ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Synonyms

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

SATISFY

Possible Answers:

Renounce

Fulfill

Indicate

Account

Explain

Correct answer:

Fulfill

Explanation:

The word "satisfy" comes from Latin roots that mean to make to be enough. The word "satis" in Latin means enough. The suffix "-fy" indicates to do or to make. (This too is from Latin roots, though they are more complex.) Thus, something is satisfying when it is fulfilling. We can sometimes say that food is "satisfying" or "satisfactory," but we might also say that an answer is satisfying or a concert performance is satisfactory. Thus, the correct answer is "fulfill." Something that satisfies fulfills the requirements for that things.

Example Question #232 : Synonyms

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

COMPEL

Possible Answers:

Judge

Pressure

Escape

Proceed

Fret

Correct answer:

Pressure

Explanation:

The Latin suffix -pel means force, as in "repel" which means to force backwards. So, "compel" means force someone to do something, pressure someone. Additionally, "fret" means worry; "proceed" means continue; to "judge" means to make a decision on something based on evidence.

Example Question #233 : Synonyms

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

ASCEND

Possible Answers:

Leap

Reward

Fall

Climb

Punish

Correct answer:

Climb

Explanation:

The Latin suffix -scend means climb, up, go. So, to "ascend" means to climb upwards. Another example of a -scend word is "descend" which means to go down. Additionally, "leap" means to jump high or far

Example Question #234 : Synonyms

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

DISPUTE

Possible Answers:

Dismember

Disavow

Displace

Disagree

Disappoint

Correct answer:

Disagree

Explanation:

The Latin suffix -put means think, as in "compute," which means calculate, think about and figure out. So, "dispute" means to disagree, to not agree with what someone thinks. Additionally, "disavow" means renounce, deny; "displace" means either to cause to be moved from it's original position or to replace; "dismember" means take apart, particularly with regard to taking apart a living being. The prefix dis- has many different meanings, but it is generally a "negating" prefix. "Negating" means causing something to mean the opposite.

Example Question #235 : Synonyms

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

DISTORT

Possible Answers:

Decrease

Alter

Increase

Abandon

Confess

Correct answer:

Alter

Explanation:

The Latin suffix -tort means twist, bend, as in "contort," which means to twist one's body. So, "distort" means to twist out of shape, to change something so that it looks unnatural. The closest answer to this is "alter," which means change. Additionally, "confess" means admit to having done something wrong; "increase" means make larger and "decrease" means make smaller; "abandon" means leave behind

Example Question #236 : Synonyms

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

PRESERVE

Possible Answers:

Donate

Supplant

Lend

Maintain

Demand

Correct answer:

Maintain

Explanation:

The Latin suffix -serv means to keep, to save. So, "preserve" means to save something for the future, to maintain something. To provide additional help, "donate" means give to, usually give to charity; "lend" means allow to borrow; "supplant" means replace.

Example Question #237 : Synonyms

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

CONSTRUCT

Possible Answers:

Plead

Build

Destroy

Drive

Lift

Correct answer:

Build

Explanation:

The Latin root -struct- means build. So, to "construct" means to build. Another example of a -struct- word is "destruct," which means to destroy something that has been built. Additionally, "plead" means beg, urge

Example Question #238 : Synonyms

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

PERSONIFY

Possible Answers:

Symbolize

Customize

Elate

Humanize

Aggressive

Correct answer:

Symbolize

Explanation:

Notice the little ending on the word "personify." The "-fy" suffix is part of a large family of suffixes and "infixes" (little parts that come inside of words) such as "-fication," "-fac-," and so forth. In general, "-fy" means to do or to make. To "personify" something is to make it a person. Okay, that is a bit strange. But what it means is that one thing makes another thing present in some way. It represents that other thing. Thus, if we say, "Peter personified the very essence of greed," this means that Peter made present the very essence of greed in his person. Thus, "symbolize" is an excellent option.

Example Question #239 : Synonyms

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

EFFICIENT

Possible Answers:

Expensive

Renowned

Swift

Productive

Rapid

Correct answer:

Productive

Explanation:

We tend to think of efficient people as being quick at what they do. This is often the case, but the word "efficient" is above all about being able to get things done. It comes from the same Latin root from which we get the suffix "-fy" / "-fication" and several other related forms. All of these mean to do or make. Thus, it is best to use the word "efficient" to refer to someone who is "productive." If a project is just very slow-going, an efficient person may therefore move slowly through the work. However, so long as he or she does it in a productive manner, he or she deserves to be called "efficient."

Example Question #240 : Synonyms

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

PESTICIDE

Possible Answers:

Rat feeder

Insect tracker

Insect feeder

Insect killer

Rat tracker

Correct answer:

Insect killer

Explanation:

The suffix "-cide" means related to killing and the prefix "pest-" means related to pests, such as insects or rats. In this instance, since there is no option for “rat killer” the correct answer is “insect killer.”

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