ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Identifying Synonyms

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

TURNCOAT

Possible Answers:

Traitor

Financier

Ally

Enemy

Supporter

Correct answer:

Traitor

Explanation:

A “turncoat” is a traitor; someone who betrays his allies and helps his former enemies. Almost every American school child has heard of Benedict Arnold, the famous turncoat from the Revolutionary War. To provide further guidance, an "ally" is someone on your side; an "enemy" is someone who you are fighting against; a "supporter" is a fan; a "financier" is someone who provides the money to make something happen.

Example Question #371 : Synonyms

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

CAUCUS

Possible Answers:

Zenith

Meeting

Script

Cautious

Correct answer:

Meeting

Explanation:

A "caucus" is a gathering of members of an organization in order to discuss a special interest or cause. The best choice is "meeting," which means a coming together of people. Considering the other choices, "zenith" means the highest point, "script" means handwriting or a document detailing what should be said and done in a movie or play, and "cautious" means careful.

Example Question #372 : Synonyms

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

PATRON

Possible Answers:

Customer 

Establish 

Cacophony 

Critic 

Portray 

Correct answer:

Customer 

Explanation:

A “patron” is a customer, someone who visits a business. To provide further help, a “critic” is someone who judges things, usually art, and often harshly; a “cacophony” is a loud and unpleasant pairing of noises; “establish” means set up; “portray” means depict or show.

Example Question #373 : Synonyms

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

BUFFOON

Possible Answers:

Patriarch

Liberator

Chaperone

Fool

Erudite

Correct answer:

Fool

Explanation:

"Buffoon" is a noun meaning "a ridiculous but amusing person; a clown," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun and means "a ridiculous, but amusing person." Of the possible answer choices, "erudite" is not a noun but an adjective, so it cannot be the correct answer. Picking between "fool," "liberator," "patriarch," and "chaperone," "fool" is the best answer choice because "fool" means "a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person," or "a jester or clown, especially one retained in a noble household."

Example Question #374 : Synonyms

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

QUACK

Possible Answers:

Creditor 

Phony 

Doctor 

Scribe 

Genuine 

Correct answer:

Phony 

Explanation:

A "quack" is someone who is not genuine, a fake, a phony. To further help you, "genuine" means real; a "scribe" is someone who writes information; a "creditor" is someone who lends money under the expectation that it is favorably paid back.

Example Question #375 : Synonyms

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

MONARCH

Possible Answers:

Narrator

Document

Achievement

Protagonist

King

Correct answer:

King

Explanation:

"Monarch" means ruler or king, so "king" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "monarch": a "narrator" is a person who tells a story; an "achievement" is the completion of a task or goal; a "document" is a paper with written material on it; and a "protagonist" is the main character in a novel or movie.

Example Question #376 : Synonyms

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

CHAPERONE

Possible Answers:

Voyage

Catastrophe

Protagonist

Supervisor

Destruction

Correct answer:

Supervisor

Explanation:

A "chaperone" is a supervisor or a person who looks after another person or group, so "supervisor" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "chaperone": a "voyage" is a journey made by traveling via ship; a "protagonist" is the main character of a story; a "catastrophe" is a disaster or great event of terror and suffering; and "destruction" is the action of causing great damage.

Example Question #377 : Synonyms

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

PUPIL

Possible Answers:

Worker

Parent

Teacher

Expert

Student

Correct answer:

Student

Explanation:

"Pupil" is a noun that can mean apprentice or novice, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "pupil" is "student," a noun meaning a person who is going to school. Considering the other answer choices, "expert" is a noun meaning a specialist or a skilled person, "parent" is a noun meaning a mother or father of a child, and "worker" is a noun meaning someone who does work.

Example Question #378 : Synonyms

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

ENTOURAGE

Possible Answers:

Vacation

Debut

Corruption

Tour

Escort

Correct answer:

Escort

Explanation:

An “entourage” is a group of people who accompany one person, or an “escort.” A “debut” is the act of doing something, often publicly, for the first time; and “corruption” means dishonesty.

Example Question #379 : Synonyms

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

SOPHOMORE

Possible Answers:

Academic 

Second-year student 

Itinerant 

Professor 

First-year student

Correct answer:

Second-year student 

Explanation:

If you break “sophomore” down into its Latin word parts, it's literal meaning is wise-fool. In American English, we use it to describe a second-year student.” To provide further help, an “itinerant” is a nomad, someone who walks from place to place without living in any one place; an “academic” is someone who studies or teaches for a living

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