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 #11 : Part And Whole

Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.

Story is to building as deck is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mast

cabin

wood

ship

apartment

Correct answer:

ship

Explanation:

A "story" is a vertical level on a "building," just as a "deck" is a vertical level on a "ship."

Example Question #31 : Analogies

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

Spine is to back as skull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

skeleton

head

elbow

medicine

brain

Correct answer:

head

Explanation:

The "spine" is the primary bone in the "back," just as the "skull" is the primary bone of the "head."

Example Question #32 : Analogies

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

Pork is to pig as venison is to __________.

Possible Answers:

steak

farm

dairy

cow

deer

Correct answer:

deer

Explanation:

"Pork" is the meat that comes from a "pig," while "venison" is the meat that comes from a "deer."

Example Question #12 : Part And Whole

Select the word that best completes the comparison.

Femur is to leg as humerus is to __________.

Possible Answers:

skull

ulna

arm

hilarious

orthopedist

Correct answer:

arm

Explanation:

The "femur" is the major bone found in the "leg," just as the "humerus" is a major bone in the "arm."

Example Question #12 : Part And Whole

Answer the question by selecting the word that best completes the analogy.

Intestine is to digestive as heart is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cardiovascular

blood

cerebral

lungs

nervous

Correct answer:

cardiovascular

Explanation:

The "intestine" is part of the body's "digestive" system, just as the "heart" is part of the "cardiovascular" system.

Example Question #161 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Eulogy is to funeral as monologue is to __________.

Possible Answers:

theatrical

soliloquy

speech

alone

play

Correct answer:

play

Explanation:

A eulogy is a type of speech given at a funeral, generally made to praise the recently deceased person. The word actually means good speech. The “eu-” prefix comes from the Greek for good. The English “euphony” means good sounding. The bridge sentence for our analogy could be written, “Just as a eulogy is given at a funeral, so is a monologue given at X.” A monologue is a type of speech that is given by a single character in a play. In contrast with a dialogue, which is between multiple people, the monologue is said by one alone—like “thinking out loud.” The “mono-” means one and can be found in English words like “monopoly” and “monastery.” Notice that only “play” names a type of event at which a monologue is given.

Example Question #14 : Part And Whole

Grain is to sandbank as key is to __________.

Possible Answers:

typewriter

strike

typing

silicon

communication

Correct answer:

typewriter

Explanation:

Grains of sand comprise the content of a sandbank, which is a small deposit of sand found in shallow water. The relationship is thus part-to-whole. The analogy could be rewritten, “As a grain is a constitutive part of a sandbank, so is a key part of X.” Among the options provided, only “typewriter” functions well enough. In the days before computers, typewriters were the mechanical equivalent to a computer keyboard, allowing people to produce letters using a mechanical device and enabling them to write more rapidly and clearly. While the relation is not quite equivalent to that of the grains of sand and the piles of sand that are made thereby in sandbanks, it is a close enough part-whole relationship, particularly given that no other option comes close.

Example Question #15 : Part And Whole

Tie is to track as handle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

knob

open

circular

door

undo

Correct answer:

door

Explanation:

The most natural meaning for “tie” is the action of knotting a piece of fabric or even the type of clothing accessory that is worn around a man’s neck for decoration. The word can likewise mean something more general, like fastener or to fasten. The ties on a railroad track are the parts that hold it together. As you look at your potential answers, you will realize that none of them describes what a handle “holds together.” (Indeed, that is a rather strange notion anyway); however, the railroad tie is a part of the whole structure that is a track; therefore, you could say, that just as a tie is part of a track, so is a handle part of a door. This is the best option.

Example Question #16 : Part And Whole

Retina is to eye as letter is to __________.

Possible Answers:

missive

mail

envelope

word

communicative

Correct answer:

word

Explanation:

The retina is the lining of cells at the back of the eye that are sensitive to light. Even if you did not know the exact function of the retina, you likely knew it was part of the eye; therefore, you could form the bridge sentence, “Just as the retina is part of the eye, so is a letter part of a X.” Among the options, you might be very tempted by “mail,” as to say, “A letter is part of the delivered mail”; however, do not be so tempted, for the better example is a letter (e.g. X, Y, Z) being part of a word. It is a necessary part of the word and is thus closer to the case that holds for the retina of the eye. The other wrong options are related to “letter” taken in the sense of something written and mailed.

Example Question #21 : Part And Whole

Pup is to litter as chick is to __________.

Possible Answers:

brood

hen

poultry

debris

woman

Correct answer:

brood

Explanation:

Among the many meanings that the word “litter” can have, one is a group of animals all born together. This meaning clearly is implied, given that the first word in the analogy is “pup,” as in young dog. The bridge sentence for the analogy could be written, “As a pup is a member of a litter, so is a chick a member of X.” The only name for a group of animals is “brood,” meaning a group of young animals, particularly birds born together. The option “poultry” is a mere descriptive term for fowl that have been domesticated. It is not the name of the group itself, and doesn't include the aspect of meaning related to a group of young animals born together.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors