ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #331 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPAIR
Postulate
Vex
Fortify
Renounce
Weaken
Weaken
“Impair” means weaken, damage, or have a negative effect on. "Fortify” means reinforce and make more secure; "postulate” means posit, or state an unsupported point to consider as the start of a hypothetical argument; "renounce" means swear off one's association with; and "vex" means annoy.
Example Question #161 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FORSAKE
Slander
Desert
Satire
Patronize
Preempt
Desert
“Forsake” means desert or renounce. “Preempt” means to act in advance of something else in order to stop that thing from occurring; “slander” means say bad, false things about something to damage their reputation; “satire” means mock something by adopting its style in a humorous way; and “patronize” means interact with in a condescending manner.
Example Question #162 : Synonyms: Verbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXONERATE
Prosecute
Convict
Condemn
Acquit
Postulate
Acquit
“Exonerate” means release from blame, free from guilt in court, or "acquit." As for the other answer choices, “condemn” means heavily criticize or punish; “convict," when used as a verb, means demonstrate in court that someone committed a crime; “prosecute” means start legal action against someone; and “postulate” means posit.
Example Question #164 : Synonyms: Verbs
Each synonyms question is made up of a word in capital letters followed by five choices. Choose the one word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SUCCUMB:
sanction
appease
acquiesce
yield
concur
yield
If someone succumbs, it means they yield or surrender; an example is succumbing in battle.
Example Question #2270 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.
AMELIORATE
improve
quiet
grind
provoke
improve
Ameliorate means to make better or improve.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
USURP
settle
abolish
donate
truncate
seize
seize
"Usurp" means to take without permission. "Truncate" is incorrect because it means to reduce, "donate" means to give away, and abolish means to get rid of. "Seize" is the only possible answer choice, which means to take.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
OBVIATE
quip
scrutinize
pulverize
ruffle
preclude
preclude
"Obviate" and "preclude" both mean to make unnecessary. "Pulverize" means to smash or destroy. "Quip" means to make a witty remark or retort. "Ruffle" means to upset or irritate. "Scrutinize" means to examine closely.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Other Verbs
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
JEOPARDIZE
jettison
garner
imperil
warp
incite
imperil
"Jeopardize" and "imperil" both mean to put at risk or in danger. "Jettison" means to eject or expel. "Garner" means to collect or accumulate. "Incite" means provoke or inspire to action. "Warp" means to distort or cause to be misshapen.
Example Question #2271 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ESCHEW
overlook
spurn
disdain
forgo
ignore
forgo
The word “eschew” is a rather strange English word meaning to avoid the use of (something) or to forgo the use of. For instance, it would be used in a sentence like, “Since Harold had allergic reactions to all kinds of strawberries, he chose to eschew them entirely, rather than risk any contact with the potentially deadly fruits.”
Example Question #2272 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EASE
angst
juxtapose
cater
intuition
mitigate
mitigate
The crucial thing to realize when approaching this problem is that "ease" can function either as a noun or as a verb. We have both nouns and verbs listed in the possible answer choices, so it's important to consider each of the word's different meanings. As a noun, "ease" means a lack of difficulty; neither "angst" nor "intuition" match that meaning. As a verb, "ease" means lessen the severity of something bad. As "mitigate" means cause to become less severe, it is the best answer choice.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
