ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning

Sharpen your vocabulary and reasoning skills to master the ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning section.

Building a Strong VocabularyMastering Synonym QuestionsSolving Sentence Completion Questions
Using Context Clues EffectivelyRecognizing Word RelationshipsAvoiding Common Pitfalls
Applying Verbal Reasoning to SchoolworkCommunicating Clearly in Everyday LifeUsing Reasoning Skills in Problem Solving
Process of EliminationTime Management TricksReading Carefully and Actively
Building a Strong Vo...Mastering Synonym Qu...Solving Sentence Com...Using Context Clues ...Recognizing Word Rel...Avoiding Common Pitf...Applying Verbal Reas...Communicating Clearl...Using Reasoning Skil...Process of Eliminati...Time Management Tric...Reading Carefully an...
Advanced Topics

Using Context Clues Effectively

Unlocking Meanings Without a Dictionary

Context clues are hints in the surrounding text that help you figure out what an unfamiliar word means.

Types of Context Clues

  • Definition: The meaning is given right there.
  • Synonym or Restatement: The word is explained in a different way.
  • Antonym or Contrast: The word is compared with its opposite.
  • Example: Examples help you infer the meaning.

Why It Matters

Mastering context clues boosts your reading comprehension and helps you ace complex questions—even when you don’t know every word.

Real-World Connection

Context clues help you understand instruction manuals, news articles, and conversations with new words.

Examples

  • In 'The arboreal creature, such as a monkey, loves trees,' you infer 'arboreal' means tree-living.

  • If 'gregarious' is used in 'Unlike his shy sister, he is quite gregarious,' you know it means outgoing.

In a Nutshell

Context clues guide you to the meanings of tricky words.

Key Terms

Antonym
A word that means the opposite of another word.
Inference
A conclusion you draw from evidence and reasoning.
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Recognizing Word Relationships