ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, and Importance

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

WARY

Possible Answers:

Suspicious

Fatigued

Sympathetic

Choleric

Lethargic

Correct answer:

Suspicious

Explanation:

When someone is describe as being "wary," that person is cautious with regard to the things that they believe are dangerous. For instance, a person might be wary about listening to sales people, whom they suspect of lying in order to sell their products. The options "fatigued" and "lethargic" attempt to trick you into misreading "wary" as "weary," meaning tired. The best option, however, for "wary," given its meaning, is "suspicious".

Example Question #32 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

SYMPATHETIC

Possible Answers:

Reciprocal

Painful

Understanding

Unpleasant

Mutual

Correct answer:

Understanding

Explanation:

The word "sympathetic" literally means sharing a feeling with. The "-pathetic" portion of the word comes from the Greek pathos, meaning feeling. The "sym-" prefix means with. (A "symphony" is a kind of group that creates sounds together with one another.) Primarily, sympathy is about being able to understand someone else and feel his or her feelings. Such a feeling is indeed shared, but it is not exactly mutual or indeed not "reciprocal" usually. The essence of sympathy is understanding and "co-feeling." Therefore, this is the best option among those given.

Example Question #33 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

INCONGRUOUS

Possible Answers:

Fitting

Abrasive

Unsuited

Apt

Pernicious

Correct answer:

Unsuited

Explanation:

Incongruous means not continuous with, not appropriate for. To provide further help, "fitting" and "apt" are synonyms of one another and antonyms of "incongruous" - both words mean appropriate. "Pernicious" means harmful; "abrasive" means rude and aggressive

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

IMPERATIVE

Possible Answers:

Necessary

Unnecessary

Likely

Unlikely

Unwise

Correct answer:

Necessary

Explanation:

Something that is "imperative" is highly necessary. So, if you want to do well on any test you take it is "imperative" that you practice. To provide further help, "unwise" means not wise, foolish. The prefix un- is a negating prefix. This means it takes the original meaning of the word "wise" and causes it to mean the opposite "not wise." 

Example Question #35 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

PAROCHIAL

Possible Answers:

Heavenly

Limited

Ponderous

Posh

Naive

Correct answer:

Limited

Explanation:

"Parochial" means having a limited worldview, provincial. So the best answer choice is "limited." To provide further help, "posh" means wealthy and refined; "ponderous" means slow moving, boring; "naive" means gullible, easily tricked into believing lies; "heavenly" means lovely, divine

Example Question #2621 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning

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

EQUIVOCAL

Possible Answers:

Stubborn

Obvious

Impatient

Vague

Obstinate

Correct answer:

Vague

Explanation:

Equivocal means ambiguous, unclear, hazy, vague. To provide further help, "obstinate" means stubborn, inflexible.

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