HSPT Verbal : Changes in Intensity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Changes In Intensity

Spiteful is to hurt as blazing is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fireplace

brush

heat

kindling

cooking

Correct answer:

heat

Explanation:

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 #297 : Analogies

Choose the word that best completes each comparison.

Lucky is to fortuitous as drab is to __________.

Possible Answers:

curtains

costly

dreary

radiant

fortunate

Correct answer:

dreary

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

horrid

rueful

unknown

explanatory

insane

Correct answer:

explanatory

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

flexible

playful

stiff

uncertain

rigid

Correct answer:

flexible

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

viable

feasible

desirable

probable

turpitude

Correct answer:

probable

Explanation:

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 #24 : Changes In Intensity

Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.

Relaxed is to carefree as stressed is to __________.

Possible Answers:

layered

forceful

unknown

burdened

galvanized

Correct answer:

burdened

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

swamp

wet

precipitation

desert

water

Correct answer:

wet

Explanation:

"Dessicated" and "dry" are synonyms, just as "drenched" and "wet" have the same meaning.

Example Question #25 : Changes In Intensity

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Numb is to frostbite as singed is to __________.

Possible Answers:

burn

oven

truth

skin

elevated

Correct answer:

burn

Explanation:

"Frostbite" often causes the affected area to be "numb," in the way that a "burn" can cause an area to be "singed."

Example Question #25 : Changes In Intensity

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Absolve is to forgive as blame is to __________.

Possible Answers:

condemn

plead

join

praise

flee

Correct answer:

condemn

Explanation:

"Absolve" and "forgive" are both synonyms, just as "blame" and "condemn" mean the same thing.

Example Question #25 : Changes In Intensity

Select the word that best completes the comparison.

Evolve is to develop as stagnate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

flourish

strengthen

known

stall

hustle

Correct answer:

stall

Explanation:

"Evolve" and "develop" are similar in meaning; therefore a synonym of "stagnate" is "stall."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors