HSPT Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #151 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Tease is to ridicule as hurt is __________.

Possible Answers:

irritate

torment

damage

mock

wound

Correct answer:

torment

Explanation:

When someone ridicules another person, he or she mocks that person, often in a manner accompanied by nasty laughter. Thus, one can say that “ridicule” is a strong and more hurtful kind of teasing. While the word “hurt” already carries a negative connotation with it, the answer “torment” does similarly express this increased strength and harm. To torment someone is to create great suffering for that person. Thus, among the answers provided, it is the best option, as it expresses the same kind of increase in degree.

Example Question #152 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Insulated is to naïve as cosmopolitan is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fashionable

rustic

ornate

wiked

sophisticated

Correct answer:

sophisticated

Explanation:

The word “insulated” is likely familiar, describing the material in your house’s walls, used to regulate the temperature. The word originally comes from “island” in Latin, and “insulation” can be understood as making a barrier like water around an island, protecting the inside of your house like water surrounding a small landmass. When the word “insulated” is used to describe a person, it means that he or she has been kept from outside influence. Such a person is likely to be naïve, that is, lacking experience and perhaps innocent. Someone who is cosmopolitan is wise in the ways of the world. The word means “comfortable and free in any nation” and could be expressed by someone as saying, “The world is my city.” Such a person is wise in the ways of the world and likely sophisticated. Thus, the analogy holds: “As an insulated person is likely naïve, so is a cosmopolitan person likely sophisticated.”

Example Question #153 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Terse is to brevity as vituperative is to __________.

Possible Answers:

abusiveness

forceful

mean

angry

nasty

Correct answer:

abusiveness

Explanation:

Someone who is terse uses very few words to express himself or herself. Such a person would be known for being “brief in speech” and, hence, would be known for “brevity.” The analogy could be written, “As a terse person would be known for brevity, so would something vituperative be known for X.” A vituperative speech or action is one that is very negative, abusive, and nasty. Among the options provided, “abusiveness” best captures the sense of what something vituperative would be “known for”—as is needed for this analogy.

Example Question #62 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Donated is to bequeathed as pilfered is to __________.

Possible Answers:

hopeless

bizarre

broken

borrowed

stolen

Correct answer:

stolen

Explanation:

"Donated" and "bequeathed" are synonyms, as are "pilfered" and "stolen."

Example Question #166 : Analogies

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Concern is to worry as jealousy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

envy

conflagration

generosity

satisfaction

honor

Correct answer:

envy

Explanation:

"Concern" and "worry" are both synonyms; therefore "jealousy" and "envy" are a similar pair of words.

Example Question #154 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Select the word that best completes the comparison.

Forlorn is to miserable as cheerful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

deathly

optimistic

sorrowful

exhausted

aggravated

Correct answer:

optimistic

Explanation:

"Forlorn" and "miserable" mean roughly the same thing; therefore a synonym for "cheerful" is "optimistic."

Example Question #167 : Analogies

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

Principle is to standard as regulation is to __________.

Possible Answers:

inviolable

amiss

decay

detour

rule

Correct answer:

rule

Explanation:

"Principle" and "standard" are synonyms, just as "regulation" and "rule" have similar meanings.

Example Question #155 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Answer the question by selecting the word that best completes the analogy.

Strict is to stern as lenient is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tolerant

undefined

austere

oppressive

uptight

Correct answer:

tolerant

Explanation:

"Strict" and "stern" are synonyms, just as "lenient" and "tolerant" have similar meanings.

Example Question #156 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Answer the question by selecting the word that best completes the analogy.

Sympathetic is to compassionate as insensitive is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vicarious

kindly

rental

cruel

embarassed

Correct answer:

cruel

Explanation:

"Sympathetic" and "compassionate" are synonyms, just as "insensitive" and "cruel" have similar meanings. 

Example Question #157 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Tepid is to blazing as chilled is to __________.

Possible Answers:

blustery

freezing

heated

sleet

icebox

Correct answer:

freezing

Explanation:

Something that is “tepid” is lukewarm. The word can be used to describe barely warm water as well as a personality or action that is not very enthusiastic. The first part of the analogy can be read as, “As being barely hot is to something extremely hot.” The second half of the analogy is best matched by the word “freezing,” for this is a greater degree of the coolness implied in “chilled.” Thus, the whole analogy would run, “As something blazing is hotter to a greater degree than something tepid, so too is something freezing cooler to a greater degree than something chilled.”

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