HSPT Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal
All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #111 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Disturbed is to pacific as troubled is to __________.
prudent
enraged
tranquil
sarcastic
delinquent
tranquil
"Disturbed" and "troubled" are both antonyms of "pacific" and "tranquil."
Example Question #112 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Arid is to moist as fertile is to __________.
abundant
fetid
lush
barren
lurid
barren
"Arid" and "moist" are antonyms; therefore the strongest opposite of "fertile" is "barren."
Example Question #212 : Analogies
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Serene is to agitated as violent is to __________.
pacific
dessicated
uncontrollable
deadly
foreign
pacific
"Serene" and "agitated" are opposites; therefore "violent" and "pacific" are antonyms.
Example Question #111 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Traditional is to irregular as occupied is to __________.
ghostly
oceanic
busy
liberated
fallow
liberated
"Traditional" and "irregular" are strong antonyms; therefore "occupied" and "liberated" have opposite definitions.
Example Question #112 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Perfunctory is to thorough as hardy is to __________.
cancerous
frail
virulent
strong
meaty
frail
When something is done in a “perfunctory” manner, it is done with little thought, meaning, and / or effort. For instance, someone could say, “Please do not give me a perfunctory phone call. If you want to talk to me call me. Otherwise, don’t even bother.” In comparison with “thorough,” we could consider the meaning of “perfunctory” as being used in the sense of “doing with little effort.” This is the opposite of doing something in a thorough manner. Given the potential answers, this is best understood as an analogy that expresses a pair of antonyms. The word “hardy” is best opposed to “frail.” All of the other options are either distant synonyms or unrelated words that are only tempting if you over-think the question. Thus, we can say, “As something done in a perfunctory manner is not done in a thorough manner, so too is something that is hardy not frail.”
Example Question #113 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Tepid is to enthusiastic as formidable is to __________.
humanitarian
unimpressive
astounded
informal
fortunate
unimpressive
"Tepid" and "enthusiastic" are strong antonyms, much like "formidable" and "unimpressive" are opposite in meaning.
Example Question #214 : Analogies
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Astounded is to unimpressed as hopeful is to __________.
curious
knowledgable
fortuitous
desperate
obscure
desperate
"Astounded" is the opposite of "unimpressed," much like "hopeful" and "desperate" are antonyms.
Example Question #114 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Scrutinize is to skim as absorb is to __________.
eject
chemistry
sponge
swallow
water
eject
"Scrutinize" and "skim" are opposites, just as "absorb" and "eject" are antonyms.
Example Question #115 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Sharp is to dull as broken is to __________.
complete
hollow
busted
deadpan
wrecked
complete
"Sharp" and "dull" are strong antonyms, just as "broken" and "complete" are opposites.
Example Question #351 : Hspt Verbal Skills
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Artficial is to genuine as basic is to __________.
language
complex
understanding
simple
rudimentary
complex
"Artificial" and "genuine" are both antonyms; therefore the opposite of "basic" is "complex."
All HSPT Verbal Resources
