Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

You most likely use "base" in the physical sense, describing something that is at the bottom of another thing—as in the base of a statue or some other thing. However, the meaning can be extended to mean anything that is low. This often is used to describe low morals or bad moral standards. Thus, to call something "base" is to say that the thing is immoral or very unacceptable. Thus, the best option here is "immoral."

Several of the other options try to trick you. A footstool seems low, but it is not synonymous with "base" even in the first sense discussed above. Also, we do often think of "military bases." However, these "bases" are the actual physical locations for the soldiers. The word is not synonymous with "militant" or "infantry".

The word "blunt" is a kind of antonym for "sharp." Whenever something is "blunt," it is flat—like a blunt club used for hitting other people. The word can be used to describe physical objects, but it also is able to describe personality traits. A "blunt" person is someone whose words can "hit you like a flat board of wood." Such a person is honest—so honest that he or she doesn't "hold anything back."

You certainly know the "physical" and literal meaning of "settling." Whenever you "settle" into a location, you start to inhabit that place. Thus, "settlers" are new inhabitants or colonists. Whenever someone is said to "settle" on an opinion, he or she decides to have one or the other opinion on a matter. A person who is of "settled" opinion is someone who has a determined and decided opinion on the matter. Hence, "determined" is an acceptable synonym for this question.

Whenever something is "remote," it exists at a distance. Thus, a "remote" star is a star that is far away, and a "remote control" is a kind of device that we use to control something at a particular distance. A person can be described as being "remote" as well. Such a person has an attitude that makes him or her seem distant. He or she could also be described as being "detached" or aloof.

Physically speaking, the word "dull" is contrasted to something that is pointed or sharp. From this meaning, the word can take on various other meanings. For instance, it can mean stupid—as though someone is not "sharp" enough to penetrate into some topic. Likewise, it can mean boring, as though something is not very "piercing" and interesting. This is the way that the word is being presented here among the options provided. For example, think of how we can say, "That was a dull class." This means that the class was boring and uninteresting.

When something is "sleek," it is smooth. We do use the adjective to describe things like "sleek hair", often implying that it has a kind of oiled, smooth look. The primary meaning of "sleek" is smooth. Now, this meaning can then be extended to mean elegant or graceful—like smooth lines that are well drawn. This is the only option that works for this question.

The word "radiant" comes from Latin roots meaning to shine or (more obviously) to put out rays. Hence, we speak of the sun as being "radiant" because it shines out "light rays." Likewise, we talk about "radiant heating" because the source of heat puts out infrared rays (or "heat rays"). This word can also be used to describe someone who is very happy, as when we say, "Thomas was radiant when he was told that he won the award." This is the meaning for this question, and "jubilant" is a good synonym, as it means full of joy. Think of it like someone shining with "joy rays"!

You are likely most familiar with the word "circulate" from its use in biology or anatomy. Blood circulates in the body, meaning that it "goes around" through the whole body. As the word clearly indicates, it makes the "complete circuit" or the "full circle" of the body.

However, things like news can be said to circulate as well. By this, we mean that the news "gets out." Whenever a rumor circulates, it is told to many people. Hence, the word "circulate" can have "communicate" as a synonym. Do not be tricked by the options that seem to be related to anatomy as well as blood—such as "embodied," "bleed," and "seep." None of these words are directly about the actual movement of things, as is indicated by the word "circulate."

The word "cement" is most familiar when it is used to describe the kind of hard material that we often see in sidewalks and as a general building material; however, the word generally indicates the process or material that helps something to "stay in place." Hence, as a verb, you can even use the word "cement" to describe something like a business agreement or a relationship. Multiple people can get together to put together an agreement. When it is "cemented," it has been firmly established. You can think of it like being "rock-hard" like the building material with which you are likely familiar.

We tend to think of being "buried" in terms of physical burial. Whenever someone dies, his or her body is buried in the ground. This means that it is placed under the soil. It is this general sense of "placing under" that is the root of the meaning being used here. Whenever someone "buries" his or her feelings, that person hides them—sometimes even from himself or herself. Hence, the word "buried" could have "concealed" for one of its synonyms, as it does in this question.

When something is "sleek," it is very clean and smooth. It is often used to describe the kind of smooth hair that a person or animal can have when we say that it is "slicked back"; however, this kind of clean and smooth appearance can also indicate that something is "in style" or at least elegant (as opposed to something that is a total mess). This is the way "sleek" is being used in this question, for the only acceptable option is "stylish."

The word "convey" is interestingly related to the word "convoy," which describes a group of vehicles that travel together. The word "convey" most generally is used to express the idea of carrying or transporting something; however, it can also be used in an extended sense meaning to communicate—as though words can "transport" meanings from one person to the next. It is in this latter sense that the word is used here, for the only acceptable option among those provided is "reveal." When we ask, "Did you convey the meaning to Bob," we could translate this as, "Did you communicate the meaning to Bob," or as, "Was the meaning revealed to Bob?"

There are two senses of the word "plot," and you must not confuse them when answering this question. On the one hand, "plot" can indicate the storyline of a book, play , movie, or other type of media. Several of the options are concerned with stories—"antagonist," "narrator," and "protagonist"; however, none of these words are synonyms for "plot" in this sense.

On the other hand, "plot" can be used to describe a piece of land, as when we say, "He bought a plot of land in the wilderness." This means that the person bought a bit of land out in the woods. Although "parcel" can describe a package, it can also be used as a synonym for a piece of land. It is in this sense that it is being used in this question.

The word "plot" has several meanings. One main cluster of meanings has to do with areas of land—as when someone lives on a "plot of land." This, however, is clearly not the meaning intended among the options provided here. Instead, the options hint at another primary meaning to the word, namely, the storyline of a play or other drama. A scenario is a sequence of events—how they happen one after another. Often, the word can be used to describe a plot of a story as well (since stories are, in fact, sequences of events). Therefore, it provides an excellent synonym for "plot" as it is used in this question.

The word "crude" can be used to describe someone or something that is not refined or developed. Thus, when we call a person "crude," we generally mean that the person is crass or rude. The word can be used to describe things like tools that are just simple and undeveloped. Thus, we can say that a stone that is tied to a stick is a kind of crude hammer. It is a very simple hammer—not quite as complex and developed as the modern hammers you would buy at the store!

“Assemble” can mean put together from parts or come together as a group, so "make" is the correct answer. “Benefit” means provide help to; “vend” means sell; and “compute” means calculate.

"Current" can be used as an adjective or as a noun. When used as an adjective, it means contemporary, modern, or having to do with the time period in which we are living at the moment. When it is used as a noun, a "current" is a flow of something, like a river or electricity. So, "flow" is the correct answer. “Shock” means surprise; “dismay” is sadness and disappointment about something; “antecedent” means precursor or something that comes before something else; and “descent” means act of traveling downward.

When used as a noun, "fashion" can mean currently popular clothing styles, but when used as a verb, it means create out of specific parts or "make." "Destroy" means ruin, demolish, or annihilate; “yell” means shout; and “whisper” means speak quietly so as not to be heard by anyone apart from the person(s) to whom you are talking.

For this question, your habits might help you get it correct very quickly. Perhaps you have heard the expression "loot and plunder." These words are synonyms. When used as verbs, they mean to steal, usually in the midst of wartime. As nouns, they just refer to what is stolen. Thus, you can say, "The pirate plundered his captives," but you could also say, "The pirate looted his captives."

This question is using "field" in a way that you might not recognize at first glance. The word does indeed indicate a kind of physical field in which grass (and other things) might be found. The word can also be used as a verb. In this sense, we say things such as, "He fielded questions regarding the event." This means that the person received and answered the questions. (This is somewhat like a baseball catcher being in the field and catching balls—though, in this case, the "balls" are questions!)