HSPT Verbal : Changes in Intensity
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal
All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Changes In Intensity
Spiteful is to hurt as blazing is to __________.
brush
cooking
kindling
fireplace
heat
heat
Something spiteful is nasty, as in spiteful speech that is meant to “tear down” someone else. Such actions cause hurt and pain, generally psychological but still real. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As something spiteful causes hurt, so does something blazing cause X.” A blaze is a strong fire, which can at least be said to produce heat. While this is not the most advanced vocabulary, it is the only option that describes an effect of something blazing.
Example Question #22 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Lucky is to fortuitous as drab is to __________.
dreary
curtains
costly
radiant
fortunate
dreary
"Lucky" and "fortuitous" mean roughly the same thing, just as "drab" is another word for "dreary."
Example Question #23 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Adroit is to skillful as illustrative is to __________.
insane
explanatory
rueful
horrid
unknown
explanatory
"Adroit" is another word for "skillful;" similarly "illustrative" and "explanatory" mean roughly the same thing.
Example Question #24 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Combustible is to explosive as pliable is to __________.
stiff
flexible
uncertain
rigid
playful
flexible
"Combustible" and "explosive" mean the same thing; just as "pliable" and "flexible" are synonyms.
Example Question #25 : Changes In Intensity
Immoral is to iniquitous as possible is to __________.
desirable
viable
probable
feasible
turpitude
probable
Someone who is “iniquitous” is very immoral or wicked. Therefore, our bridge sentence is, “Just as something iniquitous is very immoral, so too is something X very possible.” Among the options provided, “probable” is the only word providing a sense of being “very possible.” The options “feasible” and “viable,” while they do connote that something is indeed a possible option, do not connote the sense of being “very possible.”
Example Question #26 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Relaxed is to carefree as stressed is to __________.
forceful
burdened
layered
unknown
galvanized
burdened
"Relaxed" and "carefree" are both synonyms, just as "stressed" and "burdened" have a similar meaning.
Example Question #27 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Dessicated is to dry as drenched is to __________.
water
wet
swamp
desert
precipitation
wet
"Dessicated" and "dry" are synonyms, just as "drenched" and "wet" have the same meaning.
Example Question #302 : Analogies
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Numb is to frostbite as singed is to __________.
skin
oven
burn
elevated
truth
burn
"Frostbite" often causes the affected area to be "numb," in the way that a "burn" can cause an area to be "singed."
Example Question #303 : Analogies
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Absolve is to forgive as blame is to __________.
condemn
flee
plead
praise
join
condemn
"Absolve" and "forgive" are both synonyms, just as "blame" and "condemn" mean the same thing.
Example Question #304 : Analogies
Select the word that best completes the comparison.
Evolve is to develop as stagnate is to __________.
known
strengthen
stall
hustle
flourish
stall
"Evolve" and "develop" are similar in meaning; therefore a synonym of "stagnate" is "stall."
All HSPT Verbal Resources
