All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
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
Fortify
Recite
Time
Dash
Enfeeble
Enfeeble
"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 #32 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
REFINE
Dusted
Purify
Powdery
Small
Adjudicate
Purify
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
Simmer
Vex
Matriculate
Purify
Corrupt
Corrupt
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
Respond
Limit
Raze
Augment
Refine
Raze
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
Excavate
Hallow
Chaperone
Shorten
Bolster
Shorten
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
Coda
Appraise
Prolong
Limit
Undertake
Limit
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
Procure
Alleviate
Exacerbate
Perceive
Jeopardize
Alleviate
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
Wasting away
Developing
Competing
Continuing
Suspending
Wasting away
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
Fragment
Destroy
Weld
Construct
Wilt
Destroy
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
Caper
Meddle
Amble
Plot
Wander
Caper
"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."
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