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 #1 : Part And Whole
Peak is to mountain as consummation is to __________.
nadir
undertaking
zenith
prime
goal
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 #2 : Part And Whole
Filament is to bulb as graphite is to __________.
scrawl
sharpened
calligraphy
writing
pencil
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 #3 : Part And Whole
Choose the best answer that best completes the comparison.
Balcony is to railing as road is to __________.
street
city
car
railroad
guardrail
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
wolves
caribou
mice
lions
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
biological
petite
surgery
cell
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 #6 : Part And Whole
Iron is to ore as salt is to __________.
preservative
base
oxidize
acidic
brine
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 #21 : Analogies
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Wine is to grapes as beer is to __________.
grains
summer
vineyard
beverage
football
grains
"Wine" is made from fermented "grapes," just as "beer" is made from fermented "grains."
Example Question #21 : Analogies
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Story is to building as deck is to __________.
cabin
ship
wood
mast
apartment
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 __________.
head
medicine
brain
elbow
skeleton
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 __________.
dairy
cow
steak
deer
farm
deer
"Pork" is the meat that comes from a "pig," while "venison" is the meat that comes from a "deer."
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