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 #10 : Product And Producer

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Ore is to steel as sap is to __________.

Possible Answers:

rubber

tree

sticky

gelatinous

famous

Correct answer:

rubber

Explanation:

"Steel" is made of raw "ore," just as "rubber" is made from "sap."

Example Question #5 : Product And Producer

Complete this analogy.

Painter is to portrait as composer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

euphonious

musician

symphony

instrument

trumpets

Correct answer:

symphony

Explanation:

In days past, a portrait would be painted by a painter. It was the thing created by the painter; therefore, this analogy is one of “maker to thing made,” as though to say, “As the painter makes a portrait, so a composer makes X.” Among the options provided, only “symphony” describes what a composer would make. He would write the musical score for the symphony, which can just be called “a symphony” indicating the musical score itself.

Example Question #6 : Product And Producer

Complete this analogy.

Scribe is to manuscript as cobbler is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pie

pastry

repairman

shoe

baker

Correct answer:

shoe

Explanation:

A scribe is a person who writes a text by hand. The word “scribe” is not only related to the “script” found in “manuscript” but also to “scribble,” “ascribe,” and “inscribe.” It comes from the Latin for to write. The analogy could be read, “As a scribe works on a manuscript, so a cobbler works on X.” The only option here is “shoe,” for the other words are attempting to have you think of a simple synonym for the dessert known as “cobbler” or a description of a cobbler as a repairman. Although we generally say that scribes produce manuscripts and that cobblers merely repair shoes, the analogy does hold when we use the broader sense noted above, namely that of “working on.”

Example Question #1 : Tool And Use

Ruler is to measure as wrench is to 

Possible Answers:

tool

tighten

length

break

Correct answer:

tighten

Explanation:

A ruler is a tool that allows you to measure.  So we must look at the second part as "wrench is a tool that allows you to _____". The main purpose of a wrench is to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts.  So either tighten or loosen would be correct answers, and tighten is the only word present here.

Example Question #2 : Tool And Use

"Knife" is to "cut" as "pencil" is to __________.

Possible Answers:

writer

paper

instrument

write

graphite

Correct answer:

write

Explanation:

The sense of this analogy is that as a knife is used for cutting, so a pencil is used for writing. The other options are wrong for a number of reasons. Graphite is what allows the pencil to write, not the act one does with the pencil. The pencil is an instrument, but that doesn’t describe the action. Not even “writer” is appropriate, for that would describe who would use the pencil, not what one does with it. Finally, paper is that upon which you write, not the actually act itself.

Example Question #3 : Tool And Use

"Vehicle" is to "transport" as "tractor" is to __________.

Possible Answers:

crops

trailer

haul

agriculture

fields

Correct answer:

haul

Explanation:

Since it is safe to say that the general purpose of a vehicle is to transport things, we can say that the general purpose of a tractor is to haul. Now, you might think of the general uses and location of tractors on agricultural lands and become confused. First, note that the word “tractor” comes from Latin roots meaning “to pull” or “drag.” To “extract” something is to “pull it out.” None of the other words describe an action performed by a tractor. Certainly tractors are used in fields, to haul crops, in agricultural activity, and often have trailers attached. However, none of these words are verbs or directly descriptive of action.

Example Question #4 : Tool And Use

"Vault" is to "protect" as "icebox" is to __________.

Possible Answers:

basement

spoilage

meat

food

chilling

Correct answer:

chilling

Explanation:

The purpose of a vault is to protect items, so the analogy implies that we need to pick the best description of the purpose of an icebox. The best option here is “chilling,” for that describes the actual thing “done” in or by iceboxes. While they are used to protect food and prevent spoilage, neither of these options describe the actual purpose of the box. Perhaps if the word “preserve” were an option, it would be difficult to choose between chilling and preserving. This is not an issue here, as no other action is offered as a potential answer.

Example Question #5 : Tool And Use

"Razor" is to "hair" as "mower" is to __________.

Possible Answers:

grass

garage

rural

weekly

summertime

Correct answer:

grass

Explanation:

Although both razors and mowers cut things, the analogy can be read as being even more general than, “As a razor cuts hair so a mower cuts . . .” You could also read it as, “As a hair is the proper object of the razor, so too is . . . the proper object for a mower.” While we can use “mower” in a broad sense, the answer options help us to see exactly what is wanted for this question. None of the other options are related to mower in the same manner as hair is related to a razor. While we might store mowers in garages, use them in the summertime, see them in rural places, or run them weekly, none of these options are “acted on” like hair is “acted on” by a razor. For this reason, the simple answer “grass” is the best option.

Example Question #6 : Tool And Use

Cloak is to covering as trunk is to __________.

Possible Answers:

storage

rear

latch

lock

concrete

Correct answer:

storage

Explanation:

The best way to describe the relationship between “cloak” and “covering” is that a cloak is used for covering oneself; therefore, the answer needs to describe the use of a trunk. While a trunk can be latched or locked, the only option that describes the actual purpose for a trunk is “storage.” (Recall that a trunk is a type of chest for storage, not merely the rear compartment in a car—thought that could be said to be used for storage as well).

Example Question #1 : Tool And Use

Solder is to metal as treaty is to __________.

Possible Answers:

beneficial

diplomat

agreement

international

politics

Correct answer:

agreement

Explanation:

Solder is a type of metal that easily melts; therefore, we could write the bridge sentence for this analogy as, “As solder is a type of metal, so is a treaty a type of X.” A treaty is an agreement, generally between two sovereign nations. Not all agreements are treaties. (A contract, for instance, is a type of agreement); therefore, “agreement” is the best option among those provided, for it alone provides a general class of which a “treaty” is a specific type.

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