HSPT Verbal : HSPT Verbal Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Antonyms

An antonym for hassle is __________.

Possible Answers:

bothersome

convenient

difficult

questionable

cumbersome

Correct answer:

convenient

Explanation:

Something that is a hassle is inconvenient, often in an irritating manner. A hassle might also be said to be bothersome or, at least in a secondary sense, cumbersome or difficult. Something that is convenient is not a hassle but instead is easy and available.

Example Question #32 : Antonyms

An antonym for horrific is __________.

Possible Answers:

frightening

reassuring

pictorial

gory

lovely

Correct answer:

reassuring

Explanation:

When something is horrific or horrifying, it causes shuddering and fear. Such a thing is unsettling, causing someone to be ill at ease and frightened. Thus, the best option for an antonym among the options provided is “reassuring,” for when something is reassuring, it removes fear and concern. While “lovely” and perhaps even “pictorial” might be tempting answers, only “reassuring” directly opposes this sense of frightfulness.

Example Question #91 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for tepid is __________.

Possible Answers:

chilled

lukewarm

enthusiastic

fire

wasteful

Correct answer:

enthusiastic

Explanation:

In its most general usage, the word tepid means “slightly warm.” Because of this, it is likely that you will be tempted by the options “lukewarm,” “chilled,” and “fire;” however, none of these provide an adequate antonym—not even fire, for that is not an antonym to tepid (as would be “blazing” or something else describing a great deal of heat). In addition to pertaining to physical temperature, “tepid” can likewise mean “unenthusiastic” (as though someone had a merely warm or even cool temperament). Thus, “enthusiastic” is the best option among those provided.

Example Question #92 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for voracious is __________.

Possible Answers:

hungry

abstemious

mannered

faint

humble

Correct answer:

abstemious

Explanation:

When someone has a voracious appetite, he or she is extremely hungry, being led to devour large quantities of food. In an extended sense, someone can be voracious for any given activity, in the sense that he or she is very devoted and eager in pursuit thereof. In contrast to such voracity, an “abstemious” person is one who does not indulge heavily, particularly in food or drink. This is the only appropriate antonym among the options provided.

Example Question #93 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for wretched is __________.

Possible Answers:

improved

joyous

sad

edified

depressed

Correct answer:

joyous

Explanation:

The word “wretched” can mean “of poor quality” or “in a poor condition,” though it is primarily used to describe someone in an extremely miserable state of affairs (and likewise the mental state of sadness or dejection felt because of such conditions). Thus, the only antonym among the options provided is “joyous.” While “improved” and “edified” might be tempting, these do not directly contrast to the state of being wretched. Improvement and edification can help to remove someone from wretchedness. They are not, however, the opposite thereof.

Example Question #94 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for wobbling is __________.

Possible Answers:

steady

jittering

tottering

dampen

oscillating

Correct answer:

steady

Explanation:

As you well know, a “wobbling” object is one that is moving or swaying from side to side (or “jiggling,” perhaps). The point to note is that such an object is unsteady and unstable. In contrast to this, only “steady” is an acceptable antonym. Other options, like “tottering,” “oscillating,” and “jittering” describe other types of unstable motion. To “dampen” a motion will stop it, but this does not describe an antonym to “wobbling.”

Example Question #95 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for munificent is __________.

Possible Answers:

relaxed

strengthened

brawny

compact

stingy

Correct answer:

stingy

Explanation:

The word “munificent” literally means “gift-giving.” More properly speaking, the English definition is, “the character quality of being very lavish and generous.” One could say, “Uncle Peter was extremely munificent to all of his relatives. Since he had no children of his own, he spent his extra money more lavishly among his other relatives.” In contrast with this, only “stingy” indicates a lack of generosity.  

Example Question #96 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for moderate is __________.

Possible Answers:

recalcitrant

unfitting

exceptional

political

argumentative

Correct answer:

exceptional

Explanation:

When something is moderate, it is “in the middle.” A “moderately hot” beverage is one that is “relatively hot”—not too hot, not too cold. A “moderate opinion” is one that is not extreme—not (for example) too conservative, not too liberal. The key notion associated with moderation is that of being “in the middle” and not being extreme. While many of the options are perhaps related to immoderation—for instance, argumentation and being too political—only “exceptional” is directly opposed to “moderate.” When something is “exceptional” it is unusual and “stands out”—which is quite the opposite of being moderate.

Example Question #97 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for uninitiated is __________.

Possible Answers:

instructed

foreign

gregarious

novice

milieu

Correct answer:

instructed

Explanation:

To initiate an action is to begin to undertake it, as when someone “initiates the warning sequence in response to a fire.” The word can be used also to describe the process of beginning to teach someone how to do some task or to live in some group. Rights of “initiation” bring people into the beginning of some kind of activity or lifestyle. The “uninitiated” are those who have not been so instructed or (perhaps) inducted into the lifestyle or activity. The only real antonym among the options provided is “instructed.”

Example Question #98 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym for rational is __________.

Possible Answers:

fractional

decimal

illogical

inquiry

idiosyncratic

Correct answer:

illogical

Explanation:

When something is “rational,” is reasonable and makes sense according to logical thought. Thus, in contrast to rationality, one can speak of being illogical, meaning that such a person does not think in a coherent manner that is communicable. An illogical person is irrational, that is, not reasonable.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors