HSPT Verbal : Changes in Intensity
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Changes In Intensity
Spiteful is to hurt as blazing is to __________.
heat
kindling
brush
fireplace
cooking
heat
Something spiteful is nasty, as in spiteful speech that is meant to “tear down” someone else. Such actions cause hurt and pain, generally psychological but still real. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As something spiteful causes hurt, so does something blazing cause X.” A blaze is a strong fire, which can at least be said to produce heat. While this is not the most advanced vocabulary, it is the only option that describes an effect of something blazing.
Example Question #22 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Lucky is to fortuitous as drab is to __________.
fortunate
radiant
costly
curtains
dreary
dreary
"Lucky" and "fortuitous" mean roughly the same thing, just as "drab" is another word for "dreary."
Example Question #22 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Adroit is to skillful as illustrative is to __________.
insane
rueful
horrid
explanatory
unknown
explanatory
"Adroit" is another word for "skillful;" similarly "illustrative" and "explanatory" mean roughly the same thing.
Example Question #24 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Combustible is to explosive as pliable is to __________.
flexible
playful
uncertain
stiff
rigid
flexible
"Combustible" and "explosive" mean the same thing; just as "pliable" and "flexible" are synonyms.
Example Question #23 : Changes In Intensity
Immoral is to iniquitous as possible is to __________.
turpitude
desirable
viable
probable
feasible
probable
Someone who is “iniquitous” is very immoral or wicked. Therefore, our bridge sentence is, “Just as something iniquitous is very immoral, so too is something X very possible.” Among the options provided, “probable” is the only word providing a sense of being “very possible.” The options “feasible” and “viable,” while they do connote that something is indeed a possible option, do not connote the sense of being “very possible.”
Example Question #26 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Relaxed is to carefree as stressed is to __________.
burdened
unknown
forceful
galvanized
layered
burdened
"Relaxed" and "carefree" are both synonyms, just as "stressed" and "burdened" have a similar meaning.
Example Question #24 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Dessicated is to dry as drenched is to __________.
water
precipitation
swamp
desert
wet
wet
"Dessicated" and "dry" are synonyms, just as "drenched" and "wet" have the same meaning.
Example Question #28 : Changes In Intensity
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Numb is to frostbite as singed is to __________.
burn
oven
truth
skin
elevated
burn
"Frostbite" often causes the affected area to be "numb," in the way that a "burn" can cause an area to be "singed."
Example Question #29 : Changes In Intensity
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Absolve is to forgive as blame is to __________.
praise
join
condemn
plead
flee
condemn
"Absolve" and "forgive" are both synonyms, just as "blame" and "condemn" mean the same thing.
Example Question #30 : Changes In Intensity
Select the word that best completes the comparison.
Evolve is to develop as stagnate is to __________.
strengthen
known
hustle
stall
flourish
stall
"Evolve" and "develop" are similar in meaning; therefore a synonym of "stagnate" is "stall."
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