question #451 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PIVOTAL
Centered
Important
External
Inconsequential
Balanced
Important
If something is pivotal, it means that it is important. For example, the last regular football game of a season is pivotal in determining whether the team will play in the semifinals.
Example Question #460 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EMINENT
Worthless
Important
Futile
Novelty
Morose
Important
Something that is “eminent” is well-known or important. This is opposed to something that is "imminent," which means about to happen. To provide further guidance, "futile" means pointless; "worthless" means not worth anything; "morose" means miserable and glum; "novelty" means innovation, something original.
Example Question #1011 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TANGENTIAL
Essential
Fortunate
Excitable
Tangy
Nonessential
Nonessential
"Tangential" is an adjective that means either "diverging from a previous course or line; erratic," or "hardly touching a matter; peripheral." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "erratic" or "peripheral." "Essential" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "essential" means "absolutely necessary; extremely important," making it an antonym of "tangential," not a synonym. "Nonessential," however, is an adjective that means "not absolutely necessary," and because "nonessential" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tangential," "nonessential" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1012 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PETTY
Insignificant
Lucrative
Dark
Important
Insignificant
"Petty" is and adjective that means relatively unimportant, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "petty" is "insignificant," an adjective meaning of no significance, unimportant, or irrelevant. None of the other answer are close in meaning to "petty": "lucrative" is an adjective meaning profitable; "important" is an antonym of "petty" meaning of great significance; and "dark" is an adjective meaning having little light by which to see or closer to black than to white in shade.
Example Question #1013 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
SUBSTANTIAL
Offensive
Subservient
Big
Significant
Unusual
Significant
"Substantial" means of great weight or significance. Therefore, "significant" is the correct synonym.
Example Question #1014 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
IMPERATIVE
Somber
Unexpected
Essential
Abrupt
Optional
Essential
Something that is "imperative" is crucial or essential, so "essential" is the correct answer choice. As for the other answer choices, "somber" means sad and serious; "abrupt" means sudden; and "optional" means not necessary.
Example Question #1015 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PERTINENT
Irrelevant
Extraneous
Immaterial
Intravenous
Applicable
Applicable
“Pertinent” means relevant or able to be applied and is therefore most similar in meaning to “applicable.” To provide further help, “irrelevant” means not related to the subject; “extraneous” means not needed, additional, and wasted; “intravenous” means injected into the veins; and “immaterial” means not related to the subject, irrelevant, or not pertinent.
Example Question #1016 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
STAGED
Faked
Assaulted
Divided
Used
Arranged
Faked
When something is described as "staged" it can mean simply put on, held, performed. But, it can also mean faked. As in "some people believe that the moon landing was staged." To provide further help, "arranged" means set up; "assaulted" means attacked.
All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
