All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MYRIAD
Overabundance
Portrait
Structure
Innumerable
Pyramid
Innumerable
The word “myriad” is derived from the Greek for "10,000." In general, it is used to describe a countless multitude of things. For that reason, the best option among the provided answers is “innumerable.” An example usage would be, “Roger wished to do something so foolish that his friends were able to provide him with myriad reasons, overwhelming him with reasons for making such a stupid choice.”
Example Question #43 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PLATITUDINOUS
Tedious
Boring
Overused
Unhelpful
Annoying
Overused
You might be more familiar with the word “platitude” than with “platitudinous.” The former is the related noun form of the same base. A “platitude” is an expression, often moral in nature, that has been so overused that it has lost its meaning. You might know someone who recites such expressions as, “Everything happens for a reason.” Such remarks either tell you nothing or often just frustrate you when horrible things happen. They provide little consolation or direction. Although a “platitudinous” expression could be called “annoying,” it is most properly said to be something “overused.” The annoyance follows on the fact that overuse has totally shorn it of its meaning and significance.
Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
REPLETE
Abounding
Scant
Disingenuous
Pugnacious
Evanescent
Abounding
"Replete" and "abounding" both mean full or well-stocked. "Scant" means meager or paltry. "Disingenuous" means insincere or deceitful. "Evanescent" means transient or brief. "Pugnacious" means belligerent or aggressive.
Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
AESTHETIC
attractive
affluent
sanitary
disciplined
attractive
"Aesthetic" describes something having to do with beauty. Be careful not to confuse it with similar sounding words like "ascetic" (harshly disciplined) or "aseptic" (sanitary).
Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
TAWDRY
tacky
nebulous
taciturn
urbane
sophisticated
tacky
"Tawdry" and "tacky" both mean cheap or tasteless. "Sophisticated" means refined or elegant. "Nebulous" means confused or obscure. "Taciturn" means uncommnicative. "Urbane" means cosmopolitan or sophisticated.
Example Question #16 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TEPID
Enthusiastic
Awe-inspiring
Frigid
Downcast
Halfhearted
Halfhearted
"Tepid" takes on one of its two meanings in this question. "Tepid" can mean lukewarm, but it can also mean halfhearted or indifferent. This question uses the secondary meaning of tepid and the best answer choice is halfhearted.
Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EDIFYING
Decreeing
Improving
Amazing
Defying
Spurning
Improving
The word “edifying” is related to the English “edifice,” meaning building. Most strictly, “to edify” means to improve someone intellectually or morally. It is often used in the sense of “improvement” in general, though this is a secondary usage. Bearing this qualification in mind, “improving” is still the best option among those given. One can speak of “edification” when describing the instruction itself, as in, “He provided edification to the young man in order to improve his moral behavior.”
Example Question #18 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
GARISH
Warlike
Gaudy
Succulent
Modest
Rare
Gaudy
Something that is "garish" is excessively and crudely showy. "Gaudy" carries the same sense of being tastelessly flashy. "Modest" is an antonym.
Example Question #19 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BENIGN
Severe
Thrilled
Detrimental
Mild
Aloof
Mild
If something is benign such as the weather, it indicates that it is mild. In the case of weather, benign conditions are the opposite of inclement weather.
Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
WRETCHED
Queasy
Deplorable
Reassuring
Willful
Wary
Deplorable
"Wretched" and "deplorable" both mean terrible or miserable. "Reassuring" means bolstering or cheerful. "Willful" means stubborn or obstinate. "Wary" means careful or cautious. "Queasy" means uncomfortable or fidgety.
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
