ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

DILATE

Possible Answers:

Enlarge

Constrict

Impede

Evolve

Assemble

Correct answer:

Enlarge

Explanation:

When something dilates, it means it increases in size or enlarges. For example, the pupils of the eyes typically dilate, or enlarge, in dark environments to let in more light.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

TRANSCEND

Possible Answers:

Ignore

Sink into

Go beyond

Concerned with

Beleaguer

Correct answer:

Go beyond

Explanation:

"Transcend" is a verb that means "be or go beyond the range or limits of something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division," or "surpass a person or an achievement." So, while "concerned with" or "beleaguer" might each look like a potentially correct answer because each answer choice can concern abstract details, "go beyond" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "transcend," so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #23 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

AGGRANDIZE

Possible Answers:

debilitate

augment

jettison

abridge

expedite

Correct answer:

augment

Explanation:

"Aggrandize" and "augment" both mean to increase or enlarge. "Abridge" means to shorten or curtail. "Debilitate" means to incapacitate or cripple. "Expedite" means to accelerate. "Jettison" means to eject or throw overboard

Example Question #22 : Synonyms

GERMINATE

Possible Answers:

Renounce

Quell

Reinforce

Sprout

Relish

Correct answer:

Sprout

Explanation:

Germinate means to grow or sprout. "Relish" means to enjoy or take delight in doing something. "Quell" means to subdue or put down. "Reinforce" means to support or strengthen. "Renounce" means to abandon or reject.

Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

TAINT

Possible Answers:

Adulterate

Hold

Restrain

Puncture

Elixir

Correct answer:

Adulterate

Explanation:

The word “taint” comes distantly from the Latin word for “to dye” and is likewise related to the English “tinge,” meaning, “to give a slight coloration to something.” The general idea expressed by “taint” is that something is being polluted or contaminated by another thing. One could say, “The water was tainted with fish blood, making it impossible to drink.” Likewise, one could use the term in a metaphoric sense like, “Ronald’s negative attitude tainted the positive spirits of the entire group, reducing everyone’s enjoyment.”  When something is “adulterated,” it is corrupted, generally by adding something of worse quality to something of better quality.

Example Question #25 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

VACATE

Possible Answers:

Leave

Forget

Relax

Shun

Eschew

Correct answer:

Leave

Explanation:

The word “vacate” is related to vacuum, as it comes from the Latin for “to leave empty.” When someone vacates an area, he or she leaves it. For instance, you likely have heard the expression “vacate the premises.” This expression means, “to leave the building or property.” The word is distantly related to “vacation,” which can merely mean “to be unoccupied,” as though you had “empty time on your hands.”

Example Question #26 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

OCCLUDE

Possible Answers:

Facilitate

Impede

Castigate

Assuage

Enervate

Correct answer:

Impede

Explanation:

"Occlude" and "impede" both mean to hinder or block a process. "Facilitate" means to assist the progress of. "Enervate" means to tire or wear out. "Castigate" means to criticize severely. "Assuage" means to soothe or relieve

Example Question #27 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

OSCILLATE

Possible Answers:

Levitate

Abdicate

Bungle

Refuse

Fluctuate

Correct answer:

Fluctuate

Explanation:

"Oscillate" means to fluctuate or change back and forth; think of an oscillating fan. "Levitate" means to rise into the air. "Abdicate" means to give up a right, position, or power. "Bungle" means to blunder or mess up. "Refuse" means to deny or say no.

Example Question #28 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

TRUNCATE

Possible Answers:

Reserve

Storage

Shorten

Luggage

Accumulate

Correct answer:

Shorten

Explanation:

The word “truncate” comes from Latin roots for “to maim” (to wound by causing a body part to become useless). This word is generally applied metaphorically to mean “to cut short.” For instance, one can say, “The message was truncated unexpectedly, sending only the first half of the contents.”

Example Question #29 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

CONJURE

Possible Answers:

Fasten

Produce

Witchcraft

Vanish

Judgment

Correct answer:

Produce

Explanation:

We might often think of “conjuring” in terms of magical tricks. The word actually can mean “to bring to mind,” as in, “The smell of pumpkin pie conjures images of Thanksgiving Day dinner for many American adults.” Likewise, it can have the more general meaning of “to produce unexpectedly,” as in, “I was always amazed that my mother could conjure up the most beautiful Christmas decorations in spite of our dire poverty.” For this reason, “produce” is the best option among those provided.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors