ISEE Upper Level Verbal : ISEE Upper Level (grades 9-12) Verbal Reasoning

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Synonyms

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

CANDID

Possible Answers:

Prevalent

Corporal

Ubiquitous

Impartial

Caustic

Correct answer:

Impartial

Explanation:

"Candid" means impartial, open, or honest. "Caustic" means burning or sarcastic. "Corporal" means bodily or physical. "Prevalent" means accepted or widespread. "Ubiquitous" means ever-present or pervasive

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

COGNITIVE

Possible Answers:

irrational

irascible

logical

eclectic

voluble

Correct answer:

logical

Explanation:

"Cognitive" and "logical" both mean reasonable or rational. "Irrational" means illogical or senseless. "Eclectic" means comprehensive or diverse. "Irascible" means crabby or cantankerous. "Voluble" means talkative or chatty

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

VERITABLE

Possible Answers:

raucous

bona fide

ironic

effusive

voracious

Correct answer:

bona fide

Explanation:

"Veritable" and "bona fide" both mean authentic or actual. "Voracious" means very hungry or greedy. "Ironic" means sarcastic or caustic. "Raucous" means rowdy or rough. "Effusive" means gushing or profuse

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

UNWITTING

Possible Answers:

Forgetful

Inadvertent

Boastful

Purposeful

Measured

Correct answer:

Inadvertent

Explanation:

"Unwitting" is an adjective that means either "not aware of the full facts" when referring to a person, or "not done on purpose; unintentional." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "not aware of the full facts" or "unintentional." "Purposeful" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "purposeful" is an antonym of "unwitting," not a synonym. "Inadvertent," however, is an adjective that means "not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "unwitting," "inadvertent" is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

VERBALIZED

Possible Answers:

Declined

Spoken

Constructed

Conjugated

Conjoined

Correct answer:

Spoken

Explanation:

Although one can be said to “verbalize” his or her words when he or she writes them, the term most often is used to describe the process of speaking ideas that were heretofore unspoken. For example, you could say, “After thinking about his theory for a number of years, Paul finally decided to verbalize it, hoping that he could clarify his thoughts by speaking them.”

Example Question #881 : Synonyms

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

CANDID

Possible Answers:

Sophisticated

Deleterious

Angsty

Insincere

Truthful

Correct answer:

Truthful

Explanation:

Because "candid" means truthful and straightforward, or frank, the best answer choice is "truthful."

Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

LEGITIMATE

Possible Answers:

Scholarly

Public

Valid

Cultured

Political

Correct answer:

Valid

Explanation:

When something is “legitimate” it is in accord with the laws that would pertain to that class of things. For example, one could speak of a “legitimate action” as being one that is legal. Also, in a more extended sense, it can indicate conformity to the general laws of rationality or that a given thing is rightfully done in a given circumstance. For instance, a “legitimate critique,” is one that is valid given the data of the original argument. Such a critique justly finds something wrong with the argument and is therefore called “valid” or “legitimate.”

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

SPECIOUS

Possible Answers:

Circumlocution

Extended

Rhetorical

Trivial

Misleading

Correct answer:

Misleading

Explanation:

The word “specious” comes from the Latin for “appearance” or “beautiful.” When something is “specious,” it appears to be correct but really is not. It is merely apparent. Therefore, it misleads the person who considers it. Often, one will speak of “specious reasoning,” describing thereby some argument that appears to be plausible when in fact it is really false.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

MARGINAL

Possible Answers:

Monumental

Sharp

Negligible

Crucial

Frequent

Correct answer:

Negligible

Explanation:

"Marginal" is an adjective that can besides meaning "of, relating to, or situated at the edge or margin of something," can also mean " of secondary or minor importance; not central." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "of minor importance." Neither "crucial" nor "monumental" can be the correct answer, then, because each word is an antonym of "marginal," not a synonym. "Negligible," however, is an adjective that means "so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "marginal," "negligible" is the correct answer.

Example Question #882 : Synonyms

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

NOTEWORTHY

Possible Answers:

Irritating

Brutal

Cryptic

Intelligent

Important

Correct answer:

Important

Explanation:

"Noteworthy" means important or interesting. "Irritating" means annoying or bothersome. "Cryptic" means mysterious or puzzling. "Intelligent" means well-informed or smart. "Brutal" means violent and vicious.

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