HSPT Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Disturbed is to pacific as troubled is to __________.

Possible Answers:

prudent

sarcastic

tranquil

delinquent

enraged

Correct answer:

tranquil

Explanation:

"Disturbed" and "troubled" are both antonyms of "pacific" and "tranquil."

Example Question #112 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Arid is to moist as fertile is to __________.

Possible Answers:

barren

fetid

lurid

abundant

lush

Correct answer:

barren

Explanation:

"Arid" and "moist" are antonyms; therefore the strongest opposite of "fertile" is "barren."

Example Question #113 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Serene is to agitated as violent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

foreign

pacific

uncontrollable

dessicated

deadly

Correct answer:

pacific

Explanation:

"Serene" and "agitated" are opposites; therefore "violent" and "pacific" are antonyms.

Example Question #114 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Traditional is to irregular as occupied is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ghostly

liberated

oceanic

busy

fallow

Correct answer:

liberated

Explanation:

"Traditional" and "irregular" are strong antonyms; therefore "occupied" and "liberated" have opposite definitions.

Example Question #115 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Perfunctory is to thorough as hardy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

strong

meaty

cancerous

frail

virulent

Correct answer:

frail

Explanation:

When something is done in a “perfunctory” manner, it is done with little thought, meaning, and / or effort. For instance, someone could say, “Please do not give me a perfunctory phone call. If you want to talk to me call me. Otherwise, don’t even bother.” In comparison with “thorough,” we could consider the meaning of “perfunctory” as being used in the sense of  “doing with little effort.” This is the opposite of doing something in a thorough manner. Given the potential answers, this is best understood as an analogy that expresses a pair of antonyms. The word “hardy” is best opposed to “frail.” All of the other options are either distant synonyms or unrelated words that are only tempting if you over-think the question. Thus, we can say, “As something done in a perfunctory manner is not done in a thorough manner, so too is something that is hardy not frail.”

Example Question #116 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Tepid is to enthusiastic as formidable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fortunate

informal

astounded

humanitarian

unimpressive

Correct answer:

unimpressive

Explanation:

"Tepid" and "enthusiastic" are strong antonyms, much like "formidable" and "unimpressive" are opposite in meaning.

Example Question #117 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Astounded is to unimpressed as hopeful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fortuitous

curious

desperate

knowledgable

obscure

Correct answer:

desperate

Explanation:

"Astounded" is the opposite of "unimpressed," much like "hopeful" and "desperate" are antonyms. 

Example Question #118 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Scrutinize is to skim as absorb is to __________.

Possible Answers:

eject

water

swallow

sponge

chemistry

Correct answer:

eject

Explanation:

"Scrutinize" and "skim" are opposites, just as "absorb" and "eject" are antonyms.

Example Question #119 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Sharp is to dull as broken is to __________.

Possible Answers:

complete

deadpan

busted

wrecked

hollow

Correct answer:

complete

Explanation:

"Sharp" and "dull" are strong antonyms, just as "broken" and "complete" are opposites.

Example Question #120 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Artficial is to genuine as basic is to __________.

Possible Answers:

complex

understanding

simple

language

rudimentary

Correct answer:

complex

Explanation:

"Artificial" and "genuine" are both antonyms; therefore the opposite of "basic" is "complex."

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