ISEE Lower Level Verbal : ISEE Lower Level (grades 5-6) Verbal Reasoning

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #398 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of "costly" is __________.

Possible Answers:

pricey

talkative

burdensome

mistaken

cheap

Correct answer:

pricey

Explanation:

"Costly" is an adjective that means either "costing a lot; expensive" or "causing suffering, loss, or disadvantage," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "costing a lot" or "causing suffering." "Cheap" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "cheap" is an antonym, not a synonym, of "costly." Since "pricey" is an adjective that informally means "expensive," "pricey" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "costly," making "pricey" is the correct answer.

Example Question #399 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of "marvelous" is __________.

Possible Answers:

hidden

understood

mundane

phenomenal

incidental

Correct answer:

phenomenal

Explanation:

"Marvelous" is an adjective that means either "causing great wonder; extraordinary" or "extremely good or pleasing; splendid." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "extraordinary" or "splendid." "Mundane," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "mundane" means "lacking interest or excitement; dull," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "marvelous." "Phenomenal," however, is an adjective that means " very remarkable; extraordinary," and because "phenomenal" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "marvelous," "phenomenal" is the correct answer.

Example Question #401 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “lucrative” is __________.

Possible Answers:

fraudulent

profitable

insincere

unprofitable

sincere

Correct answer:

profitable

Explanation:

“Lucrative” is an adjective that means “producing profit,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “producing profit.” That means that “unprofitable” cannot be the correct answer, because “unprofitable” can mean “not yielding profit” when referring to a business or activity, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “lucrative.” “Profitable,” however, is an adjective that means “yielding profit” when referring to a business or activity, and because “profitable” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “lucrative,” “profitable” is the correct answer.

Example Question #231 : Synonyms: Adjectives

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Expensive

Possible Answers:

Kind

Cruel

Confusing

Costly

Cheap

Correct answer:

Costly

Explanation:

"Expensive" means costly.

Example Question #571 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PALTRY

Possible Answers:

Trial

Meager

Cupboard

Coin

Correct answer:

Meager

Explanation:

"Paltry" means incredibly small and meaningless. "Meager" is the best choice because it also means worthless or not enough. 

Example Question #572 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

LUCRATIVE

Possible Answers:

Difficult

Creative

Advantageous

Easy

Correct answer:

Advantageous

Explanation:

The word "lucrative" means profitable or moneymaking. The best choice is "advantageous" because it means profitable or useful.

Example Question #402 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.

VALUABLE

Possible Answers:

Antique

Expensive

Authoritative

Worthless

Correct answer:

Expensive

Explanation:

"Valuable" is defined as worth a great deal of money. Since "expensive" things are highly priced, "expensive" is the best answer choice. "Worthless" is an antonym of "valuable."

Example Question #403 : Identifying Synonyms

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

FAULTY

Possible Answers:

Frightening

Trembling

Flawed

Horrible

Untrained

Correct answer:

Flawed

Explanation:

The word "faulty" is an adjective that means—unsurprisingly—having a fault or faults. A "faulty" tire is one that does not spin correctly, and a "faulty computer" is one that does not work as it should. You might get confused looking at the options and think that perhaps "trembling" is a good good answer. A "fault line" is an imperfection in the earth's crust, leading to earthquakes at times. However, the word "faulty" mere indicates imperfection or flaws. Therefore, "flawed" is the best answer.

Example Question #404 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ELITE

Possible Answers:

Lofty

Rude

Snobby

Best

Happy

Correct answer:

Best

Explanation:

"Elite" means having superlative qualities. "Best" means better than all other options. Given how similar these words' meanings are, "best" is the synonym for "elite."

Example Question #405 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PATHETIC

Possible Answers:

Bent

Dull

Pitiful

Descriptive

Strategic

Correct answer:

Pitiful

Explanation:

The word “pathetic” means so embarrassing that you make people feel bad for you, so "pitiful" is the correct answer, as it also means making people feel bad for the person or thing described.

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