All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #131 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HINDER
Reversed
Impede
Fight
Argue
Overcome
Impede
The word “hinder” can mean “behind” or “rear portion.” However, here it is being used in its more general sense of “to prevent something from acting fully.” A “hindrance” is like a “block” in the way of something’s activity. When one thing acts to “impede” another, it obstructs that thing’s action. The word “impede” literally means “to put something on the foot of (something else).” The “-pede” portion of the word is related to the English “pedal” and “biped.”
Example Question #132 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RUFFLE
Lacerate
Creased
Tear
Disorder
Raiment
Disorder
Sometimes, you might hear an expression like, “Don’t ruffle his feathers; he gets very angry easily.” The word “ruffle” literally means to cause disorder in some manner, often applying to hair or perhaps a bird’s feathers when they stand up for mating or as a sign of aggression. It can be used in the general sense, implying merely that something or someone is causing disorder something else. Among the options provided, this is the sense to be chosen.
Example Question #133 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RUFFLE
Disorder
Creased
Tear
Raiment
Lacerate
Disorder
Sometimes, you might hear an expression like, “Don’t ruffle his feathers; he gets very angry easily.” The word “ruffle” literally means to cause disorder in some manner, often applying to hair or perhaps a bird’s feathers when they stand up for mating or as a sign of aggression. It can be used in the general sense, implying merely that something or someone is causing disorder something else. Among the options provided, this is the sense to be chosen.
Example Question #134 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SCAVENGE
Nibble
Mortify
Rummage
Steal
Gnaw
Rummage
“Scavenging” animals are those that live on the dead bodies of other animals. More generally, “scavengers” are those animals and people that search for whatever they need by looking in the waste and garbage of others. When someone “rummages,” he or she searches in a manner that is rather disorganized, often paying little head to the mess they make when performing his or her search. When someone scavenges, this is likely to be the manner of searching. For this reason, “rummage” is often used as a synonym of scavenge.
Example Question #135 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
STAUNCH
Spoilage
Decomposition
Olfaction
Reek
Restrain
Restrain
The word “staunch” has two meanings. On the one hand, it can mean “faithful” as in, “He was a staunch supporter to the cause, regularly donating time and money.” The word is derived from a base that means “watertight” or “dried up.” In English, it has thus come to mean “to stop the flow of blood” as in, “He staunched the wound with thick bandages.” When used figuratively, it can mean the more general “to stop the flow.” For this reason, “restrain” is the best option among those provided.
Example Question #136 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DISSEMINATE
Demobilize
Pulverize
Atomize
Crumble
Scatter
Scatter
The best answer choice is scatter since disseminate means to spread or disperse such as in the case of disseminating information.
Example Question #137 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ABSCOND
Imply
Endure
Flee
Sate
Inhibit
Flee
"Abscond" and "flee" both mean to run away or escape. "Endure" means to withstand or bear a hardship. "Imply" means to suggest or indicate. "Inhibit" means to restrict or prevent. "Sate" means to satisfy.
Example Question #138 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MIGRATE
Occupy
Retreat
Invade
Relocate
Flee
Relocate
The word “migrate” is derived from the Latin root word for “to move or transport.” Among the options given here, only “relocate” signifies this general sense of the word. This word can apply not only to humans but also to animals. For instance, consider the sentence, “George was quite knowledgeable about the migratory patterns of spotted geese, which relocated themselves to Mexico every winter.” The word “migrate” is related to “immigrate” and “immigrant.”
Example Question #139 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DAWDLE
Harry
Incite
Proliferate
Linger
Draw
Linger
“Dawdle” means delay, linger, or stay somewhere too long, or move too slowly, so "linger" is the best answer, as "linger" means remain in a place longer than one is expected to. As for the other answer choices, “Harry” means annoy or harass; "incite" means cause someone to feel strong emotions or act definitively, often in a negative way; "draw" means illustrate or sketch the image of; and "proliferate" means multiply in number.
Example Question #140 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ASSIMILATE
Embarrass
Peak
Frequent
Insist
Incorporate
Incorporate
To “assimilate” something means to take it over and add it to something else. It is very close in meaning to “incorporate,” which means take in and add into the whole. As for the other answer choices, to "insist" means to encourage someone forcefully to do something your way; "peak," when used as a verb, means to reach a high point; "embarrass" means cause someone to feel ashamed, often in front of others; and "frequent," when used as a verb, means patronize or visit a certain location or establishment often.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
