ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

VERITABLE

Possible Answers:

voracious

bona fide

raucous

ironic

effusive

Correct answer:

bona fide

Explanation:

"Veritable" and "bona fide" both mean authentic or actual. "Voracious" means very hungry or greedy. "Ironic" means sarcastic or caustic. "Raucous" means rowdy or rough. "Effusive" means gushing or profuse

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

UNWITTING

Possible Answers:

Measured

Forgetful

Inadvertent

Boastful

Purposeful

Correct answer:

Inadvertent

Explanation:

"Unwitting" is an adjective that means either "not aware of the full facts" when referring to a person, or "not done on purpose; unintentional." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "not aware of the full facts" or "unintentional." "Purposeful" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "purposeful" is an antonym of "unwitting," not a synonym. "Inadvertent," however, is an adjective that means "not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "unwitting," "inadvertent" is the correct answer.

Example Question #653 : Identifying Synonyms

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

VERBALIZED

Possible Answers:

Constructed

Declined

Spoken

Conjugated

Conjoined

Correct answer:

Spoken

Explanation:

Although one can be said to “verbalize” his or her words when he or she writes them, the term most often is used to describe the process of speaking ideas that were heretofore unspoken. For example, you could say, “After thinking about his theory for a number of years, Paul finally decided to verbalize it, hoping that he could clarify his thoughts by speaking them.”

Example Question #661 : Identifying Synonyms

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

CANDID

Possible Answers:

Insincere

Deleterious

Angsty

Sophisticated

Truthful

Correct answer:

Truthful

Explanation:

Because "candid" means truthful and straightforward, or frank, the best answer choice is "truthful."

Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

LEGITIMATE

Possible Answers:

Cultured

Valid

Scholarly

Political

Public

Correct answer:

Valid

Explanation:

When something is “legitimate” it is in accord with the laws that would pertain to that class of things. For example, one could speak of a “legitimate action” as being one that is legal. Also, in a more extended sense, it can indicate conformity to the general laws of rationality or that a given thing is rightfully done in a given circumstance. For instance, a “legitimate critique,” is one that is valid given the data of the original argument. Such a critique justly finds something wrong with the argument and is therefore called “valid” or “legitimate.”

Example Question #10 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

SPECIOUS

Possible Answers:

Trivial

Rhetorical

Misleading

Circumlocution

Extended

Correct answer:

Misleading

Explanation:

The word “specious” comes from the Latin for “appearance” or “beautiful.” When something is “specious,” it appears to be correct but really is not. It is merely apparent. Therefore, it misleads the person who considers it. Often, one will speak of “specious reasoning,” describing thereby some argument that appears to be plausible when in fact it is really false.

Example Question #662 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MARGINAL

Possible Answers:

Frequent

Monumental

Sharp

Negligible

Crucial

Correct answer:

Negligible

Explanation:

"Marginal" is an adjective that can besides meaning "of, relating to, or situated at the edge or margin of something," can also mean " of secondary or minor importance; not central." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "of minor importance." Neither "crucial" nor "monumental" can be the correct answer, then, because each word is an antonym of "marginal," not a synonym. "Negligible," however, is an adjective that means "so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant," and because it is the answer choir that is closest in meaning to "marginal," "negligible" is the correct answer.

Example Question #663 : Identifying Synonyms

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

NOTEWORTHY

Possible Answers:

Intelligent

Cryptic

Irritating

Brutal

Important

Correct answer:

Important

Explanation:

"Noteworthy" means important or interesting. "Irritating" means annoying or bothersome. "Cryptic" means mysterious or puzzling. "Intelligent" means well-informed or smart. "Brutal" means violent and vicious.

Example Question #666 : Identifying Synonyms

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

FRIVOLOUS

Possible Answers:

Inane

Listless

Dour

Aristocratic

Pliable

Correct answer:

Inane

Explanation:

“Frivolous” means purposeless and foolish, often specifically when serious purpose was expected. Thus, the correct answer is "inane," which means goofy and idiotic. As for the other answer choices, "listless" means languid or lethargic; "dour" means dreary and stern; "aristocratic" means having to do with historical high classes; and "pliable" means able to be bent.

Example Question #664 : Identifying Synonyms

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

MARGINAL

Possible Answers:

Filial

Insignificant

Doubtful

Unknown

Repetitive

Correct answer:

Insignificant

Explanation:

The “margins” of a piece of paper are the edges on which nothing is normally written. When someone takes “marginal notes,” he or she writes in this space—as when someone writes in the margins of a book to keep notes on the text being read. To say that something is “marginal” is to imply that it does not sit “in the midst of the important things” but is merely “on the edges.” For this reason, the word is often used to describe something that is believed to be unimportant. For example, someone might say, “His remarks were really of marginal significance for the decision, for he did not know much about the topic.”

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