HSPT Verbal : Measurement, Storage, Location, and Material Composition

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Location, Time, Or Context

Season is to year as week is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lunar

division

month

fourfold

hebdomadal

Correct answer:

month

Explanation:

A season is a subdivision of the year, so the bridge sentence for this analogy could be written, “As a season is a subdivision of the year, so is the week a subdivision of X.” Although a week can be said to subdivide a year, it more closely subdivides a month. In any event, this is the only option provided, so it is the acceptable answer for this question.

Example Question #1 : Location, Time, Or Context

Monastery is to silence as metropolis is to __________.

Possible Answers:

theatre

racket

democracy

roads

politics

Correct answer:

racket

Explanation:

At least in theory, monasteries are supposed to be places of silence. This analogy is very specific, but a bridge sentence could be written, “As the sound in a monastery is in a state of silence, so is it in a state of X in a metropolis.” A metropolis is the most important city in a region, hence one that is very busy and developed. Such an area would be known for its racket—loud sounds—among other things. Even if you read “silence” as a general characteristic for monasteries, none of the other options provide a general characteristic word for metropolis, so “racket” would be the only acceptable option.

Example Question #4 : Location, Time, Or Context

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Hungary is to Europe as Thailand is to __________.

Possible Answers:

temples

America

Earth

country

Asia

Correct answer:

Asia

Explanation:

"Hungary" is a country on the continent of "Europe," just as "Thailand" is a country in "Asia."

Example Question #5 : Location, Time, Or Context

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Metropolitan is to city as pastoral is to __________.

Possible Answers:

suburbs

reverent

farmland

transportation

dense

Correct answer:

farmland

Explanation:

"Metropolitan" is often used to describe "cities," just as "pastoral" can be used to describe "farmland."

Example Question #6 : Location, Time, Or Context

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Chicago is to Illinois as Houston is to __________.

Possible Answers:

San Antonio

Dallas

urban

rockets

Texas

Correct answer:

Texas

Explanation:

"Chicago" is a large city in the state of "Illinois", much like "Houston" is a city in "Texas."

Example Question #7 : Location, Time, Or Context

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Solar is to sun as lunar is to __________.

Possible Answers:

freezing

moon

obscure

landing

night

Correct answer:

moon

Explanation:

"Solar" pertains to the "sun," just as "lunar" pertains to the "moon."

Example Question #8 : Location, Time, Or Context

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Napoleon is to France as Caesar is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dictator

salad

Rome

general

Greece

Correct answer:

Rome

Explanation:

"Napoleon" was a general from "France," just as "Caesar" was also a general and leader from "Rome". . . and also a salad, but that is an incorrect comparison.

Example Question #9 : Location, Time, Or Context

Choose the word that best completes the comparison.

Paris is to France as Tokyo is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Japan

skyscrapers

Asia

volcano

sushi

Correct answer:

Japan

Explanation:

"Paris" is the capital city of "France," therefore "Tokyo" is the capital city of "Japan."

Example Question #10 : Location, Time, Or Context

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

India is to country as Africa is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Japan

Botswana

nation

continent

safari

Correct answer:

continent

Explanation:

"India" is a "country," just as "Africa" is a "continent" (not a country!).

Example Question #11 : Measurement, Storage, Location, And Material Composition

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

California is to Sacramento as Massachusetts is to __________.

Possible Answers:

revolution

snow

New England

Boston

New York

Correct answer:

Boston

Explanation:

"Sacramento" is the capital city of "California," just as "Boston" is the capital of "Massachusetts."

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