ISEE Upper Verbal practice test

Marine means oceanic; landward is the strongest trap because it points away from the sea.

Perilous describes something dangerous or full of risk, such as a hazardous journey or unsafe crossing.

As a noun, shelter means a refuge or place of protection. Exposure is the strongest trap because it means being left unprotected.

Peek is the closest synonym of glimpse, a quick look. Gaze is a longer look, while blunder and warning are unrelated.

To endure is to last through difficulty or continue to exist.

To loathe something is to detest or hate it strongly.

The gist of something is its essence. Detail, question, and title name other aspects of a text.

To captivate people is to charm or fascinate them.

Distinct means clear, separate, or noticeably different from others.

To ratify an agreement is to approve it formally.

Exemplary work is excellent enough to serve as a model for others.

DESIST means stop. The other choices preserve the part of speech or general register but do not match the word’s precise meaning.

Formidable means difficult to overcome, impressive, or intimidating.

Arrogant and conceited express disapproval of an excessively high opinion of oneself. Confident and assured describe self-belief; proud can express legitimate satisfaction and does not necessarily imply arrogance.

Indelible means lasting or impossible to erase, especially for a mark or memory.

Dis- suggests separation, and a band is a group. Disband means to break up or dissolve a group. Rehearse, audition, and compose suggest musical activities rather than ending a group’s existence.

Superficial means shallow or concerned only with the surface; thorough is the strongest opposite trap.

To condone behavior is to excuse or allow it without protest.

To abscond is to flee or depart secretly, often to avoid capture. “Arrive” is the clearest opposite.

To supplant something is to replace it, often by taking its position.

Evidence that does not bear on the central question is irrelevant, so the judge would not allow it.

A responsible babysitter will review the family contacts so they are ready to use in emergencies. Festivities, routines, and visitors do not explain the need to prepare for an urgent situation.

A decision supported by every voter is unanimous.

Tone cue: explaining risk makes the warning serious, but not alarming.

Sideways is the only choice that orients the desk so the desktop is vertical; diagonally, backward, and lengthwise do not.

Matching each blank to its definition gives analyze … dismiss. The alternative “ignore … study” assigns the opposite qualities.

The contrast makes “intricate” the only word that fits the turn in the sentence. “plain” is the strongest distractor because it points in the direction the earlier clause rejects.

Pliancy means the ability to bend easily, and supple means flexible. Both meanings are explicitly restated in the sentence.

The sentence changes direction, so plausible completes the contrast. absurd is tempting but would erase that shift.

The contrast with empty praise points to feedback that helps the team improve, which is constructive.

Logical fit across the entire sentence yields humble … ornate. Choosing “luxurious … plain” would undo the relationship established by the context.

The rule blocks Malik despite the application’s strength; preclude means prevent or make impossible.

A spare, unadorned style is austere, and the sentence says that despite this spareness the emotional effect is powerful.

The council plans to vote again after receiving the safety report, so its agreement is temporary and subject to change. Provisional expresses that meaning.

The connector links a disparate cause with an explicit consequence. “similar … obscure” is plausible in form but reverses the reason given.

The concession cue “For all” contrasts ornate wording with workable action; pragmatic means practical and fits the orders being carryable.

Belief in the same underlying mechanism made the resemblance seem fundamental; closer study instead showed that the processes were distinct.

The details define a very brief reply; laconic means using few words.

“Qualified” describes an offer limited by a restriction, here its application to a particular setting. “Provisional” describes a price that remains subject to revision.

Preventive measures that stop calls before they happen forestall them; precipitate would cause them.