Synonyms: Nouns for Abstract Concepts

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ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Nouns for Abstract Concepts

Questions 1 - 10
1

A synonym of "hiatus" is __________.

break

continuation

meddle

worship

participation

Explanation

"Hiatus" is a noun that means "a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "a pause or gap." "Continuation," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "continuation" means "the action of carrying something on over a period of time or the process of being carried on," making it an antonym of "hiatus." "Break," however, when used as a noun, can mean "a pause in work or during an activity or event," and because "break" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "hiatus," "break" is the correct answer.

2

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

PENCHANT

Fondness

Oddity

Cylinder

Market

Tantrum

Explanation

"Penchant" means a liking or fondness. For example, if someone has a "penchant for chocolate cake," they really like chocolate cake. "Fondness" is thus the correct answer.

3

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

INSANITY

Madness

Sadness

Happiness

Comfort

Fragility

Explanation

"Insanity" is madness, craziness, the lack of sanity. To provide further help, "fragility" means weakness, the quality of being easily broken.

4

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

HOAX

Joke

Fatigue

Denial

Disagreement

Explanation

"Hoax" is defined as an act intending to trick or deceive, so "joke" is the best match.

5

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.

VOCATION

Job

Speech

Admonishment

Diatribe

Quarantine

Explanation

A “vocation” is an occupation, a job, or a career. To provide further guidance, a "diatribe" is an angry speech; "admonish" means to tell off, to condemn; "quarantine" is where something or someone is placed in isolation to prevent a disease from spreading.

6

A synonym of "mirth" is __________.

gaiety

depression

nicety

shallowness

direction

Explanation

"Mirth" is a noun that means "amusement, especially as expressed in laughter," so we need to pick out a noun that means something like "amusement." "Depression," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "depression" means " severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "mirth." "Gaiety," however, is a noun that can mean "the state or quality of being lighthearted or cheerful" or "merrymaking or festivity," and because "gaiety" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mirth," "gaiety" is the correct answer.

7

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

COMMENDATION

Recognition

Judgment

Expression

Elation

Order

Explanation

The verb "to commend" means "to praise." Thus, a "commendation" is the actual praise that is received. For example, we might say that someone receives a commendation from the president of the United States for an important scientific breakthrough that will save many lives. Thus, the commendation is the actual praise that is given. It is a bit of an abstract word, for "praise" is not something that we can really touch or see. However, we do often talk like it is: "She received the praise with grace." Thus, someone could also say, "She received the commendation with grace and appreciation." Of the options given, only "recognition" is closest to this kind of praise. When we "recognize" someone, we often mean to call attention to that person and thus to praise him or her.

8

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

AMBIENCE

Atmosphere

Entrance

Administration

Horticulture

Delegation

Explanation

The "ambiance" of a place is its general look and character, or its "atmosphere." As for the other answer choices, an “entrance” is where you can walk into a place; “administration” means the people in charge of running a company or government or the task of keeping such a group running smoothly; a “delegation” is representatives from some group of people; and "horticulture” is the study of growing plants.

9

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

PACT

Contract

Break

Credit

Rule

Measurement

Explanation

A "pact" is an agreement. The best choice is "contract," which means a legally enforceable agreement between two or more individuals or organizations. Considering the other choices, "break" means smash into parts, "credit" means the ability to buy things that you will then pay for at a later time or trustworthiness when used as a noun and attribute as a verb, and "rule" means a code by which people abide.

10

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

OMISSION

Removal

Retention

Revival

Omniscient

Departure

Explanation

An "omission" is a removal of something; for instance, omitting text from a paper means taking out those words. That means that "removal" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "omission": "omniscient" means all-knowing; "revival" means the act of coming back to conscious life or a comeback in popularity; and "retention" means_the act of keeping something in a given place_.

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