ISEE Middle Level Verbal : ISEE Middle Level (grades 7-8) Verbal Reasoning

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2481 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

FRANK

Possible Answers:

Confident

Emotional 

Determined

Candid

Critical 

Correct answer:

Candid

Explanation:

"Frank" means honest, upfront, or candid, so "candid" is the synonym. 

Example Question #2482 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

CRYPTIC

Possible Answers:

Mysterious

Unfortunate

Somber

Frightening

Ghostly

Correct answer:

Mysterious

Explanation:

“Cryptic” derives from the Greek word for "secret," so it makes sense that it means difficult to understand or having a hidden or secret meaning. "Mysterious" is thus the best answer. “Potent” means strong and powerful and is often used to describe medicine and solutions; “unfortunate” means unlucky, not fortunate; and "ghostly" means like a ghost or spectral; "somber" means severe, serious, and gloomy.

Example Question #2483 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters. 

APOCRYPHAL

Possible Answers:

Accurate 

Mythical

Succinct

Foolish 

Honest

Correct answer:

Mythical

Explanation:

An “apocryphal” story is one that is probably not true, but widely believed to be true. This is closest in definition to "mythical." To provide further guidance, "foolish" means not clever, stupid; "succinct" means expressed clearly in as few words as possible; "accurate" means exact, precise, on target.

Example Question #2484 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

SALIENT

Possible Answers:

different

salty

prominent

discounted

Correct answer:

prominent

Explanation:

The word "salient" comes from a Latin word meaning to leap. If someone makes a salient point, it's as if that point is leaping out at you, leading to its meaning of prominent or relevant. Don't be deceived by false cognates, such as "saline" (salty), or "sale" (discounted).

Example Question #2485 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

A synonym of "erroneous" is __________.

Possible Answers:

correct

complex

mistaken

simple

fallible

Correct answer:

mistaken

Explanation:

"Erroneous" is an adjective that means "wrong; incorrect," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "wrong." "Correct," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "correct" is an antonym of "erroneous," not a synonym. "Mistaken," however, is an adjective that means either "wrong in one's opinion or judgment" or especially of a belief, "based on or resulting from a misunderstanding or faulty judgment." Because "mistaken" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "erroneous," "mistaken" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1001 : Identifying Synonyms

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

COVERT

Possible Answers:

Hidden 

Thematic

Illegal 

Distasteful 

Federal 

Correct answer:

Hidden 

Explanation:

Something that is "covert" is hidden, or more specifically, hidden from the general public. For example, some police officers will walk around public places in a covert manner so that they can more easily find unsuspecting criminals without being identified as police officers. So, "hidden" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2486 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

SALIENT

Possible Answers:

Significant 

Circumstantial

Unstable 

Irrelevant 

Exquisite 

Correct answer:

Significant 

Explanation:

"Salient" means significant or noteworthy. To help you, "irrelevant" means not important and is an antonym of "salient." To further help you, "unstable" means not balancedmentally unbalanced, prone to experiencing problems of a psychiatric nature, or volatile; circumstantial means accidental or owed to circumstance; and "exquisite" means perfect, divine, or gorgeous.

Example Question #2487 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

 DUBIOUS
Possible Answers:
abrupt
 

fragile

certain

superfluous
doubtful
 
Correct answer:
doubtful
 
Explanation:
If you are not too sure about something, you might be "dubious" about it, as "dubious" means expressing doubt or hesitation. Considering the potential answer choices, "abrupt" means stark or sudden, "certain" means absolutely sure, "superfluous" means extraneous, and "fragile" means breakable. So, none of these answer choices can be correct because none of them are close in meaning to "dubious." "Doubtful," however, is an adjective that means uncertain, and because "doubtful" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "dubious," "doubtful" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1365 : Synonyms

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Alien

Vague

Unusual

Frustrating

Unsure

Correct answer:

Vague

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" means "vague," or indefinite and undefined.

Example Question #2488 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Verbal Reasoning

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Droll

Elegant

Amorphous

Gaunt

Vague

Correct answer:

Vague

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" is an adjective that means unclear, open to interpretation, or vague. For example, one might say, "By avoiding specific details, she kept her story rather ambiguous."

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