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 #3 : Part And Whole

Peak is to mountain as consummation is to __________.

Possible Answers:

prime

goal

undertaking

nadir

zenith

Correct answer:

undertaking

Explanation:

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 #4 : Part And Whole

Filament is to bulb as graphite is to __________.

Possible Answers:

writing

sharpened

scrawl

calligraphy

pencil

Correct answer:

pencil

Explanation:

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 #23 : Analogies

Choose the best answer that best completes the comparison.

Balcony is to railing as road is to __________.

Possible Answers:

car

guardrail

city

street

railroad

Correct answer:

guardrail

Explanation:

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 #3 : Part And Whole

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Herd is to cattle as flock is to __________.

Possible Answers:

caribou

mice

seagulls

lions

wolves

Correct answer:

seagulls

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

cell

biological

petite

surgery

musical

Correct answer:

cell

Explanation:

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 #7 : Part And Whole

Iron is to ore as salt is to __________.

Possible Answers:

oxidize

preservative

base

brine

acidic

Correct answer:

brine

Explanation:

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 #27 : Analogies

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Wine is to grapes as beer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vineyard

grains

summer

football

beverage

Correct answer:

grains

Explanation:

"Wine" is made from fermented "grapes," just as "beer" is made from fermented "grains."

Example Question #161 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Story is to building as deck is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ship

cabin

mast

wood

apartment

Correct answer:

ship

Explanation:

A "story" is a vertical level on a "building," just as a "deck" is a vertical level on a "ship."

Example Question #162 : Hspt Verbal Skills

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

Spine is to back as skull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

skeleton

elbow

head

medicine

brain

Correct answer:

head

Explanation:

The "spine" is the primary bone in the "back," just as the "skull" is the primary bone of the "head."

Example Question #163 : Hspt Verbal Skills

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

Pork is to pig as venison is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cow

steak

deer

farm

dairy

Correct answer:

deer

Explanation:

"Pork" is the meat that comes from a "pig," while "venison" is the meat that comes from a "deer."

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