All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #23 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Immaculate is to dirt as innocent is to __________.
fulfilled
uncontaminated
purity
unalloyed
guilt
guilt
The word “immaculate” comes from the combination of the “i-” prefix used as a privation (i.e. not) to the root which means stained, spotted, or dirty. Thus, the word means not stained, and generally is used to mean completely clean. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as something immaculate lacks any dirt, so does something innocent have no X.” An innocent person lacks guilt, which is the best answer among those provided.
Example Question #166 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Complete this analogy.
Defensible is to untenable as enraged is to __________.
murderous
serene
generous
irritated
vexed
serene
The word “defensible” can be thought of as meaning something like defendable, though it specifically means able to be justified. For instance, we would speak of “a defensible thesis,” meaning thereby that some argument is coherent and able to be defended against objections. When something is “tenable,” it is able to be “held” against objections. Thus, something “untenable” cannot be upheld (and is thereby indefensible). Thus, this analogy is one of antonyms. In contrast to being “enraged,” the best opposed word would be “serene.” Someone who is “serene” is not agitated at all but instead is at peace and is calm. This is quite different from the state of being enraged.
Example Question #14 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Sterilized is to bacteria as disrobed is to __________.
infection
clothing
nude
shocking
doctored
clothing
When something is "sterilized," it is completely clean and thus does not have any bacteria on or in it. (Something “sterile” is likewise so completely clean.) Thus, the analogy could be written, “As something sterilized has no bacteria, something disrobed has no X.” The word “disrobed” is as obvious as it appears. It merely means having taken off one’s clothes, meaning that such a person lacks clothes.
Example Question #171 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Complete this analogy.
Inept is to capable as literal is to __________.
strict
scientific
mathematical
symbolic
poetic
symbolic
Someone who is “inept” lacks skill or is without abilities (if the word is taken in its most negative sense). The word “aptitude” means natural ability in some regard or for some task. Thus, the word “capable” is an antonym to “inept,” meaning that this analogy requires you to find an antonym for “literal.” When something is described or interpreted in a literal manner, it is understood in its most basic sense without adding additional interpretation (such as symbolic or allegorical interpretations). Thus, the best option for an antonym among those provided is “symbolic,” which is quite opposite to a literal interpretation.
Example Question #271 : Analogies
Incite is to quell as lazy is to
bored
active
tired
argue
active
"Incite" is the opposite of "quell". So we are looking for a word that means the opposite of "lazy".
Example Question #173 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Reject is to spurn as disapprove is to __________.
convict
dislike
condemn
accept
approve
condemn
If someone spurns another person, he or she rejects that person with contempt. Thus, in a sense, “to spurn” is a stronger sense of “to reject.” When something is held in contempt, it is believed to be so worthless that it is not worth being considered at all. When something is condemned, it is not merely disapproved but is completely disapproved, often being publicly denounced and perhaps even made illegal. For this reason, it is related to disapprove as spurn is to reject.
Example Question #2 : Changes In Intensity
Interested is to engrossed as cut is to __________.
injured
bruised
scraped
lacerated
broken
lacerated
When someone is engrossed in something, he or she has all of his or her attention focused on that thing. Thus, “engrossed” could be said to mean “very interested.” We are therefore looking for a word that increases the intensity of the given word “cut.” Among the options provided, “lacerated” means “being cut very deeply.” This is the best option among those provided, for none of the others express this intensification.
Example Question #3 : Changes In Intensity
Cool is to freeze as anger is to __________.
heat
vex
irritate
displease
enrage
enrage
Freezing is a more forceful kind of chilling action than merely cooling something. Among the options provided, “enrage” provides the best example of a more forceful kind of action of angering. To enrage is literally to “place rage into” someone, to make someone very angry. Just as freezing is a more powerful action than cooling, so too enraging is something far stronger than mere angering.
Example Question #1 : Changes In Intensity
Illuminating is to dazzling as shocking is to __________.
questioning
surprising
sickening
frightening
horrifying
horrifying
Although we often use the word “illuminating” to describe something that is informative or interesting, the word’s original meaning is merely “shining light,” as in “illumination” from a lamp in a room. The word “dazzling” represents a stronger form of lighting, for something that is dazzling is so bright that it nearly blinds those looking at it. With regard to “shocking,” the only option that means “very shocking” is “horrifying.” Options like “frightening” and “sickening,” do not really give this sense of a “stronger shock.”
Example Question #175 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Attractive is to stunning as tempting is to __________.
temptation
malice
urge
sin
irresistible
irresistible
When a woman is “stunning” in appearance, she is considered “very attractive.” (The metaphorical sense is that she is so attractive that it stops—i.e. stuns—those who see her.) Therefore, we are looking for a word that represents “very tempting.” Something that is irresistible is so tempting that one cannot avoid it. For instance, an “irresistible urge to eat a piece of pie” is an urge that is so tempting that you must give into it. None of the other options express this sense of “very tempting.”
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