ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Identifying Synonyms

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

VOCATION

Possible Answers:

Syndicate

Committee

Arbiter

Occupation

Protest

Correct answer:

Occupation

Explanation:

A "vocation" is a job or an occupation. To provide further help, a "committee" is a group of people who meet to decide something; a "syndicate" is a group of people who work together to further their common interests; an "arbiter" is a person given power to settle a disagreement, the person who makes the decision.

Example Question #62 : Identifying Synonyms

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

FEAT

Possible Answers:

Nuisance

Reason

Failure

Accomplishment

Hardship

Correct answer:

Accomplishment

Explanation:

A "feat" is an accomplishment, something achieved or completed. To provide further help, a "hardship" is a difficulty; a "nuisance" is something irritating or annoying.

Example Question #63 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ONSET

Possible Answers:

Pause

Start

End

Intermission

Delay

Correct answer:

Start

Explanation:

The "onset" of something is the start of something, the beginning. To provide further help, an "intermission" is a break in the middle of a performance. A "pause" is a temporary cessation of speech or activity. "End" is an antonym to "onset." You might "delay" the "onset" of something, but the two words are not close to being synonymous.

Example Question #64 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ADHESIVE

Possible Answers:

Wood

Glue

Friend

Mirror

Enemy

Correct answer:

Glue

Explanation:

An "adhesive" is something sticky, like glue, used to stick two objects together. While "wood glue" can be a useful tool, by itself "wood" refers to a solid substance drawn from trees. "Friend" is a liked companion, and thus mostly unrelated. "Enemy" is an antonym to "friend." "Mirrors" while often framed by "wood" and held together with an "adhesive" (like wood glue!) it is unrelated as a noun to the word "adhesive."

Example Question #65 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ACCOLADE

Possible Answers:

Sleet

Inkling

Award

Wound

Apparel

Correct answer:

Award

Explanation:

An "accolade" is an award or reward given in recognition of someone's accomplishments. To provide further help, "apparel" is clothing; an "inkling" is an idea, a notion, an unsure idea about something; "sleet" is a combination of rain and snow

Example Question #66 : Identifying Synonyms

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

WEARINESS

Possible Answers:

Hearsay

Exhaustion

Wealth

Frankness

Poverty

Correct answer:

Exhaustion

Explanation:

To be "weary" means to be tired, so "weariness" is tiredness or exhaustion. To provide further help, "frankness" is honesty, often brutal honesty; "poverty" is the state of being very poor, the opposite of "wealth"; "hearsay" is gossip, unreliable information passed along within a group of people.

Example Question #67 : Identifying Synonyms

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

TOME

Possible Answers:

Sepulcher

Volume

Ream

Grave

Cemetery

Correct answer:

Volume

Explanation:

Do not confuse the word "tome" with "tomb." They are different words! The word "tomb" refers to a grave in which someone is buried. The word "tome" indicates . Hence, the only option that is acceptable is "volume." Think of when someone says, "He opened the large volume and flipped through its pages." This means that the person has opened up a large book to flip through the pages.

Example Question #68 : Identifying Synonyms

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

GASH

Possible Answers:

Laceration

Injury

Cut

Exfoliation

Scrape

Correct answer:

Laceration

Explanation:

The word "gash" describes a kind of deep and large wound, not merely a scrape or a mere cut. Therefore, you should not choose any of the options that do not indicate a very bad wound unless there are no other options; however, there is an important other option, namely, "laceration." A "laceration" is a large cut. The word comes from Latin roots meaning to mangle, meaning to tear apart. Indeed, this is a strong enough option and is, therefore, the best among those provided.

Example Question #69 : Identifying Synonyms

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

GRIME

Possible Answers:

Disease

Stain

Filth

Oil

Infirmity

Correct answer:

Filth

Explanation:

Likely, you have heard the expression "dirt and grime," referring to what has collected on something that is quite dirty. In general, "grime" is used as a word indicating dirt. The only wrong options that should be somewhat tempting are "oil" and "stain"; however, "oil" only describes one particular kind of grime, and a "stain" may be what happens whenever something is grimy (hence, it is not the "grime" itself).

Example Question #70 : Identifying Synonyms

Which of the following is a synonym of "adage?"

Possible Answers:

Absurdity

Desire

Saying

Nonsense

Paradox

Correct answer:

Saying

Explanation:

Adage typically refers to a motto or saying of conventional wisdom. For example, "he relentlessly repeated the familiar adage."

Most of the other words are antonyms, with the exception of "desire" which is unrelated.

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