All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Alicia is older than Frank and Simon. Simon and Frank are older than Anthony. Anthony is younger than Alicia. If the first two sentences are true, then the third sentence is ___________.
uncertain
true
false
true
Let's look at the problem visually by putting all four people on a spectrum. The youngest person should be on the right, and the oldest person is on the left. If Alicia is older than Frank and Simon, the spectrum looks like:
Alicia----Frank & Simon
If Frank and Simon are older than Anthony, the spectrum looks like:
Alicia----Frank & Simon----Anthony
The third sentence is true: Anthony is younger than Alicia.
Example Question #92 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Corn is a more popular vegetable than broccoli. Broccoli is more popular than asparagus. Asparagus is more popular than corn. If the first two sentences are true, then the third sentence is ___________.
uncertain
false
true
false
Let's look at the problem visually by putting the three vegetables on a spectrum. The least popular vegetable should be on the right, and the most popular vegetable is on the left. If corn is more popular than broccoli, it goes to the left of broccoli on the spectrum:
corn----broccoli
If broccoli is more popular than asparagus, asparagus should be placed to the right of broccoli on the spectrum.
corn----broccoli----asparagus
The third sentence stating that asparagus is more popular than corn is false.
Example Question #93 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Kennedy High School has more Russian-speaking students than Lincoln High School, but fewer Spanish-speaking students than Roosevelt High School. Roosevelt High School has more Spanish-speaking students than Lincoln High School, and more Russian-speaking students than Kennedy High School. Roosevelt High School has more Russian and Spanish-speaking students than Kennedy High School or Lincoln High School. If the first two sentences are true, than the third sentence must be __________.
false
uncertain
true
true
For this problem, we have to create two spectrum: one for the number of Russian-speaking students at each high school and one for the number of Spanish-speaking students at each high school. The school with the most Russian or Spanish-speaking students will be placed on the left of the spectrum, while the school with the least Russian or Spanish-speaking students will be placed on the right of the spectrum.
The first half of the first sentence tells us that Kennedy HS has more Russian-speaking students than Lincoln HS. So, our Russian spectrum looks like:
Russian-speaking students:
Kennedy----Lincoln
The second half of the first sentence tells us that Kennedy HS has fewer Spanish-speaking students than Roosevelt HS. Our Spanish spectrum looks like:
Spanish-speaking students:
Roosevelt----Kennedy
The first half of the second sentence tells us that Roosevelt HS has more Spanish-speaking students than Lincoln HS. We don't know whether Kennedy HS or Lincoln HS has more Spanish-speaking students, so we'll put them together on the spectrum for now.
Spanish-speaking students:
Roosevelt----Kennedy & Lincoln
The second half of the second sentence tells us that Roosevelt HS has more Russian-speaking students than Kennedy HS. They'll be placed to the left of Kennedy on the Russian spectrum. After the second sentence, the two spectrums look like this:
Russian-speaking students:
Roosevelt----Kennedy----Lincoln
Spanish-speaking students:
Roosevelt---Kennedy & Lincoln
Therefore, the third sentence, stating that Roosevelt HS has more Russian-speaking students AND more Spanish-speaking students than either Kennedy HS or Lincoln HS is true.
Example Question #791 : Hspt Verbal Skills
Sandra has more shoes than Ellen and Joan. Ellen has more shoes than Kerri. Kerri has more shoes than Joan. If the first two sentences are true, than the third sentence is ___________.
uncertain
true
false
uncertain
We know that Sandra has more shoes than either Ellen or Joan and that Ellen has more shoes than Kerri. We do not know, however, how many shoes Ellen has compared to Joan. This is the key to determining whether Kerri has more shoes than Joan. Therefore, the third sentence is uncertain.
Example Question #93 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Daniel is a faster swimmer than Sean. Sean is the fastest swimmer on his team. Daniel and Sean do not swim on the same team. If the first two sentences are true, then the third sentence is ___________.
False
True
Uncertain
True
If Daniel is faster than Sean, but Sean is the fastest swimmer on his team, Daniel cannot swim on the same team as Sean.
Example Question #94 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Sarah gets better grades in math than Luis. Luis gets better grades in science than Sarah. Luis is a better student than Sarah. If the first two sentences are true, the third sentence must be ___________.
Uncertain
False
True
Uncertain
The only two facts that we know for certain are:
1) Sarah gets better grades in math than Luis; and
2) Luis gets better grades in science than Sarah.
These are both quantifiable statements. This means that we can put an absolute number to each statement. Although we don't know what the actual grades are, we know that Sarah's grades are better in math and Luis' grades are better in science.
The third sentence, "Luis is a better student than Sarah" has many unknown variables. We don't know what grades either student receives in any other class. We don't know how much better Sarah is in math than Luis, or how much better Luis is in science than Sarah. Finally, the phrase "better student" is not defined. This could mean higher grades in classes, or it could mean higher grades on standardized tests. "Better student" could even mean the student that studies the hardest or pays the best attention in class. For these reasons, the truthfulness of the third sentence is uncertain.
Example Question #792 : Hspt Verbal Skills
Owen and Andrea each spend exactly the same amount of money at the same restaurant. Owen purchases two hamburgers and three drinks, while Andrea purchases three hamburgers and two drinks. The hamburgers and drinks each cost the same amount. If the first two sentences are true, then the third sentence must be __________.
False
Uncertain
True
True
Both Owen and Andrea purchase five items at the same restaurant and spend exactly the same amount of money. If we look at the problem mathematically, the equation would be:
h=hamburger; d=drinks (Owen is on the left-hand side of the equation and Andrea is on the right-hand side of the equation.)
For comparison, we need to isolate each variable on its own side. First, subtract from each side. This results in:
Next, subtract from each side. This results in:
This proves, logically, that one drink costs the same amount of money as one hamburger.
Example Question #95 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
A peregrine falcon is three times faster than a cheetah. A cheetah is twice as fast as a rabbit. A rabbit is nearly three times faster than a squirrel. If the first two sentences are true, the third sentence is ____________.
True
False
Uncertain
Uncertain
The accuracy of the third sentence is uncertain because the speed of a squirrel is not compared to either a peregrine falcon or a cheetah in the first two sentences. Therefore, there is not enough information to form an accurate conclusion.
(In case you're wondering: all three statements are accurate.)
Example Question #134 : Logic
Brice is older than Pat. Pat is younger than Jim. Jim is older than Brice. If the first two sentences are true, then the third sentence is ____________.
Uncertain
False
True
Uncertain
We know that Brice is older than Pat and that Pat is younger than Jim. We do not have any information regarding Brice and Jim's relationship. Therefore, the third sentence may be true, or it may be false.
Example Question #96 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
The zoo has more wolves than tigers. The zoo has more tigers than leopards. The zoo has more wolves than leopards. If the first two sentences are true, then the third sentence is ____________.
Uncertain
True
False
True
Let's put the information we have on a spectrum. The animal that the zoo has the most of will be placed on the left and the animal the zoo has the least of will be placed on the right. Sentence 1 tell us that the zoo has more wolves than tigers.
Wolves -- tigers
Sentence 2 tells us that the zoo has more tigers than leopards.
Wolves -- tigers -- leopards
Sentence 3 must be true. If the zoo has more wolves than tigers, and they have more tigers than leopards, then they must have more wolves than leopards.