ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Synonyms

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

SUPERIMPOSE

Possible Answers:

Mitigate 

Interject

Overlay 

Declare 

Promote 

Correct answer:

Overlay 

Explanation:

The prefix "super-" usually means better or best but can also mean over or on top, so the word “superimpose” means to put something on top of something else. The closest answer choice to this is “overlay.” To provide further help, “interject” means interrupt; “mitigate” means lessen, alleviate; “declare” means announce, say formally; “promote” means support.

Example Question #102 : Synonyms

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

PERVADE

Possible Answers:

Undermine 

Demand better of 

Lose altogether

Wishful thinking

Spread throughout 

Correct answer:

Spread throughout 

Explanation:

The prefix per- means through, so the word “pervade” means to spread, or to have spread, throughout something. To provide further help, “undermine” means weaken

Example Question #103 : Synonyms

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

REINFORCE

Possible Answers:

Influence

Establish

Hinder

Strengthen

Block

Correct answer:

Strengthen

Explanation:

In this question, the answer that makes the most sense is strengthen or support.  When you reinforce, you strengthen something.

Example Question #57 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

EXPEDITE

Possible Answers:

flee

evacuate

cancel

facilitate

Correct answer:

facilitate

Explanation:

To "expedite" literally means "to free the foot;" (you may recognize the "ped" root from words such as "pedicure"). It derives from the same roots as the noun, "expedition," though it has a different meaning. Given the etymology of "expedite," you might (logically) think that it means "to flee." A red flag arises, however, when you see the other option of "evacuate," which has a very similar sense to "flee." Sometimes you can use an observation like this to eliminate possibilities: two near-synonyms among your answer choices likely means that both are wrong. The true sense of the English word "expedite" is to make easier or facilitate: your "foot" is "freed" (metaphorically) from imPEDiments.

Example Question #104 : Synonyms

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

EXCISE

Possible Answers:

Create 

Remove 

Invoke 

Prepare 

Edify 

Correct answer:

Remove 

Explanation:

The root "cis" means related to cutting and the prefix "ex-" means related to leaving or being sent away. So “excise” literally means to cut away, but also means “remove.” To provide further help, “prepare” means get ready; “create” means make; “edify” means build; “invoke” means call upon

Example Question #105 : Synonyms

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

INUNDATE

Possible Answers:

Intend

Enter

Vary

Flood

Suggest

Correct answer:

Flood

Explanation:

To "inundate" means to flood, either literally with water or (more commonly) metaphorically with anything that happens to be "swamping" you. If you have a waterbed, you will be familiar with its "undulations" (movements in wavelike motions), which is a related word. You may have recognized the "in-" root, meaning "into," and chosen "enter." Though this is incorrect, don't beat yourself up over it—it's better to base a guess on one root than to guess randomly.

Example Question #106 : Synonyms

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

ENGULF

Possible Answers:

Embitter 

Akin 

Amiable 

Overcome 

Parody 

Correct answer:

Overcome 

Explanation:

The prefix "en-" means put into or cause to be completely something, in this instance the word “engulf” means completely overcome or completely surround. It is usually heard in a sentence like “the log was engulfed in flames” meaning that it was overcome or surrounded by fire. So, "overcome" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "engulf": ”embitter” means make someone bitter; “parody” means make fun of or imitate in order to make a joke about; “akin” means similar to; and “amiable” means sociable and friendly.

Example Question #107 : Synonyms

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

CONVENE

Possible Answers:

Abolish 

Meet

Suspend 

Abject 

Deny 

Correct answer:

Meet

Explanation:

"Convene" means meet up or begin, so "meet" is the correct answer. To help you, "abolish" means get rid of, "suspend" means pause, "deny" means refuse, and "abject" means hopeless and miserable.

Example Question #108 : Synonyms

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

ABDICATE

Possible Answers:

descend

relinquish

atheist

abolish

despair

Correct answer:

relinquish

Explanation:

“Abdicate” means to give up the throne, to relinquish the throne. It can mean to relinquish any authority, but is most commonly linked to a King giving up power. The prefix ab- means to move away from, to give away, as seen in “abdicate” and “abstract,” which means away from the normal, not related to concrete objects. To provide further help, “abolish” means get rid of; “descend” means go down; “despair” means feel sad and hopeless, go down emotionally; an “atheist” is someone who does not believe in God.

Example Question #109 : Synonyms

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

OBVIATE

Possible Answers:

Secede

Preclude

Apparent

Wanton

Recede

Correct answer:

Preclude

Explanation:

The prefix ob- means in the way of, against. The word “obviate” means to make something unnecessary, to prevent something from happening. As such, it is closest in meaning to “preclude” which means to stop something from happening. To provide further help, “secede” means pull out of an union; “recede” means go back; “wanton” means random; “apparent” means obvious

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