Synonyms: Nouns for Nonliving Things - ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

"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.

"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.

"Fable" is a noun that means "a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral." So, we need to pick out a noun that means "a short story." "Epic" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "epic," when used as a noun, is either a long poem derived from ancient oral tradition, which narrates the deeds of heroic or legendary figures, or it is a long narrative work that portrays heroic deeds and covers an extended period of time. So, because epics are specifically long works, "epic" cannot be the correct answer, because we're looking for a noun that means "a short story." "Tale" is a noun that means "a fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted," and because "tale" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "fable," "tale" is the correct answer.

"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.

"Precipice" is a noun that means "a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one," so we need to pick out an answer that means something like "a very steep rock face." Both "landform" and "peak" might look like potentially correct answers, "peak" means "the pointed top of a mountain" or "a mountain, especially one with a pointed top," neither of which mean "a very steep rock face or cliff," and while a "precipice" may be a type of "landform" ("a natural feature of the earth's surface"), "precipice" does not mean the same thing as "landform." "Cliff face," however, is synonymous with "precipice," and because "cliff face" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "precipice," "cliff face" is the correct answer.

A "chapter" is a section of a book.

"Debt" means loan.

"Supper" means dinner.

The correct answer is "wetness." "Dryness," "drought," and "dehydration" are all examples of a lack of moisture. "Dryness" specifically means the opposite of "moisture."

The best choice is "writing," which when used as a noun means written text. An inscription is a message written on or carved into a surface. Considering the other choices, "signature" means one's name in writing. "Erase" means to remove, and a "record" is a list of actions or achievements. "Writing" is closest in meaning because it refers to a general mark while "record" refers to something written down to record knowledge.

The best choice is "concert" because a "symphony" is a type of concert. These words are synonyms. The other choices are unrelated, as "simpleness" means easiness or the quality of not being complex, "contortion" means the action of twisting something out of its normal shape,and "fake," when used as a noun, means something that is a false copy of something else.

The best answer choice is "divide," because even though "divide" can be used as a verb that means separate, when used as a noun, "divide" is a synonym for a "gap" or a space. If none of the choices seem obvious to you, consider what other definitions the words you know might have.

A "chasm" is a very deep hole. "Hole" is the best choice as it is a part of the definition of the word "chasm." Considering the other choices, "chance" means luck or an opportunity, a "coup" is the takeover of a government or a clever act or accomplishment, and "criticize" means to find fault in.

The word "abyss" means a very deep hole. "Cavity," which means a hollow place or a hole, is the best answer choice because it has a similar definition to the word "abyss." Considering the other choices, a "bin" is a box for storing things, "scary" means causing fear, and "tall" means great in height.

A "trinket" is something that is small and of little value. The best choice is "junk" as it also refers to things that are of little value or worthless.

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."

"Terrain" is land. "Land" is the best choice because it is a part of the definition of the word "terrain."

The correct answer is "feast." "Banquet" and "feast" both mean a very large formal meal featuring many types of dishes. While "dinner" is eaten at a "banquet," "feast" is the better synonym of "banquet," so "feast" is the correct answer.

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.