ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, and Importance
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FRANK
Candid
Confident
Emotional
Determined
Critical
"Frank" means honest, upfront, or candid, so "candid" is the synonym.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
INANE
Absurd
Eminent
Smooth
Wordy
The word "inane" means having no sense. So, "absurd," which means completely senseless, is the best choice. Considering the other choices, "eminent" means distinguished in rank, "smooth" means even on the surface, and "wordy" means talkative.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
CRUCIAL
Vital
Diminutive
Unimportant
Extra
The word "crucial" refers to something that is necessary to achieve a certain end. For example, if one more loss will eliminate your team from the baseball championship, then winning the next game is crucial. Basically, we are looking for a word that implies great importance. "Vital," which means essential, is the best choice here. "Unimportant" is the opposite of the answer that we want, and "extra" implies that something is present in addition to a certain quantity and unnecessary, not that it is necessary. Finally, "diminutive" means short or unusually small.
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
IMPERATIVE
Essential
Optional
Unexpected
Abrupt
Somber
Something that is "imperative" is crucial or essential, so "essential" is the correct answer choice. As for the other answer choices, "somber" means _sad and serious; "_abrupt" means sudden ; and "optional" means not necessary.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
DEMONSTRATIVE
Open
Evil
Layered
Illegal
The word "demonstrative" means serving the purpose of showing and explaining. The best choice is "show" as it is a part of the definition of "demonstrative."
A synonym of "incontrovertible" is __________.
irrefutable
inconstant
belated
possessive
unbelievable
"Incontrovertible" is an adjective that means "not able to be denied or disputed," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "undeniable." "Unbelievable," while beginning with a negative prefix like both "incontrovertible" ("in-") and "undeniable" ("un-") do, actually means "not able to be believed; unlikely to be true," so it is an antonym of "incontrovertible" and "undeniable." "Irrefutable," however, is an adjective that means "impossible to deny or disprove," and because "irrefutable" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "incontrovertible," "irrefutable" is the correct answer.
A synonym of "erroneous" is __________.
mistaken
correct
simple
complex
fallible
"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.
Synonyms: select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to that of the word in capital letters.
SALIENT
prominent
salty
discounted
different
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).
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PETTY
Insignificant
Lucrative
Important
Dark
"Petty" is and adjective that means relatively unimportant, so the answer choice closest in meaning to "petty" is "insignificant," an adjective meaning of no significance, unimportant, or irrelevant. None of the other answer are close in meaning to "petty": "lucrative" is an adjective meaning profitable; "important" is an antonym of "petty" meaning of great significance; and "dark" is an adjective meaning having little light by which to see or closer to black than to white in shade.
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
VITUPERATIVE
Abusive
Neglected
Criticized
Disorganized
The word "vituperative" means abusive. So "abusive," a word that means characterized by treating someone badly, is the correct answer. Considering the other choices, "neglected" means not having received a suitable amount of attention, "criticized" means judged harshly by another when describing something,and "disorganized" means careless.