HSPT Verbal : Analogies

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Analogies

Ruby is to gem as wine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

drink

prohibited

gladdening

alcoholic

loosening

Correct answer:

drink

Explanation:

A ruby is a type of gem, so this analogy is one of member-to-class. You could construct a bridge sentence like, “As a ruby is a type of gem, so is wine a type of X.” The only option is “drink.” You cannot use the word “alcoholic.” If you use the word to mean someone who drinks too much, it does not work as a broader class for “wine.” If you use it as an adjective, it might describe wine, but it would only function here if it meant something more like “alcoholic beverage.” By itself, however, “alcoholic” does not indicate that level of detail.

Example Question #49 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Turkish is to language as sociology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

civil

ethnic

cultural

subject

communist

Correct answer:

subject

Explanation:

Turkish is a type of language, so this is a type-to-class style of analogy. Sociology is the subject that studies the development and structure of human societies. While it is concerned with things that are civil and cultural, it is here best described merely as a specific type of “subject.”

Example Question #62 : Analogies

Polish is to Slavic as Italian is to __________.

Possible Answers:

romance

peninsular

linguistic

pasta

commercial

Correct answer:

romance

Explanation:

The word “Slavic” can be used to describe the family of languages of which Polish is a member and likewise is used to denominate the class of Eastern Europeans that include the Poles. Among the options for the second half of the analogy, only “Romance” fits in either of these ways, namely with regard to language. The fact that “Romance” is capitalized should indicate that it means something a little different from the subject of love. The word actually means “a language descended from Latin”—the word “Romance” being taken from “Rome;” therefore, the analogy could be formed, “As Polish is a Slavic language, so too is Italian a Romance language.”

Example Question #63 : Analogies

Fable is to tale as parable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

allegory

overstated

simplicity

lie

religious

Correct answer:

allegory

Explanation:

A fable is a type of tale, often one that is mythical or perhaps even false. What is important for the analogy is to note that it is a specific instance of the broader class “tale.” Thus, the bridge sentence for the analogy could be written, “As a fable is a type of tale, so is a parable a type of X.” A parable is a type of story used to teach a moral. In a sense, it can be considered a type of allegory in which the literal meaning really stands for something else. The literal details of the parable are really meant to convey a symbolic moral lesson.

Example Question #64 : Analogies

Testimony is to evidence as contract is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lawyer

arrangement

legal

business

career

Correct answer:

arrangement

Explanation:

Although we might think of evidence as being a synonym for testimony, it is perhaps better to understand it as being a type of evidence. (For instance, images, physical objects, and recordings are all other types of evidence). Thus, the analogy could be written, “As testimony is a type of evidence, so a contract is a type of X.” An arrangement is some sort of “setting in order.” For instance, you might say, “We reached a mutual arrangement by which she would pay me fifteen dollars every two weeks for the small help I offered her.” A contract is a type of formalized arrangement.

Example Question #65 : Analogies

Hymnal is to book as restaurant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

business

server

food

nutriment

victuals

Correct answer:

business

Explanation:

A hymnal is a type of book containing songs used in worship services. The analogy could thus be written, “As a hymnal is a type of book, so is a restaurant a type of X.” Though very simple, “business” is the best option among those provided.

Example Question #66 : Analogies

Guild is to association as council is to __________.

Possible Answers:

president

legislation

chancellor

assembly

legality

Correct answer:

assembly

Explanation:

During the middle ages, the guilds were groups of merchants or craftsmen who gathered together for mutual aid, training, and so forth. Though the analogy is a bit off, think of them like medieval unions. (Remember, the analogy limps).  Our analogy could be written, “As a guild is a type of association, so is a council a type of X.” A council is a body that gathers for deliberation and perhaps legislation. Not all assemblies are for this purpose, as one could have an assembly merely to listen to a speaker—as often happens in schools! The council can thus be called a type of assembly, the latter being a broader class.

Example Question #67 : Analogies

Integer is to number as brand is to __________.

Possible Answers:

commercial

cattle

mark

store

sale

Correct answer:

mark

Explanation:

An integer is a type of number that has no decimal portion such as –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, and so forth. Thus, the relationship in this analogy is one that could be translated as, “As an integer is a type of number, so is a brand a type of X.” We often use the word “brand” to describe a particular “label” for a product. The word originally comes from the burning of an animal done to mark that creature as belonging to a given person. Most often, you hear of this as regards cattle. Thus, branding is a type of mark. This is exactly the type of relationship needed to be expressed by this analogy.

Example Question #19 : Example And Category

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Cumulonimbus is to clouds as igneous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

medicine

rocks

ignorant

tornado

water

Correct answer:

rocks

Explanation:

"Cumulonimbus" are a type of "cloud," just as "igneous" is a type of "rock."

Example Question #68 : Analogies

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Banjo is to stringed as clarinet is to __________.

Possible Answers:

woodwind

orchestra

flute

elongated

musical

Correct answer:

woodwind

Explanation:

A "banjo" is a "stringed" instrument, in the same way that a "clarinet" is a "woodwind" instrument.

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