HSPT Verbal : HSPT Verbal Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #401 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

"Cardiologist" is to "heart" as "ecologist" is to __________.

Possible Answers:

forests

biological

fauna

streams

environment

Correct answer:

environment

Explanation:

The cardiologist is a specialist at studying the heart. The word itself as a root for “heart” in it—namely, “card-.” A “cardiac arrest” occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. An “ecologist” is one who studies the environment, generally speaking. An ecosystem, for example, is the whole system of organisms and material environment in a given area. While each of the other options are part of the environment and animals therein, none of them is equivalent to the environment in general.

Example Question #2 : Abilities

Musician is to concert as dancer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tap

ballet

gyration

twirling

music

Correct answer:

ballet

Explanation:

A musician performs a concert, so the answer must be something that a dancer performs. While you might think that “gyration” would work, this is a specific action, not a type of event (like concert). Thus, “ballet” is the best answer for this. Even though all dancers do not necessarily perform ballets, this option alone establishes a parallel with dancer in a manner similar to the relationship between musician and concert.

Example Question #3 : Abilities

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Cardiovascular is to heart as pulmonary is to __________.

Possible Answers:

brain

skeleton

lungs

kidneys

doctor

Correct answer:

lungs

Explanation:

"Cardiovascular" is a medical term relating to the "heart," just as "pulmonary" refers to the "lungs."

Example Question #31 : Qualities, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Malnutrition is to sustenance as desiccation is to __________.

Possible Answers:

healthful

intestinal

desert

fluid

dehydrated

Correct answer:

fluid

Explanation:

When a person suffers from malnutrition, that person lacks sustenance to support his or her life. The “mal-” prefix should indicate this to you, as it expresses “poorly” or “lacking.” The word “sustenance” can be thought of as a “sustaining amount of food.” Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “As someone suffering from malnutrition lacks sustenance, so does someone or something suffering from desiccation lack X.” Desiccation is the state of being completely dry and lacking fluid. 

Example Question #32 : Qualities, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Annoyance is to emotion as cannon is to __________.

Possible Answers:

warfare

armament

pistol

militia

battle

Correct answer:

armament

Explanation:

Annoyance is a type of emotion. Therefore, we are looking to find a word that expresses a "type-of" relationship. Cannons are a type of implement used for warfare. Therefore, they are a type of "armament." The word "arms" often are used to describe such military equipment, as when people speak of "arming" a group for battle.

Example Question #80 : Antonyms

An antonym of "civilian" is __________.

Possible Answers:

president

expert

soldier

senator

professor

Correct answer:

soldier

Explanation:

A civilian is a person who exists in a city in a non-military capacity. When used as an adjective, the word "civilian" is well contrasted to "military." The best answer is therefore the simple word "soldier." The civilian is not contrasted directly to the ruling class—hence both "senator" and "president" are not good answers.

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Nouns

An antonym of "thrall" is __________.

Possible Answers:

socialite

civilian

viceroy

lord

trap

Correct answer:

lord

Explanation:

A "thrall" is a servant or slave to someone else. We often will also use this word in an expression like, "Peter was in thrall to his uncontrolled desire for chocolate." This means that Peter was a slave to his stomach—to his desire and love for chocolate. In contrast to this, the word "lord"—simple though it may be—is the best option. The only close option is "viceroy," which describes someone who rules in the stead of the main sovereign. We need a word that directly signifies being a lord or ruler, however, and to this end, the simple "lord" works best.

Example Question #81 : Antonyms

An antonym of "intimates" is __________.

Possible Answers:

leaders

adversaries

compatriots

educators

associates

Correct answer:

adversaries

Explanation:

To be intimate with someone is to be close with that person. Generally speaking, when people are called "intimates," they are considered to be friends. The first contrast that comes to mind, therefore, is likely "enemies." While we do not have this as an option among the words provided for answers, we do have "adversaries," which basically means "opponents." The word comes from roots meaning turned against one another.

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Nouns

An antonym of "heavens" is __________.

Possible Answers:

condemnation

vice

grains

inferno

ground

Correct answer:

ground

Explanation:

When used in the plural, the "heavens" are merely the sky—as in the whole contents of space. Because of the Judeo-Christian usage "heaven and hell," you are likely tempted to pick "inferno" or even "condemnation." However, the best antonym for the simple word "heavens" is the equally simple "ground." The contrast here is "heaven and earth."

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Nouns For Tangible Things

An antonym of "deluge" is ___________.

Possible Answers:

precipitation

draft

drought

tedium

precocity

Correct answer:

drought

Explanation:

A "deluge" is a flood. It is very hard to find a tangible opposite to a flood, but we can consider the situation in which there is a lack of water. This would provide a decent antonym for us—enough to answer this question at least. Precipitation is something potentially wet (if it refers to rain or snow), and a draft does not directly signify being dry. The other two options are abstract states that do not apply to this question at all. Therefore, the best answer is "drought," describing a period of dry weather without any rain—quite the opposite of a deluge.

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