HSPT Verbal : HSPT Verbal Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1081 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

tone

shade

color

hue

pungent

Correct answer:

pungent

Explanation:

Each of the similar words here pertain to color or vision. The only word in this group that might cause confusion is “tone,” which could be interpreted in the auditory sense (“the tone of an instrument or a voice”) or as the general description of character (“the tone of the article; the tone of the discussion”). Still, there is a visual sense in which tone indicates the brightness of the color. While this world could be the one that does not match the others, the word “pungent” is completely outside the group of “visual” words, as it means a strong odor or taste. (Likely you have heard the expression, “A pungent aroma”).

Example Question #1082 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

retina

pupil

lens

visionary

optical

Correct answer:

visionary

Explanation:

Each of the words in the set of related terms indicates something pertaining to the anatomy or the functioning of the human eye. This should be obvious in the cases of “retina,” “pupil,” and “lens.” The likely difficulty for this problem is making a distinction between “optical” and “visionary.” The word “optical” most often is used to describe something that is related to sight. An “optical illusion” is a trick of sight (caused by the bending of light rays). Similarly, an "optometrist" is an "eye doctor” focusing on the correcting of vision. While the word “visionary” likely seems equivalent to “visual,” it really indicates something or someone who can metaphorically see things in the future with great imagination and often in a way that notices trends before they happen. This is not directly connected with physical vision or the physical eye as are the other words.

Example Question #1083 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

know

consciousness

awareness

comprehensive

perceive

Correct answer:

comprehensive

Explanation:

The four related words all indicate the state of being aware of something, though none of them indicate anything more than the awareness itself (or at least do not indicate deep awareness). The word “comprehensive” means complete and thorough, and thus does not allign with the meaning of the four related words.

Example Question #1084 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

competitive

playful

beautiful

deny

slow

Correct answer:

deny

Explanation:

"Deny" is a verb which means to refuse to give or grant something as well as refusal to admit the truth or the existence of something. You might deny the existence of aliens; or you could deny your responsibility for breaking the TV. All of the other words, "beautiful," "slow," "playful," and "competitive," are adjectives that describe something. "Deny" does not fit with these words because it is not the same part of speech.

Example Question #1085 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

different

contrary

antithesis

inverse

opposite

Correct answer:

different

Explanation:

First, observe that all of these words pertain to being different in some manner. Still, there is a distinction between being “opposite” and being merely “different.” Two things can differ by a mere degree—as bright green differs from a hue of green that is slightly less bright. Two such things would definitely not be opposite each other (at least in any meaningful manner of speaking). The other related words all express the same sense of opposition.  Two “antithetical” things are completely opposed. You might say something like, “Paul was the utter antithesis of Sally. While she was extremely disciplined and rigid, he was lax and quite slovenly.” Two “contrary” things are opposed. To say, “On the contrary” is synonymous with saying, “In opposition to the previous point.” Finally, two “inversed” things are opposed.

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