HSPT Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Peak is to mountain as consummation is to __________.

Possible Answers:

zenith

nadir

prime

goal

undertaking

Correct answer:

undertaking

Explanation:

The peak is the highest point of a mountain, and the consummation is the point of completion of some task or undertaking. While the word “goal” and “zenith” are potential synonyms for the word, the only acceptable option is “undertaking,” for it is an undertaking that reaches its consummation, as a mountain is “completed” by its peak.

Example Question #12 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Filament is to bulb as graphite is to __________.

Possible Answers:

scrawl

calligraphy

writing

pencil

sharpened

Correct answer:

pencil

Explanation:

A filament is a small fiber, thread, or wire. In the case of a “bulb” it must mean “wire,” particularly if “bulb” is understood as being short for “light bulb” (as it can be). Old-fashioned, incandescent light bulbs use a filament to produce light. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As a filament is used by a bulb to produce light, so is graphite used by X for its regular activity.” Graphite is the substance used in pencils for writing. The only instrument listed among the possible answers is “pencil,” so this is the correct choice.

Example Question #13 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Choose the best answer that best completes the comparison.

Balcony is to railing as road is to __________.

Possible Answers:

guardrail

city

car

street

railroad

Correct answer:

guardrail

Explanation:

A "balcony" has a "railing" to keep people safe, much like a "road" has a "guardrail" to keep cars and their drivers safe.

Example Question #14 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Herd is to cattle as flock is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mice

lions

seagulls

wolves

caribou

Correct answer:

seagulls

Explanation:

A group of "cattle" is called a "herd;" similarly a group of "seagulls" is called a "flock."

Example Question #15 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Country is to confederation as organelle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

petite

musical

cell

surgery

biological

Correct answer:

cell

Explanation:

A confederation is a type of union of smaller groups, often indicating political entities. In the United States, the “Articles of Confederation” were the first legal constructs by which the states were gathered together into a single united group (at least for certain tasks and undertakings). A confederation can also take place among separate countries, and that is what is indicated in this analogy. Thus, one can translate this analogy as stating, “As a country is a member (or part) of a confederation, so is an organelle part of X.” As you might know from biology, an organelle is one of the small parts of a cell such as a ribosome or mitochondria. The word literally means “little organ.”

Example Question #16 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Iron is to ore as salt is to __________.

Possible Answers:

acidic

preservative

brine

oxidize

base

Correct answer:

brine

Explanation:

Ore is a type of stone-metal mixture from which metals and minerals can be extracted. The analogy could be written, “As iron can be extracted from its mixed state in ore, so salt can be extracted from its mixed state in X.” Among the options provided, only “brine” describes such a mixture. Brine is water that is saturated with salt. If someone wished, he or she could remove salt from brine as one would remove iron from ore.

Example Question #17 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Wine is to grapes as beer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

beverage

football

summer

vineyard

grains

Correct answer:

grains

Explanation:

"Wine" is made from fermented "grapes," just as "beer" is made from fermented "grains."

Example Question #18 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Story is to building as deck is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wood

apartment

cabin

mast

ship

Correct answer:

ship

Explanation:

A "story" is a vertical level on a "building," just as a "deck" is a vertical level on a "ship."

Example Question #19 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Spine is to back as skull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

elbow

skeleton

brain

head

medicine

Correct answer:

head

Explanation:

The "spine" is the primary bone in the "back," just as the "skull" is the primary bone of the "head."

Example Question #20 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Pork is to pig as venison is to __________.

Possible Answers:

farm

dairy

deer

steak

cow

Correct answer:

deer

Explanation:

"Pork" is the meat that comes from a "pig," while "venison" is the meat that comes from a "deer."

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