HSPT Verbal : Analogies

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #161 : Analogies

Elated is to thrilled as grin is to __________.

Possible Answers:

frown

beam

simper

joy

smirk

Correct answer:

beam

Explanation:

When someone is “elated,” he or she is said to be so happy that he or she is “carried out of himself.” (This is somewhat like the word “ecstasy,” which literally means standing outside of oneself). Elation is thus a state of extreme joy—something at least relatively synonymous with being “thrilled.” Thus, we are looking for a synonym for the word “grin.” Among the options, the only word that is synonymous to “grin” is “beam.” This might seem strange at first, but consider “grin” taken as a verb—“to grin.” Although the word “beam” can also mean something completely different—e.g. the wooden beams in a house—as a verb, it can also mean to smile broadly and openly. Perhaps you have seen the present participle: “A beaming smile.”

Example Question #162 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Deciduous is to arboreal as bodily is to __________.

Possible Answers:

corpulent

vituperative

vivacious

corporeal

volume

Correct answer:

corporeal

Explanation:

"Deciduous" plants are those which lose their leaves annually (as opposed to pine and other evergreen trees that retain their needles throughout the winter and into the spring). The word literally comes from Latin roots meaning to fall downward. The “de-” prefix means down from (as in “descend”) and the “-ciduous” is related to the same and similar forms found in “cadence” and “accident.” Etymology aside, the analogy is one of member-to-class. Something deciduous is a type of arboreal plant. ("Arboreal" meaning pertaining to trees). Thus, something “bodily” is best called something “corporeal.” None of the other options name the general class of bodily things. The word "corpulent," which is close (and clearly related in its roots) means fat—like having a lot of “body.”

Example Question #163 : Analogies

Tease is to ridicule as hurt is __________.

Possible Answers:

damage

wound

irritate

torment

mock

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 #164 : Analogies

Insulated is to naïve as cosmopolitan is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sophisticated

wiked

fashionable

rustic

ornate

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 #165 : Analogies

Terse is to brevity as vituperative is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mean

nasty

abusiveness

angry

forceful

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 #297 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Donated is to bequeathed as pilfered is to __________.

Possible Answers:

broken

stolen

bizarre

borrowed

hopeless

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 #167 : Analogies

Select the word that best completes the comparison.

Forlorn is to miserable as cheerful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

aggravated

sorrowful

exhausted

deathly

optimistic

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 #168 : Analogies

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

Strict is to stern as lenient is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tolerant

uptight

oppressive

undefined

austere

Correct answer:

tolerant

Explanation:

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

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