HSPT Verbal : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, and Cause/Effect
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal
All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Peak is to mountain as consummation is to __________.
prime
nadir
goal
undertaking
zenith
undertaking
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 #5 : Part And Whole
Filament is to bulb as graphite is to __________.
pencil
scrawl
writing
calligraphy
sharpened
pencil
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 #6 : Part And Whole
Choose the best answer that best completes the comparison.
Balcony is to railing as road is to __________.
car
city
guardrail
street
railroad
guardrail
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 #1 : Part And Whole
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Herd is to cattle as flock is to __________.
seagulls
caribou
lions
mice
wolves
seagulls
A group of "cattle" is called a "herd;" similarly a group of "seagulls" is called a "flock."
Example Question #21 : Analogies
Country is to confederation as organelle is to __________.
musical
petite
cell
surgery
biological
cell
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 #9 : Part And Whole
Iron is to ore as salt is to __________.
acidic
base
oxidize
brine
preservative
brine
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 #11 : Part And Whole
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Wine is to grapes as beer is to __________.
vineyard
football
summer
beverage
grains
grains
"Wine" is made from fermented "grapes," just as "beer" is made from fermented "grains."
Example Question #11 : Part And Whole
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Story is to building as deck is to __________.
wood
mast
cabin
apartment
ship
ship
A "story" is a vertical level on a "building," just as a "deck" is a vertical level on a "ship."
Example Question #31 : Analogies
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Spine is to back as skull is to __________.
medicine
elbow
skeleton
brain
head
head
The "spine" is the primary bone in the "back," just as the "skull" is the primary bone of the "head."
Example Question #32 : Analogies
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Pork is to pig as venison is to __________.
farm
dairy
deer
cow
steak
deer
"Pork" is the meat that comes from a "pig," while "venison" is the meat that comes from a "deer."
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