All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #398 : Identifying Synonyms
A synonym of "costly" is __________.
pricey
talkative
burdensome
mistaken
cheap
pricey
"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 __________.
hidden
understood
mundane
phenomenal
incidental
phenomenal
"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 __________.
fraudulent
profitable
insincere
unprofitable
sincere
profitable
“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
Kind
Cruel
Confusing
Costly
Cheap
Costly
"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
Trial
Meager
Cupboard
Coin
Meager
"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
Difficult
Creative
Advantageous
Easy
Advantageous
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
Antique
Expensive
Authoritative
Worthless
Expensive
"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
Frightening
Trembling
Flawed
Horrible
Untrained
Flawed
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
Lofty
Rude
Snobby
Best
Happy
Best
"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
Bent
Dull
Pitiful
Descriptive
Strategic
Pitiful
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.
All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
