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 #164 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Select the word that best completes the comparison.

Femur is to leg as humerus is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ulna

arm

orthopedist

skull

hilarious

Correct answer:

arm

Explanation:

The "femur" is the major bone found in the "leg," just as the "humerus" is a major bone in the "arm."

Example Question #21 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

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

Intestine is to digestive as heart is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cerebral

lungs

cardiovascular

blood

nervous

Correct answer:

cardiovascular

Explanation:

The "intestine" is part of the body's "digestive" system, just as the "heart" is part of the "cardiovascular" system.

Example Question #21 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Eulogy is to funeral as monologue is to __________.

Possible Answers:

alone

theatrical

play

speech

soliloquy

Correct answer:

play

Explanation:

A eulogy is a type of speech given at a funeral, generally made to praise the recently deceased person. The word actually means good speech. The “eu-” prefix comes from the Greek for good. The English “euphony” means good sounding. The bridge sentence for our analogy could be written, “Just as a eulogy is given at a funeral, so is a monologue given at X.” A monologue is a type of speech that is given by a single character in a play. In contrast with a dialogue, which is between multiple people, the monologue is said by one alone—like “thinking out loud.” The “mono-” means one and can be found in English words like “monopoly” and “monastery.” Notice that only “play” names a type of event at which a monologue is given.

Example Question #22 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Grain is to sandbank as key is to __________.

Possible Answers:

communication

typing

silicon

strike

typewriter

Correct answer:

typewriter

Explanation:

Grains of sand comprise the content of a sandbank, which is a small deposit of sand found in shallow water. The relationship is thus part-to-whole. The analogy could be rewritten, “As a grain is a constitutive part of a sandbank, so is a key part of X.” Among the options provided, only “typewriter” functions well enough. In the days before computers, typewriters were the mechanical equivalent to a computer keyboard, allowing people to produce letters using a mechanical device and enabling them to write more rapidly and clearly. While the relation is not quite equivalent to that of the grains of sand and the piles of sand that are made thereby in sandbanks, it is a close enough part-whole relationship, particularly given that no other option comes close.

Example Question #23 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Tie is to track as handle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

knob

open

door

circular

undo

Correct answer:

door

Explanation:

The most natural meaning for “tie” is the action of knotting a piece of fabric or even the type of clothing accessory that is worn around a man’s neck for decoration. The word can likewise mean something more general, like fastener or to fasten. The ties on a railroad track are the parts that hold it together. As you look at your potential answers, you will realize that none of them describes what a handle “holds together.” (Indeed, that is a rather strange notion anyway); however, the railroad tie is a part of the whole structure that is a track; therefore, you could say, that just as a tie is part of a track, so is a handle part of a door. This is the best option.

Example Question #25 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Retina is to eye as letter is to __________.

Possible Answers:

word

envelope

missive

communicative

mail

Correct answer:

word

Explanation:

The retina is the lining of cells at the back of the eye that are sensitive to light. Even if you did not know the exact function of the retina, you likely knew it was part of the eye; therefore, you could form the bridge sentence, “Just as the retina is part of the eye, so is a letter part of a X.” Among the options, you might be very tempted by “mail,” as to say, “A letter is part of the delivered mail”; however, do not be so tempted, for the better example is a letter (e.g. X, Y, Z) being part of a word. It is a necessary part of the word and is thus closer to the case that holds for the retina of the eye. The other wrong options are related to “letter” taken in the sense of something written and mailed.

Example Question #24 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Pup is to litter as chick is to __________.

Possible Answers:

poultry

brood

hen

woman

debris

Correct answer:

brood

Explanation:

Among the many meanings that the word “litter” can have, one is a group of animals all born together. This meaning clearly is implied, given that the first word in the analogy is “pup,” as in young dog. The bridge sentence for the analogy could be written, “As a pup is a member of a litter, so is a chick a member of X.” The only name for a group of animals is “brood,” meaning a group of young animals, particularly birds born together. The option “poultry” is a mere descriptive term for fowl that have been domesticated. It is not the name of the group itself, and doesn't include the aspect of meaning related to a group of young animals born together.

Example Question #27 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Family is to clan as state is to __________.

Possible Answers:

limits

combined

treaty

country

bordered

Correct answer:

country

Explanation:

A clan is a group of related families gathered into a single group. Thus, the analogy could be reformulated, “As families are the parts making up a clan, so are states the parts making up X.” While the word “state” can merely mean sovereign nation or jurisdiction, in a number of countries the word indicates subsidiary levels of governance, as in the United States and the German Republic. Among the options provided, only “combined” should be the tempting wrong answer, but it is insufficient in that it does not name a larger “thing” into which states are combined. The only option that works in that capacity—for all of its limitations—is “country.”

Example Question #4 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy.

Sector is to circle as segment is to __________.

Possible Answers:

following

line

extemporaneous

metrical

geometry

Correct answer:

line

Explanation:

A sector is a portion of a circle—think of a “pie piece” or something of the like. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as a sector is part of a circle, so is a segment part of X.” In general, a segment is any potential divided part of an object—in segmented worms, segments of cars, etc. Among the options provided, only “line” provides a suitable “whole,” to which the “part” that is a segment can be compared. All of the other options are broadly related but insufficient.

Example Question #4 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Icing is to cake as froth is to __________.

Possible Answers:

liquid

irritation

lather

suds

anger

Correct answer:

liquid

Explanation:

Sometimes an analogy can be so simple that you will overanalyze it. Do not do so with this question. Icing is merely meant here as the top layer on the cake—nothing further. Thus, the bridge sentence for this analogy could be written, “Just as icing is the top layer on a cake, so froth is the top layer of X.” Froth is the top layer of liquid caused by it being disturbed or sometimes by something like the fermentation of yeast in the liquid.

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