All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #106 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MISANTHROPIC
Sickly
Amoral
Extroverted
Childish
Reclusive
Reclusive
A misanthrope is somewhat like a scrooge: someone who is antisocial and avoids human society; therefore "reclusive," which is a word for someone who acts like a bit of a hermit and spends most of his or her time away from others, is the correct answer.
Example Question #111 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTRACTABLE
Indefatigable
Complex
Strenuous
Umanageable
Magnanimous
Umanageable
"Intractable" means difficult or burdensome; therefore, "unmanageable" is the best answer.
Example Question #711 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LIBERAL
Extended
Immoral
Generous
Expensive
Drinking
Generous
The word “liberal” has become very charged because of its political connotations. However, the original meaning can be discerned from the general sense that you likely have concerning its political meaning. The word “liberal” comes from the Latin for “free.” When someone gives things liberally, he or she gives them freely (as though they cost nothing). For this reason, the word “liberal” can mean “open-minded” (i.e. free-minded) as well as “generous” and a number of related meanings. Among the options provided for this question, the word “generous” most closely answers to the meaning of “liberal.”
Example Question #491 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MAGNANIMOUS
Unforgiving
Free
Stingy
Particular
Beneficent
Beneficent
"Magnanimous" is an adjective that means "very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself." So, neither "stingy" nor "unforgiving" can be the correct answer because each of those words is an antonym of "demure." "Beneficent," an adjective that means "of a person: generous or doing good" or "resulting in good," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "magnanimous," so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #113 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
WANTON
Reverent
Dissolute
Civilian
Homely
Dormant
Dissolute
Because "wanton" means immoral or sexually promiscuous, the best answer choice is "dissolute," which means lax in morals or licentious.
Example Question #51 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HEADSTRONG
Terrible
Portentous
Stubborn
Yielding
Meek
Stubborn
"Headstrong" is an adjective that means "self-willed and obstinate," or "not willing to do what other people want : very stubborn." So, neither "yielding" nor "meek" can be the correct answer because "yielding" and "meek" are both antonyms of "headstrong." "Stubborn" is the closest synonym to "headstrong" amongst the listed answers, so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #52 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HAUGHTY
Overstated
Wealthy
Conceited
Affluent
Prosperous
Conceited
While one might think that “haughty” is related to someone being wealthy, what it generally means is that someone has a “high opinion” of himself or herself. Such a person would judge others as being “beneath” him or her. An adequate description of such a “haughty person” would be “conceited,” which means “being very proud, judging one’s abilities to be great.”
Example Question #712 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LETHARGIC
Worthless
Vacuous
Inert
Incapable
Idiotic
Inert
A person who is “lethargic” lacks energy and does not care much for undertaking any activities. Among the options provided, “inert” is closest to this. In chemistry, you may have spoken of “inert” compounds or elements—those that do not undergo chemical reactions. “Inert” is derived from the combination of “in-,” here used as meaning “not” (as in “indivisible”), and the word for “skill” or “art” in Latin. To be “inert” is therefore to lack skills, arts, or (at least) activities.
Example Question #52 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRUDISH
Respectful
Censorious
Honorable
Boring
Moral
Censorious
A prude is someone who is easily offended about sexual morality, often being judgmental of others. By extension, the term can generally mean “judgmental.” When someone is “censorious,” he or she is very critical—like one who censors the actions of others.
Example Question #492 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PAROCHIAL
Ecclesiastical
Educational
Illiberal
Dying
School
Illiberal
The word “parochial” is related to statutes in the law of the Catholic Church defining the geographic boundaries in which a parish church exists. The word became extended in meaning to signify the character of someone that someone never leaves that small area. If someone becomes limited in travel, that person will likely also be limited in his or her exposure to new ideas. For that reason, the word “parochial” has taken on the additional meaning of “narrow or limited in outlook.” Illiberal can mean “uncultured” in the sense of being “not free-thinking or broad minded.”
All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
