All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SATE
Gratify
Abstain
Drawl
Quaff
Vindicate
Gratify
"Sate" and "gratify" both mean satisfy. As for the other answer choices, "abstain" means hold back from doing; "quaff" means drink down or gulp; "drawl" means lengthen or draw out; and "vindicate" means prove one's innocence.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VEX
Annoy
Question
Horrify
Enrage
Trigger
Annoy
The word “vex” comes from the Latin for “to annoy.” “Vexations,” are annoying things. One could use the word in a sentence like, “After many years of living with Sally, Joan started to become vexed by all of her little character flaws, eventually becoming enraged by what were at best small annoyances.”
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
REPULSE
Undulate
Reek
Repel
Retch
Foul
Repel
We usually think of a “repulsive” thing as being disgusting or gross. The correspondence is not direct. Something gross is called “repulsive” because it “pushes people away from it.” (Nobody wants to be close to the person with body odor; he or she “repulses” people away.) A “pulsation” is so called because it is caused by a “beating” or “pressing” motion. To “repulse” is to “drive, beat, or press” someone away.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COVET
Crave
Cover
Introduce
Maneuver
Detest
Crave
"Covet" is a verb that means "yearn to possess or have something," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "yearn to possess." While "cover" may sound and look similar to "covet," the two words have very different meanings, so "cover" cannot be the correct answer. "Crave," however, means "feel a powerful desire for something," and because it is the closest synonym of "covet" among the possible answer choices, "crave" is the correct answer.
Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DAUNT
Equivocate
Embolden
Corrupt
Deter
Enhance
Deter
"Daunt" and "deter" both mean to make fearful or hesitant. "Embolden" means to encourage or inspire. "Corrupt" means to pervert or pollute. "Enhance" means to improve or embellish. "Equivocate" means to avoid an issue.
Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VEX
Incite
Alleviate
Agitate
Glean
Burgeon
Agitate
"Vex" means to agitate or bother. "Alleviate" means to relieve or lessen. "Burgeon" means to bloom or multiply. "Glean" means to pick out or collect. "Incite" means to encourage or provoke.
Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
EXACERBATE
contort
appease
patent
oscillate
aggravate
aggravate
"Exacerbate" and "aggravate" both mean to infuriate or make worse. "Appease" means to satisfy or pacify. "Contort" means to disfigure or distort. "Oscillate" means to change back and forth. "Patent" means to secure a copyright on an invention.
Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
INFURIATE
Endorse
Enrage
Indicate
Pursue
Grovel
Enrage
"Infuriate" means enrage or make someone angry, so "enrage" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "infuriate": "grovel" means beg or crawl on the floor while begging; "indicate" means designate or mark; "pursue" means continue or follow; and "endorse" means approve or support.
Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DETEST
Forget
Disapprove
Destroy
Abhor
Dislike
Abhor
When someone detests another person or thing, he or she does not merely dislike it but instead has an intense hatred for it. For that reason, the weaker answer choices like “dislike” and “disapprove” do not really capture the sense as does “abhor.” Someone “abhors” something or someone when he or she is disgusted by it or has a strong hatred for it.
Example Question #10 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PLACATE
Eradicate
Regress
Soothe
Exacerbate
Supplant
Soothe
“Placate” means assuage, or give someone what they want to make them feel better, so "soothe" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “exacerbate” means make worse, intensify, or heighten; “eradicate” means completely destroy; “supplant” means replace; and “regress” means go backwards or return to a former state.
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