ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #852 : Synonyms

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

GULLIBLE

Possible Answers:

Credible

Idiotic

Amusing

Foolish

Exploitable

Correct answer:

Exploitable

Explanation:

Whenever someone is "gullible," he or she will believe just about anything whatsoever. You can easily "use" or exploit a person who is like this. That is, a gullible person can be tricked for you to gain an advantage over him or her (if you wanted to, at least).  A more standard synonym for "gullible" is "naive," though this is not an option among those provided.

Example Question #853 : Synonyms

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

EXQUISITE

Possible Answers:

Lovely

Candid

Foreboding

Expensive

Magnetic

Correct answer:

Lovely

Explanation:

“Exquisite” means ornate, dainty, and beautiful, so "lovely" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “candid” means blunt and honest; “magnetic” means attractive; “foreboding” means suggesting something bad will happen soon in the future; and "expensive" means financially costly.

Example Question #854 : Synonyms

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

IMMINENT

Possible Answers:

Looming

Lavish

Gracious

Incipient

Fortunate

Correct answer:

Looming

Explanation:

“Imminent” means occurring soon, making "looming" the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, "lavish" means luxurious; "incipient" means just having begun or developing; "fortunate" means lucky; and "gracious" means thankful and polite.

Example Question #240 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "toxic" is __________.

Possible Answers:

prepared

complete

poisonous

industrial

fulsome

Correct answer:

poisonous

Explanation:

"Toxic" is an adjective that means "causing or capable of causing death or illness if taken into the body" when used of a plant or substance, "producing poison as a means of attacking enemies or prey" when describing an animal or insect, or "extremely unpleasant or malicious." While "fulsome" might look like a good answer choice, "fulsome" actually means "complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree" or "of large size or quantity; generous or abundant," so it cannot be the correct answer. "Poisonous" however, is a synonym of "toxic," so "poisonous" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

TURBULENT

Possible Answers:

Tempestuous

Calm

Tranquil

Peaceful

Correct answer:

Tempestuous

Explanation:

"Turbulent" means characterised by agitation or chaos. "Tempestuous" means stormy, so it is a synonym of "turbulent." "Calm," "tranquil" and "peaceful" are all antonyms of turbulent that mean untroubled.

Example Question #242 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

WANTON

Possible Answers:

Random 

Demeaning 

Implausible

Suspicious

Credible

Correct answer:

Random 

Explanation:

"Wanton" can mean random, so "random" is the correct answer. To help you, "implausible" means almost impossible or hard to believe, "credible" means reliable, "demeaning" means humiliating or undignified, and "suspicious" means doubtful.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

VIRULENT

Possible Answers:

Virus

Harmful

Lazy

Wrong

Correct answer:

Harmful

Explanation:

The word "virulent" means harmful. "Harmful" is the best choice, as it is a part of the definition of "virulent."

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

AUSPICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Oust

Austere

Howl

Promising

Correct answer:

Promising

Explanation:

The word "auspicious" means promising success. The best choice is "promising," as it shares the same definition as "auspicious." Considering the other choices, "austere" means strict, "oust" means overthrow or remove from a position, and "howl" means cry out.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

PRONE

Possible Answers:

Cautious 

Subjective 

Objective 

Inclined 

Unlikely 

Correct answer:

Inclined 

Explanation:

"Prone" means to be inclined towards doing something. For example, if you are "prone" to lying, then you lie often. To further help you, "cautious" means careful and wary; "objective" means subject to logic instead of personal opinion; "subjective" is an antonym of "objective" and means subject to personal opinion instead of logic.

Example Question #245 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

AUSPICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Mayhem

Favorable

Carnage

Audible

Potential

Correct answer:

Favorable

Explanation:

"Auspicious" means fortunate, promising, favorable; a lucky start or omen. To provide further help, "audible" means able to be heard; "carnage" refers to large scale slaughter and pillaging; "mayhem" means chaos; "potential" means the possible ability of something.

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