ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #246 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

DESTITUTE

Possible Answers:

Ostentatious

Comely

Ominous

Menacing

Penniless

Correct answer:

Penniless

Explanation:

Someone who is “destitute” is broke and penniless. To provide further guidance, "ostentatious" means defined by luxury and wealth; "comely" means cute; "ominous" and "menacing" are synonyms that both mean threatening, suggesting that danger is imminent

Example Question #247 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Synonyms: Choose the word or phrase that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

PRONE

Possible Answers:

Wily

Portly

Cunning

Comely

Susceptible

Correct answer:

Susceptible

Explanation:

The word “prone” means likely to suffer from something specific. This is closest in meaning to “susceptible,” which means at risk from something specific. To provide further help, “wily” and “cunning” are synonyms that both describe someone who is smart and tricky, someone with lots of guile. Additionally, “portly” means fat and “comely” means cute

Example Question #248 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

CAPABLE

Possible Answers:

handy

incompetent

educated

effective

Correct answer:

effective

Explanation:

The word "capable" comes from the Latin meaning able to take in. If you look at its roots, it is like "able to capture." Someone who is described as being "capable" is able to "take in and accomplish a task." This person has a certain ability and could be said to be "effective," which means able to bring something about. The options "handy" and "educated" are tempting, though they are not necessarily synonyms. A capable person is probably handy, since they can do something. Likewise, being educated can (but not necessarily) lead to capabilities. However, neither of these are as close in meaning to "capable" as is "effective."

Example Question #249 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

BLATANT

Possible Answers:

Brave 

Disagreeable 

Obvious 

Scary 

Correct answer:

Obvious 

Explanation:

Something that is "blatant" is easily observable. Something that is easily observable is often "obvious" because it would be difficult not to see. Therefore, "obvious" is the best answer. The other answer choices have meanings unrelated to "blatant": "brave" means demonstrating courage; "scary" means causing one to feel afraid; and "disagreeable" means unpleasant or horrible.

Example Question #501 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PARTIAL

Possible Answers:

flowing

total

disgusted

prejudiced

Correct answer:

prejudiced

Explanation:

The word "partial" comes from the root "part." A "partial" action is one that only completes part of the total action to be performed. Sometimes, the word is extended to mean something akin to "only seeing and/or acknowledging part of reality." This is means that someone is "biased" or favors one thing over another, though perhaps without a good reason—or at least one that he or she can explain. The word "prejudiced" means having an opinion without really knowing all of the details. The word literally comes from the suffix "pre-," meaning before, and "-judiced," which is related to "to judge." A prejudice "pre-judges" a matter before all the facts have been presented. Someone who is "partial" can (in some circumstances) be called "prejudiced."

Example Question #252 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

PRONE

Possible Answers:

wont

small

united

talented

Correct answer:

wont

Explanation:

Both of the meanings of the word "prone" in English derive from a Latin root meaning "leaning forward." In a physical sense, this leads to the meaning of lying face down (now popularly called "planking"), and in a less-literal sense—as in this question—it can mean having a tendency toward something. One might be prone to anger, or prone to speak out of turn in class. The word "wont," (which is a homophone of the more-familiar word "want"), also means to be inclined toward something.

Example Question #502 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ONEROUS

Possible Answers:

Scary

Difficult

Fun

Rude

Talented

Correct answer:

Difficult

Explanation:

"Onerous" is an adjective that means "involving an amount of effort or difficulty that is overly burdensome." Fun is clearly incorrect, as is talented. So scary sounds possible, since onerous looks a little like ominous, but just because something is challenging does not make it scary, so that's out. Rude is close, and onerous can certainly be used in a context that might mean rude, but ultimately, difficult is the closest synonym.

Example Question #503 : Identifying Synonyms

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

SUSCEPTIBLE

Possible Answers:

Quixotic 

Harangue 

Vulnerable

Impregnable 

Tempestuous 

Correct answer:

Vulnerable

Explanation:

"Susceptible" means in danger from something specific or vulnerable to something. To help you, "impregnable" means not able to be broken into, "tempestuous" means passionate and emotional, to "harangue" someone means to lecture, berate, or criticize him or her, and "quixotic" means idealistic and impractical.

Example Question #504 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ARDUOUS

Possible Answers:

Difficult

Severe

Awkward

Dramatic

Ardent

Correct answer:

Difficult

Explanation:

"Arduous" means challenging and/or causing strain. Something that is "difficult" is hard to accomplish. Thus, "difficult" is the best synonym of "arduous." While "ardent" may seem like a tempting answer, as it sounds similar to the word "arduous," it means passionate, which is very different in meaning than the definition of "arduous."

Example Question #505 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PECKISH

Possible Answers:

Mottled

Parched

Famished

Full

Hungry

Correct answer:

Hungry

Explanation:

The word "peckish" is an adjective that means slightly hungry. The best choice is "hungry" because it is part of the definition of "peckish." "Famished" (incredibly hungry) is too strong of a word to be a better synonym of "peckish" than "hungry" is, and "parched" (extremely thirsty) is too distant in meaning to be the correct answer. Considering the other answer choices, "full" means abundant and "mottled" means spotted.

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