All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2361 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LACKADAISICAL
Apathetic
Inchoate
Refulgent
Untoward
Halcyon
Apathetic
"Lackadaisical" and "apathetic" both mean careless or indifferent. "Untoward" means troublesome or improper. "Refulgent" means glowing or brilliant. "Halcyon" means calm or peaceful. "Inchoate" means undeveloped or beginning.
Example Question #2362 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ALOOF
Feckless
Diaphanous
Sympathetic
Glib
Haughty
Haughty
"Aloof" and "haughty" both mean remote or detached. "Sympathetic" means concerned or caring. "Feckless" means careless or without purpose. "Glib" means slick or smooth-talking. "Diaphanous" means fine or see-through.
Example Question #2363 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ARDENT
Forgetful
Dolorous
Disagreeable
Pugnacious
Intense
Intense
The word “ardent” is related to “ardor,” which means passion or zeal. Both of these terms come from that Latin verb meaning to be on fire. In a sense, you can think of them as expressing “being on fire” emotionally for some project, goal, or aim. When someone is called, for example, “an ardent supporter,” he or she is a strong and zealous supporter of that cause. Likewise, when one “ardently discusses a topic,” he or she does so with great enthusiasm and vigor.
Example Question #2364 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
OVERWROUGHT
Overactive
Anxious
Inconsistent
Annoying
Jittery
Anxious
When someone is “overwrought,” that person is excited or anxious. While that might cause someone to be jittery or even annoying, the best option among those given is the mere direct definition, “anxious.” The word would be used in a sentence like, “Having arrived at the long-feared day, Jonathan was so overwrought that he could not even sleep because of his agitated nerves.”
Example Question #2365 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TEMPESTUOUS
Overwhelmed
Frenzied
Harrying
Hurricane
Blizzard
Frenzied
The word “tempestuous” is related to the word “tempest,” which is a strong wind storm. When applied to a human person, it implies that the person has a very strong emotional disposition. Someone could say, “John had an extremely tempestuous attitude, often screaming at his subordinates and always arguing with someone.”
Example Question #2366 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VACANT
Solitary
Pitiful
Emotionless
Forgotten
Alone
Emotionless
The word “vacant” is related to the word “vacuum,” meaning “empty space.” Sometimes, you will hear an expression like “a vacant lot” to describe a piece of land that has nothing built on it (and perhaps is abandoned and unused). The word can also be applied to the expression that a person has. When someone shows a “vacant expression,” he or she has a “blank stare.” Often this implies that there is no emotion expressed at all.
Example Question #2367 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
JUBILANT
Bewildered
Morose
Gleeful
Surprised
Fuming
Gleeful
"Jubilant" is an adjective defined as "feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph." While all of the answer choices describe moods or emotions, only "gleeful," an adjective that means "exuberantly or triumphantly joyful," is a synonym of "jubilant," so "gleeful" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2368 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MOROSE
Lofty
Timid
Tepid
Macabre
Sulky
Sulky
“Morose” means in a bad mood and miserable, so "sulky" is the correct answer. “Lofty” means high-up or proud; “timid” means shy and quiet; “tepid” means lukewarm when describing temperature and unenthusiastic when describing responses; and "macabre" means morbid and grotesque.
Example Question #2369 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Answer the following sample question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
QUEASY
mundane
uneasy
weary
grotesque
reserved
uneasy
"Queasy" means uneasy or uncomfortable. "Grotesque" means ugly or misshapen. "Reserved" means quietly unsociable or restrained. "Mundane" means boring or day-to-day. "Weary" means tired or exhausted.
Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Emotional States
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
JOVIAL
Deft
Uncomfortable
Cheerful
Hollow
Nuanced
Cheerful
“Jovial” means jolly, friendly and "cheerful." As for the other answer choices, “uncomfortable” means slightly painful or just removing or lacking all comfort; “hollow” means containing empty space on the inside; "nuanced" means full of subtle details; and “deft” means skillful.
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