All ISEE Lower Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
A synonym of "catastrophe" is __________.
understanding
calamity
creation
tranquility
veracity
calamity
"Catastrophe" is a noun that means "an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "disaster." "Tranquility" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "tranquility" means "the quality or state of being tranquil; calm," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "catastrophe." "Calamity," however, is a noun that means "an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster," and because "calamity" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "catastrophe," "calamity" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
A synonym of "havoc" is __________.
complaint
memory
devastation
tidiness
measurement
devastation
"Havoc" is a noun that means either "widespread destruction" or "great confusion or disorder." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "destruction" or "disorder." So, "tidiness" cannot be the correct answer, because "tidiness" means "the quality of being not messy, but neat and controlled," making "tidiness" an antonym, not a synonym, of "havoc." "Devastation," however, is a noun that means "great destruction or damage" or "severe and overwhelming shock or grief," and because "devastation" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "havoc," "devastation" is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
THREAT
Hurry
Danger
Calm
Safety
Danger
The correct answer is "danger," because both "threat" and "danger" mean something that can potentially harm someone. "Safety" is an opposite of "danger," and the other two words do not have to do with "threat."
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
FIASCO
Success
Disaster
Boredom
Numbness
Disaster
"Fiasco" is another word for an event that fails in a disastrous way. You might call your birthday party a fiasco if it rains all day, everyone gets lost on the way to your house, and the ice cream melts—in other words, if everything goes wrong. So, "disaster" is the word that we're looking for here. "Success" implies that the event went well, and both "boredom" and "numbness" imply a lack of interest or feeling about the situation.
Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
COLLISION
Achievement
Route
Reign
Homonym
Crash
Crash
A "collision" is the event of one object hitting another, or a "crash." An "achievement" is an accomplishment or the completion of some task or goal. "Reign," when used as a noun, means the period when a person rules or governs. "Homonym" refers to a word that is pronounced in the same way as another word, but has a different meaning than that other word. A "route" is a path or road.
Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
HARBINGER
Guard
Omen
Chaos
Auxilliary
Omen
A "harbinger" is something or someone that is a sign of a future event. The best choice is "omen," which shares the same definition. Considering the other choices, "chaos" means a state of utter confusion, "auxiliary" means additional, and "guard" means a person that protects someone or something.
Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
HARBINGER
Prayer
Commotion
Adage
Omen
Result
Omen
A "harbinger" is something that foretells that something else is approaching. "Omen" is the best match because it means a warning about something that will happen in the future.
Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
TRUCE
Agreement
Opposition
Resentment
Disapproval
Agreement
A "truce" is an agreement reached after a conflict by each person or group involved in it not to continue fighting. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "truce": "resentment" means indignation or bitterness; "disapproval" means displeasure or criticism; and "opposition" means objection or resistance.
Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.
Chapter
Church
Priest
Book
Story
Section
Section
A "chapter" is a section of a book.
Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Nouns For Nonliving Things
A synonym of "donation" is __________.
price
contribution
friendship
interpretation
happiness
contribution
"Donation" is a noun that means "something that is given to a charity, especially a sum of money." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "something that is given to a charity." "Price," then, cannot be the correct answer, because while "price" can refer to a sum of money, it specifically means "the amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something," not "something that is given to a charity." "Contribution," however, is a noun that means "a gift or payment to a common fund or collection," and because "contribution" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "donation," "contribution" is the correct answer.