ISEE Verbal Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: EPHEMERAL is most nearly the same in meaning as:
- Temporary (Correct answer)
- Permanent
- Beautiful
- Dangerous
Correct answer: Temporary
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time, transient. Examples include ephemeral pleasures or the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms.
Question 2: AUDACIOUS is most nearly opposite in meaning to:
- Timid (Correct answer)
- Bold
- Clever
- Reckless
Correct answer: Timid
Audacious means showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks. Its opposite is timid, meaning showing a lack of courage or confidence.
Question 3: The _____ of evidence against the suspect made conviction almost certain.
- Preponderance (Correct answer)
- Absence
- Scarcity
- Irrelevance
Correct answer: Preponderance
A preponderance means a superiority in weight, power, importance, or strength. A preponderance of evidence means the majority of evidence points in one direction.
Question 4: PRAGMATIC is most nearly the same in meaning as:
- Practical (Correct answer)
- Idealistic
- Emotional
- Theoretical
Correct answer: Practical
Pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
Question 5: VERBOSE is most nearly opposite in meaning to:
- Concise (Correct answer)
- Wordy
- Loud
- Eloquent
Correct answer: Concise
Verbose means using or expressed in more words than are needed; wordy. Its opposite is concise, meaning giving a lot of information clearly in a few words.
Question 6: The mayor's _____ response to the crisis drew criticism for its lack of urgency.
- Tepid (Correct answer)
- Passionate
- Swift
- Forceful
Correct answer: Tepid
Tepid means showing little enthusiasm or conviction, lukewarm. A tepid response to a crisis would lack the urgency the situation demands.
ISEE Verbal Reasoning 2
EPHEMERAL is most nearly the same in meaning as: