Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location

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ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

CONSTRUCT

Build

Incite

Court

Withdraw

Soar

Explanation

To “construct” something means to build it, so "build" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “incite” means s_tart_ or cause a reaction; “court” is where legal cases are tried; “withdraw” means pull away or take oneself out of a competition; and “soar” means fly high.

2

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

INCARCERATE

Imprison

Count

Free

Important

Explanation

The word "incarcerate" means put in jail or imprison."Imprison" is the best choice because it is a part of the definition of "incarcerate."

3

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

OVERFLOW

Flood

Rise

Increase

Push

Dredge

Explanation

When a body of water "overflows," it goes over the edges of its container. If you were to have the water overflow in your bathtub, it would spill out over the top of the tub. In order to "overflow" this kind of spilling is necessary - not just mere rising of water levels. Now, none of the options directly deals with this kind of spilling. However, the word "flood" does indicate what happens when some bodies of water overflow. Thus, since this is the only good option, you should choose it.

4

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

INTERROGATE

Question

Frighten

Lighten

Permeate

Facilitate

Explanation

The word "interrogate" comes from roots that mean to ask or to question. You could say, "He interrogated her for many hours, trying to discover the cause of the murder." This means that he asked the other person questions for hours to discover the murder's cause. The word "question" can be used as a verb. You could rewrite that sentence with just that basic replacement: "He questioned her for many hours, trying to discover the cause of the murder."

5

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

PLUNGE

Dive

Clean

Clear

Hurl

Greet

Explanation

The word "plunge" has a range of meanings, but all of them have to do with falling in one way or another. When the prices of something plunge, they fall quickly and greatly. When you plunge a knife into a tomato, you press it into ("down into") its surface. Likewise, when you go for a swim and dive into the water, you plunge down into the water. It is in this sense that the word is being used here, so the best option is "dive," which alone is a good synonym for "plunge."

6

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

LUG

Carry

Nut

Hold

Disclose

Explanation

The word "lug," when used as a verb, means carry. "Carry" is the best choice, as it is a part of the definition of "lug." Considering the other choices, a "nut" is a fruit made up of a kernel in a shell,"hold" means keep in hand or in a certain state, and "disclose" means make private information known to someone else or other people.

7

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

WITHDRAW

Remove

Stay

Engage

Begin

Explanation

The correct answer is "remove." To "withdraw" something means to remove it. The other words are all the opposites of "remove."

8

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

SLACK

Loose

Roped

Chained

Untied

Looped

Explanation

You might know the word "slack" from its use in the related form "slacker," meaning someone who does not do his or her work with devotion or care. A "slacker" is someone who is not hard working and therefore could be said to be "loose" in work habits. To be "slack" is to be loose—like a "slack rope" that is loose. Don't be fooled by all the "rope and chain" related words among the answers. To be slack describes being loose, not necessarily anything about ropes or chains—though ropes and chains could be "taut" (tight and/or rigid) or slack.

9

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

BLEED

Seep

Injure

Sicken

Faint

Wound

Explanation

The word "bleed" does of course have to do with blood and health often; however, it basically means "to flow." For example, people will "bleed" radiators to leave out extra air so that more water can enter them. The word "seep" expresses this kind of bleeding. Think of when you paint with water colors. They often can seep into each other. We almost naturally say, "The colors are bleeding into each other." This is the meaning we are looking for in this question!

10

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

DISMISS

Send away

Convert

Exasperate

Ascertain

Evade

Explanation

Dismiss means to send away or to ignore information. To further help you, convert means to change something from one thing to another; exasperate means to frustrate or madden; evade means to avoid or dodge; ascertain means to figure out or find out.

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