ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Middle Level Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #11 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

BLATANT

Possible Answers:

Disagreeable

Scary

Obvious

Brave

Correct answer:

Obvious

Explanation:

Something that is "blatant"iseasily observable. Something that is easily observable is often "obvious"because it would be difficult not to see. Therefore, "obvious"is the best answer. The other answer choices have meanings unrelated to "blatant": "brave" meansdemonstrating courage; "scary" meanscausing one to feel afraid; and "disagreeable" meansunpleasantorhorrible.

Example Question #12 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

PARTIAL

Possible Answers:

disgusted

flowing

prejudiced

total

Correct answer:

prejudiced

Explanation:

The word "partial" comes from the root "part." A "partial" action is one that only completes part of the total action to be performed. Sometimes, the word is extended to mean something akin to "only seeing and/or acknowledging part of reality." This is means that someone is "biased" or favors one thing over another, though perhaps without a good reason—or at least one that he or she can explain. The word "prejudiced" meanshaving an opinion without really knowing all of the details. The word literally comes from the suffix "pre-," meaningbefore, and "-judiced," which is related to "to judge." A prejudice "pre-judges" a matter before all the facts have been presented. Someone who is "partial" can (in some circumstances) be called "prejudiced."

Example Question #13 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

PRONE

Possible Answers:

small

talented

united

wont

Correct answer:

wont

Explanation:

Both of the meanings of the word "prone" in English derive from a Latin root meaning "leaning forward." In a physical sense, this leads to the meaning oflying face down(now popularly called "planking"), and in a less-literal sense—as in this question—it can meanhaving a tendency towardsomething. One might be prone to anger, or prone to speak out of turn in class. The word "wont," (which is a homophone of the more-familiar word "want"), also meansto be inclined towardsomething.

Example Question #14 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

ONEROUS

Possible Answers:

Scary

Fun

Rude

Difficult

Talented

Correct answer:

Difficult

Explanation:

“猛烈的一击ous" is an adjective that means "involving an amount of effort or difficulty that is overly burdensome." Fun is clearly incorrect, as is talented. So scary sounds possible, since onerous looks a little like ominous, but just because something is challenging does not make it scary, so that's out. Rude is close, and onerous can certainly be used in a context that might mean rude, but ultimately, difficult is the closest synonym.

Example Question #15 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

SUSCEPTIBLE

Possible Answers:

Harangue

Impregnable

Vulnerable

Tempestuous

Quixotic

Correct answer:

Vulnerable

Explanation:

"Susceptible" meansin danger from something specificorvulnerable to something. To help you, "impregnable" meansnot able to be broken into, "tempestuous" meanspassionate and emotional, to "harangue" someone means tolecture, berate,orcriticizehim or her, and "quixotic" meansidealistic and impractical.

Example Question #16 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

ARDUOUS

Possible Answers:

Awkward

Severe

Ardent

Difficult

Dramatic

Correct answer:

Difficult

Explanation:

"Arduous"meanschallenging and/or causing strain. Something that is "difficult" ishard to accomplish. Thus, "difficult"is the best synonym of "arduous." While "ardent" mayseem like a tempting answer, as it sounds similar to the word "arduous,"it meanspassionate, which is very different in meaning than the definition of "arduous."

Example Question #17 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

PECKISH

Possible Answers:

Parched

Famished

Hungry

Mottled

Full

Correct answer:

Hungry

Explanation:

The word "peckish" is an adjective that meansslightly hungry.The best choice is "hungry" because it is part of the definition of "peckish.""Famished" (incredibly hungry) is too strong of a word to be a better synonym of "peckish" than "hungry" is, and "parched" (extremely thirsty) is too distant in meaning to be the correct answer.Considering the other answer choices, "full" meansabundantand "mottled" meansspotted.

Example Question #18 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

LABORIOUS

Possible Answers:

Overt

Simple

Difficult

Mundane

Mediocre

Correct answer:

Difficult

Explanation:

"Labor" meanswork, so it makes sense that “laborious” meansinvolving hard work, or "difficult." “Mundane” meansboringorordinary; “mediocre” meansaverage when higher quality was expected; and "overt" meansobviousoreasy to notice.

Example Question #19 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

Which of the following is a synonym of "impervious?"

Possible Answers:

Susceptible

Nervous

Exposed

Sensitive

Resistant

Correct answer:

Resistant

Explanation:

Resistant. Impervious most nearly means, impenetrable and impassable. Something that is "impervious" is resistant to certain or all things. For instance, a sentence using the word would be "He wasimperviousto her reasoning."

Most of the other choices are antonyms, with the exception of "nervous" which is unrelated.

Example Question #20 :Synonyms: Other Adjectives

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

DISPARATE

Possible Answers:

Uneven

Bombastic

Cold

德layed

Correct answer:

Uneven

Explanation:

The word "disparate" meansunequaloruneven.The best choice is "uneven," as it is a part of the definition of "disparate." Considering the other choices, "delayed" meansput off to a later time,"cold" meanshaving a relatively low temperature,and "bombastic" describes language and meanssounding impressive but not actually meaning much.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors