ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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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

Possible Answers:

Whimsical 

Solitary 

Unintentional 

Unimportant 

Small 

Correct answer:

Unimportant 

Explanation:

"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

Possible Answers:

Unimportant

Vital

Extra

Diminutive

Correct answer:

Vital

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Centered

Important

External

Inconsequential

Balanced

Correct answer:

Important

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Worthless

Important

Futile

Novelty

Morose

Correct answer:

Important

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Essential

Fortunate

Excitable

Tangy

Nonessential

Correct answer:

Nonessential

Explanation:

"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

Possible Answers:

Insignificant

Lucrative

Dark

Important

Correct answer:

Insignificant

Explanation:

"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

Possible Answers:

Offensive

Subservient

Big

Significant

Unusual

Correct answer:

Significant

Explanation:

"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

Possible Answers:

Somber

Unexpected

Essential

Abrupt

Optional

Correct answer:

Essential

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Irrelevant 

Extraneous 

Immaterial 

Intravenous 

Applicable 

Correct answer:

Applicable 

Explanation:

“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

Possible Answers:

Faked

Assaulted

Divided

Used

Arranged

Correct answer:

Faked

Explanation:

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

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