All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #251 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MALADY
Sickness
Damsel
Antidote
Diagnosis
Tincture
Sickness
The word "malady" comes from the Latin word for bad, "malus." Someone who is "maleficent" is someone who wants to cause harm. Whenever someone is filled with "malice," he or she is filled with ill-will, meaning that he or she wants to harm others. A "malady" is something bad—namely, an illness. Hence, the best option among those provided is "sickness."
Example Question #252 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FACADE
Mystery
Illusion
Fear
Building
Remainder
Illusion
"Facade" is defined as an illusion or false appearance of something. The other word choices are not synonyms for "facade." "Fear" is an emotion of terror, "mystery" is a puzzle or enigma, "remainder" is a surplus, and a "building" is a structure.
Example Question #253 : Identifying Synonyms
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I was impressed by the dog's ________________; he was able to jump over hurdles and sprint with ease.
Affability
Friendliness
Candor
Posture
Agility
Agility
"Agility" is "nimbleness," or ease of movement, which makes this the correct answer. "Candor" means frankness and "affability" means geniality, which is similar to "friendliness." "Posture" is unrelated to these definitions and refers to the position of a body.
Example Question #254 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VEX
Validate
Annoy
Stifle
Attack
Deliver
Annoy
"Vex" is defined as to irritate or anger, which matches the answer choice "annoy." "Attack" is too strong of a synonym and means instead to assault or strike. "Validate," "deliver," and "stifle" are not related to the word "Vex."
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
TUMULTUOUS
Colorful
Boisterous
Wordy
Tall
Boisterous
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 #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INSIPID
Boring
Healthy
Obstinate
Prosperous
Lavish
Boring
"Insipid" means lacking interest or flavor, which is closest in meaning to "boring."
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TEPID
Loud
Indigenous
Lukewarm
Boisterous
Novel
Lukewarm
"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 #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LITHE
Gentle
Precarious
Awkward
Long
Agile
Agile
"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 #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MURKY
Scarce
Cloudy
Indifferent
Dogged
Renowned
Cloudy
"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 #6 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
A synonym of "nimble" is __________.
honorary
deft
daft
welcoming
meticulous
deft
"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.
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