All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #101 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
DEMOCRACY
egalitarian
divinity
conundrum
monarchy
anarchy
egalitarian
While "anarchy" and "monarchy" are both types of government, they do not convey the same meaning as "democracy." The word closest in meaning is egalitarian.
Example Question #102 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NOMENCLATURE
Jury
Discontinuation
Termination
Legality
Terminology
Terminology
The “nomenclature” of a given discipline is the set of terms specific to it. For example, one can speak of the “binomial nomenclature” that is used to describe animal species (e.g. man is homo sapiens). One can thus say that a given “nomenclature” is the set of “terminology” for a discipline. This is the best option among those provided.
Example Question #103 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NARRATIVE
Setting
Enumeration
Storyteller
Chronicle
Relative
Chronicle
The word “narrative” comes from the Latin for “to tell” as in “telling a story.” The word “storyteller” is close to this—to “narrator” not “narrative.” Although one might think of the enumeration of things as being a sort of narrative, it is more proper to say that a “chronicle” provides a narrative. A “chronicle” is an account of historical events told as a narrative according to time. The word “chronological,” meaning “related to time” is related to “chronicle.”
Example Question #104 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MILIEU
Defensive
Environment
Ostensive
Wary
Martial
Environment
The “milieu” of something is the “middle location.” A given “milieu” is the “midst” in an expression like “in the midst.” Therefore, we call a thing or person’s “milieu” his or her environment. For instance, we may speak of the “political milieu” of a given family that has strong ties to political factions, or we may use “milieu” to indicate the general socioeconomic environment in which someone lives.
Example Question #105 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ALTERCATION
Overseer
Modification
Stitching
Organization
Quarrel
Quarrel
The word altercation comes from the Latin for “to dispute or argue.” It means roughly the same in English. For example, one might say, “After the large altercation between the two men, their friends decided not to invite them to the party, fearing that they would argue in public and disturb the peace of the gathering.”
Example Question #106 : Identifying Synonyms
Answer the following sample question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
NOSTALGIA
remedy
prudence
sentimentality
ailment
hardship
sentimentality
"Nostalgia" means sentimentality or a fondness for the past. "Ailment" means an illness or affliction. "Hardship" means a difficulty or personal burden. "Remedy" means a cure or solution. "Prudence" means caution or carefullness.
Example Question #107 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PHILANTHROPY
Diatribe
Avarice
Quiescence
Charity
Improvidence
Charity
"Philanthropy" and "charity" both mean humanitarianism or generosity. "Avarice" means extreme greed. "Quiescence" means inaction or quiet. "Diatribe" means criticism or tirade. "Improvidence" means carelessness or neglect.
Example Question #108 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ANOMALY
Grotto
Dictum
Incongruity
Tangent
Panacea
Incongruity
Since "anomaly" is a noun which means "a deviation from the norm or what is expected," we need to find another noun that means "a deviation from the norm." While "tangent" may look like a potentially correct answer choice, "tangent" means "a line that touches a curve at one point, but does not intersect it," or "a completely different line of thought or action." So, while "tangent" can be used in a context where it means a deviation from the norm of a conversation, it does not itself mean "deviation from the norm," so it can't be the correct answer. "Incongruity," however, means "something that is strange because of not agreeing with what is usual or expected," so it is the correct answer because of the given answer choices, it is closest in meaning to "anomaly."
Example Question #109 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CHAGRIN
Fluency
Apex
Imitation
Simper
Dissatisfaction
Dissatisfaction
Since "chagrin" is a noun that means "distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated," we need to pick out another noun that means something like "distress" or "embarrassment." While "simper" may sound like a promising answer choice because "chagrin' sounds like "grin" and "simper" can be defined as "an affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating smile or gesture," this doesn't match the actual meaning of "chagrin," so it can't be the correct answer. Of the listed answer choices, "dissatisfaction" comes closest to matching the meaning of "chagrin, so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #110 : Identifying Synonyms
Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FORTITUDE
Capability
Weakness
Energy
Resilience
Lethargy
Resilience
Fortitude means strength of mind or determination. The best answer choice is resilience since someone with fortitude has strength even in the midst of difficulties.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor