HSPT Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Changes In Intensity

Speak is to bellow as cry is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lament

simper

rage

tear

weep

Correct answer:

lament

Explanation:

A “bellow” is a very strong type of speech, often loud and caused by pain. The general sense of this analogy is that a bellow is a louder and stronger type of enunciation than speech. A way to form a bridge sentence would be, “As bellowing is much stronger and louder than speaking, so too is X much stronger than crying.” Among the options, “lament” best describes this kind of “extreme crying,” for a “lamentation” (an act of lamenting) is a very passionate kind of crying. All of the other options are too weak and do not express this sense of “really crying.” “Rage,” though strong, does not deal with crying but instead with anger.

Example Question #3 : Changes In Intensity

Pleasing is to exhilarating as thin is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fit

gargantuan

svelte

emaciated

tawny

Correct answer:

emaciated

Explanation:

Something “exhilarating” is often thought of as being very “fun” or “exciting.” In general, the term means “something causing great joy or pleasure.” In the parts of speech provided, we can say that the analogy’s sentence form is, “As something exhilarating is very pleasing, so too is something X very thin.” Among the options provided, “emaciated” means “very thin” (perhaps malnourished). The other options do not express this sense of extreme thinness.

Example Question #3 : Changes In Intensity

Ability is to expertise as strength is to __________.

Possible Answers:

weakling

fastidious

muscle

sturdy

puissance

Correct answer:

puissance

Explanation:

Someone who has expertise in a given subject has a great deal of ability in it. Therefore, we are looking for a word that will express the state of having a great deal of strength.   Although the word “puissance” is a bit out of date, it does mean “having great power.” It is related to words like “potent” and “potentate,” which indicate power. Even if you did not know this word, you should be able to tell that none of the other options express either great strength or even (in the case of “weakling” and “fastidious”) anything related to strength (except perhaps negatively in the case of “weakling”).

Example Question #11 : Changes In Intensity

Sadness is dolor as feeling is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vehemence

reflective

passive

agitation

emotion

Correct answer:

vehemence

Explanation:

Dolor is an emotion of great sadness. Therefore, the analogy represents a stronger form in comparison to a more general term. The bridge sentence could be constructed like, “As dolor is a type of great sadness, so X is a type of great or strong feeling.” When someone “vehemently” does something, he or she does it with great force or passion. Sometimes, we will say, “I vehemently disagree with you,” meaning by this, “I totally disagree with you and believe you are utterly wrong!” The option “vehemence” is thus the best option, as it means “having a strong feeling.”

Example Question #12 : Changes In Intensity

Greed is to avarice as fat is to __________.

Possible Answers:

plump

obese

chunky

storage

hibernation

Correct answer:

obese

Explanation:

Avarice is excessive or extreme greed, so the bridge sentence for this analogy would be something like, “As an avaricious person is excessively greed, so is a(n) X thing excessively fat.” To be obese is to be exceedingly fat. For this reason, this is the best option among the others, which either do not connote excess or are totally unrelated.

Example Question #13 : Changes In Intensity

Old is to ancient as large is to __________.

Possible Answers:

magnificent

impressive

delightful

gargantuan

big

Correct answer:

gargantuan

Explanation:

Something that is ancient is very old. When someone speaks of “ancient times,” he or she means “long ago.” For that reason, we are looking for a word that means “very large.” Although something very large might be “impressive” or “magnificent,” neither of these mean “very large” in a strict sense as does the word “gargantuan,” which is the best option among those given. Big is merely synonymous, not giving the additional sense of “to a great extent.”

Example Question #14 : Changes In Intensity

Happy is to exultant as good is to __________.

Possible Answers:

excellent

joyful

beatific

desirable

fine

Correct answer:

excellent

Explanation:

When someone “exults,” he or she or she expresses great joy. The word “exultant” is the an adjectival form of this verb. We could thus say that someone who is “exultant” is “extremely happy.” Thus, we are looking for a word that means “extremely good.” Among the options, only “excellent” has this sense of “extreme goodness.” Both “desirable” and “fine” are not strong enough to answer to the needed notion of “great” or “extreme.”

Example Question #181 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Inquire is to delve as reflect is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mirror

consider

gaze

mull

stare

Correct answer:

mull

Explanation:

To “inquire” after something is to look into it or to ask questions regarding it. Likely, you know the word “inquiry,” which means a process of formal questioning (perhaps in a legal case, though other options are possible). When someone “delves” into something, he or she “digs” into it very deeply. The word’s first meaning is “to reach into,” though it is often used metaphorically to mean “to dig into” or “excavate.” It likewise can mean “to research very thoroughly.” Thus, our bridge sentence is, “As delving is a form of deep and detailed inquiry, so too is X a deep and detailed form of reflecting (or reflection).” To “mull over” something is not merely to dally and consider it. It means “to think deeply and for a long time over something.” For this reason, it is the best option among those provided.

Example Question #16 : Changes In Intensity

Sufficient is to satiating as draining is to __________.

Possible Answers:

hole

outlet

tired

weary

exhausting

Correct answer:

exhausting

Explanation:

When we say that something “satisfies,” it fulfills an expected need. Something that is “satiating” completely fills a need, and thus in this analogy could be said to mean “beyond adequate,” in comparison with “adequate,” which is implied by “sufficient.” Thus, our bridge sentence could be constructed, “As something that is satiating is more than sufficient (or sufficient to a great degree), so too is something X draining to a great degree.” Something “exhausts” when it literally drains everything out. It comes form the Latin literally meaning “drawing water out.”

Example Question #17 : Changes In Intensity

Plain is to austere as ornate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

beautiful

baroque

amazing

miraculous

fortuitous

Correct answer:

baroque

Explanation:

Likely, you know the term “austere” as meaning strict or perhaps something like serious or “grave.” While these meanings are acceptable, the word can also mean “extremely plain, without frills or luxuries;” therefore, our analogy is one of increasing intensity. Think of the bridge sentence as being, “Just as something austere is very plain, so also is something X very ornate.” The word “baroque” is not merely the name of a period of history or music but can likewise mean “very elaborate or ornamented.” The word is taken from the ornamented style of the art of the period, though here applied more generally.

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