ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ENERVATE

Possible Answers:

Dash

Time

Recite

Fortify

Enfeeble

Correct answer:

Enfeeble

Explanation:

"Enervate" is a verb that means "cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "weaken." "Fortify" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "fortify" can mean "strengthen or invigorate (someone) mentally or physically," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "enervate." "Enfeeble," however, is a verb that means "make weak or feeble," and because "enfeeble" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "enervate," "enfeeble" is the correct answer.

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

REFINE

Possible Answers:

Small

Powdery

Purify

Dusted

Adjudicate

Correct answer:

Purify

Explanation:

When something is refined, it is cleansed of any impurities. For instance, one might say, “The water is refined so as to contain no solids by boiling the fluid and capturing only the vapor that rises from it.”

Example Question #33 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ADULTERATE

Possible Answers:

Matriculate

Simmer

Purify

Corrupt

Vex

Correct answer:

Corrupt

Explanation:

The word "adulterate" is a verb that means to corrupt the purity of by adding an impure element to something. The best choice is "corrupt," since it is a part of the definition of "adulterate." Considering the other choices, "purify" is an antonym of "adulterate" that means to remove impurities or corruption, "matriculate" means to register at a college or university, "vex" means to annoy, and "simmer" means heat to a temperature just below boiling.

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

DEVASTATE

Possible Answers:

Refine

Raze

Respond

Augment

Limit

Correct answer:

Raze

Explanation:

The word "devastate" is a verb which can mean to utterly destroy. "Raze," which also means to destroy, is the best choice. Considering the other choices, "augment" means add to, "respond" means react to, and "refine" means make better.

Example Question #35 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ABRIDGE

Possible Answers:

Excavate

Hallow

Shorten

Bolster

Chaperone

Correct answer:

Shorten

Explanation:

To “abridge” a text means to edit it by leaving out parts in order to make it shorter, so "shorten" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “bolster” means improve; “chaperone” means accompany someone or a group in order to make sure that person or group doesn't misbehave; “excavate” means dig up; and “hallow” means make holy.

Example Question #36 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

CURTAIL

Possible Answers:

Appraise

Coda

Prolong

Undertake

Limit

Correct answer:

Limit

Explanation:

Since "curtail" is a verb which means "reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on," we need to pick out another verb that means something like "lessen." While "coda" may sound like an attractive answer choice because it means "tail" in Italian and specifically refers to the conclusion of a piece of music, it doesn't mean "lessen," so it can't be the correct answer. Of the listed answer choices, "limit" is closest in meaning to "lessen," so "limit" is the correct answer.

Example Question #37 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

MITIGATE

Possible Answers:

Perceive

Jeopardize

Exacerbate

Alleviate

Procure

Correct answer:

Alleviate

Explanation:

Since "mitigate" is a verb that means "make less severe, serious, or painful," we need to pick out a verb that means something like "assuage." While "exacerbate" might look like a good answer choice, "exacerbate" actually means "make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse," so it is an antonym of "mitigate" and not the word we're looking for. "Alleviate," which means "make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mitigate," so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #38 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ATROPHY

Possible Answers:

Continuing

Wasting away

Suspending

Developing

Competing

Correct answer:

Wasting away

Explanation:

An example of "atrophy" is when muscles atrophy there is a decrease in muscle mass.  Thus, the best definition of atrophy is wasting away or shrinking.

Example Question #39 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

BLIGHT

Possible Answers:

Construct

Wilt

Weld

Destroy

Fragment

Correct answer:

Destroy

Explanation:

If something is blighted, it means it is destroyed or ruined.  For instance, crops can be blighted due to weather conditions.

Example Question #40 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

CAVORT

Possible Answers:

Amble

Wander

Plot

Caper

Meddle

Correct answer:

Caper

Explanation:

"Cavort" is a verb that means "jump or dance around excitedly," or, informally, "apply oneself enthusiastically to sexual or disreputable pursuits." So, while we need to pick out an answer choice that has to do with movement, "amble" cannot be the correct answer because "amble" means "walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace," where "cavort" describes excited movement. "Caper," a word that when used as a verb means "skip or dance about in a lively or playful way," is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "cavort."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors