All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #911 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEVIANT
Anomalous
Shunned
Miscreant
Illegal
Imprisoned
Anomalous
We tend to think of “deviant” as used in the phrase “social deviant.” This is often applied to people (perhaps problem-causing children) who are involved in activities that society frowns upon. This usage must not lead us to think that “deviant” means one who does illegal things. It is better understood from the perspective of the word “deviate,” which means to stray beyond the norms. When something is an anomaly, it is just this, namely something that goes away from the norm.
Example Question #912 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TANTAMOUNT
Stringent
Same
Ironic
Cryptic
Bubbly
Same
"Tantamount" means the same or identical and is typically found in the phrase "X is tantamount to Y." That makes "same" the correct answer; as for the other answer choices, "stringent" means rigid or tight; "ironic" means coincidental or unexpected; "bubbly" means lively or energetic; and "cryptic" means secret or obscure in meaning.
Example Question #913 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ERRATIC
Irregular
Forgetful
Foolish
Unreliable
Wrong
Irregular
Among your options, it might be tempting to choose “unreliable”; however, the closest meaning for “erratic” is “irregular” or unpredictable. The word comes originally from the Latin meaning to stray or wander. When someone “errs,” he or she might make a mistake, but the strict sense is that person “goes the wrong way.” Someone might be “unreliable” because they are erratic; however, that is only because that person is irregular or unpredictable. Because they are so, they are thus unreliable.
Example Question #914 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PROLIFIC
Prominent
Flowery
Famous
Ornate
Abundant
Abundant
The word “prolific” comes from the Latin for “bearing offspring.” When an animal is “prolific” it bears much fruit or many children. When an artist is prolific, he or she produces many works. An example sentence would be, “The old man had been a prolific author during his lifetime, writing over a hundred best-selling thriller novels.”
Example Question #915 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VAPID
Appropriate
Quick
Dull
Steamy
Risky
Dull
Originally used to describe beverages lacking in flavor, "vapid" came to describe anything that is dull or insipid.
Example Question #916 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BANAL
Ridiculous
Profound
Vapid
Pitiful
Popular
Vapid
When something is banal, it is extremely overused and has little meaning because of that. For instance, one might speak of a “banal phrase” that is really nothing but empty words or “banal song lyrics” that really express no meaning at all. When something is “vapid,” it does not stimulate at all. The word “vapid” comes from the Latin for “flat” or “tasteless.”
Example Question #917 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FRUITFUL
Blighted
Fecund
Amiable
Innocuous
Growing
Fecund
“Fruitful” means fertile, plentiful, fecund, or producing a lot of something, so "fecund," meaning fertile, is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “innocuous” means harmless; "blighted" means diseased and specifically refers to plants; "amiable" means friendly and warm in demeanor; and "growing" means maturing.
Example Question #2631 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PEDESTRIAN
Uneventful
Exquisite
Thrilling
Languid
Heavy
Uneventful
When used as a noun, "pedestrian" means "a person walking along a road or in a developed area." When used as an adjective, however, "pedestrian" means "lacking inspiration or excitement; dull." "Thrilling" cannot be the correct answer because "thrilling" is an antonym of "vim," and while "languid" may seem close in meaning to "pedestrian," "languid" means "displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed" when describing a person, manner, or gesture, "pleasantly lazy and peaceful" when describing an occasion or period of time, or "weak or faint from illness or fatigue." "Uneventful," an adjective that means "not marked by interesting or exciting events," is the closest synonym to "pedestrian" amongst the listed answer choices, so "uneventful" is the correct answer.
Example Question #311 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MYRIAD
Describable
Measurable
Variable
Acceptable
Innumerable
Innumerable
If a high school offers a myriad of classes, it means that there is a vast amount or a seemingly innumerable number of classes.
Example Question #312 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MYRIAD
Portrait
Structure
Innumerable
Pyramid
Overabundance
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.”
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All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
