Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Timing, Speed, Movement, and Age

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ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Timing, Speed, Movement, and Age

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

FREQUENT

Often

Jealous

Usually

Burrow

Modest

Explanation

"Frequent" means happening again and again with little time in between events. Anorther word for "frequent" is often, so "often" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "jealous" means envious or wanting what someone else has, "usually" means under normal circumstances, a "burrow" is a hole in the ground that certain animals dig and live in, and to "burrow" means to dig a hole in the ground, and "modest" means not taking as much credit as one should for one's achievements or talent.

2

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

NOVEL

Innovative

Celebrated

Literary

Puzzling

Explanation

In this question, the word "novel" is being used as an adjective, meaning new or inventive. The only word with a similar meaning is "innovative_,"_ which means original or new. "Celebrated" means renowned, while "literary"means having to do with literature or reading, and was meant to throw you off if you had only seen the stem word as a noun (meaning a book-length work of fiction) rather than as an adjective. "Puzzling" means confusing or perplexing .

3

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

ABRUPT

Sudden

Miserable

Circumstantial

Outlandish

Dogmatic

Explanation

“Abrupt” means sudden and unexpected. To provide further help, “outlandish” means bizarre, peculiar, or strange; “dogmatic” means bound by strict, inflexible rules; “miserable” means very sad; “circumstantial” means owed to circumstance, owed to chance.

4

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

PROMPT

Rapid

Joyful

Helpful

Regular

Legal

Explanation

When we describe someone's action as being "prompt," we are saying that it is speedy or quick. Perhaps you have heard your parents say that the service at a restaurant or store is "prompt." This means that it is quick and without delay. The word "rapid" means "quick," so it is the best option for a synonym.

5

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

URGENT

Pressing

Repetitive

Unending

Steady

Meager

Explanation

"Urgent" means pressing or immediate, so "pressing" is the correct answer. "Urgent" has a meaning different from that of "repetitive," which means tedious due to repetition,"steady," which means unvarying or consistent; and "unending," which means not having an end or lasting for a very long time.

6

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

SLITHER

Crawl

Walk

Move

Proceed

Delay

Explanation

You almost certainly know that the movement of a snake is called "slithering." While this kind of movement is not "crawling" in the way that a human baby crawls, it is a slow movement that is very close to the ground. For this reason, "crawl" can be an acceptable synonym. Since there are no better options, this is the correct choice for this question.

7

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

ANNUAL

Yearly

Kind-hearted

Difficult

Stressful

Cooperative

Explanation

"Annual" means on a yearly basis, so "yearly" is the correct answer. "Kind-hearted" means nice and compassionate. "Difficult" means hard or tough to complete. "Stressful" means causing stress or anxiety. "Cooperative" means collaborative or working well with another person or others in a group.

8

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

CONSECUTIVE

Successive

Comparable

Incoherent

Consensus

Proclivity

Explanation

“Consecutive” means occurring in order, one after the other. This is closest in meaning to “successive.” To provide further help, “incoherent” means not able to be understood; “comparable” means able to be compared, similar; “consensus” means agreement; “proclivity” means tendency of doing something.

9

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

NIMBLE

Agile

Robotic

Correct

Indifferent

Explanation

"Nimble" means quick and agile. "Agile" is the best choice because it means easily able to move quickly and is part of the definition of "nimble." Considering the other choices, "robotic" means acting in an unchanging and unemotional manner, like a robot, "correct" means right or true , and "indifferent" means not caring.

10

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

SLUGGISH

Slow

Stiff

Active

Slug

Explanation

The word "sluggish" means slow or lazy. "Slow" is the best choice, as it is a part of the definition of "sluggish." Considering the other choices, "stiff" means rigid . While it may seem related, the word "sluggish" describes some sort of motion, though very little, while "stiff" does not. "Active" is an antonym of the word "sluggish." "Slug" is only related because sluggish means slug-like, as in as slow as a slug.

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