HSPT Verbal : HSPT Verbal Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #42 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

plateau

silt

coast

mountain

delta

Correct answer:

silt

Explanation:

"Silt" does not belong with the other words. "Silt" is a type of fine sand or dirt, usually found in a body of water. All of the other words are types of geographic features. A "plateau" is a relatively flat place of high ground. (Think of a hill or mountain with the top cut off.) A "mountain" is a large, steep hill. A "delta" is usually a triangular shaped deposit of rich sediment at the mouth of a river. A "coast" is where any land meets the ocean.

Example Question #43 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

peas

cabbage

broccoli

spinach

beets

Correct answer:

beets

Explanation:

Although all of these words are a type of vegetable, "beets" are red. All of the other vegetables listed are green.

Example Question #44 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

ice cream

pizza

pie

cake

mousse

Correct answer:

pizza

Explanation:

"Pizza" does not belong with the other words because it is not a kind of dessert. All four of the other words are eaten for dessert. ("Mousse" is a kind of creamy pudding.)

Example Question #45 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

Antarctica

Asia

Europe

Canada

Australia

Correct answer:

Canada

Explanation:

"Canada" does not belong with the other words because it is a country, while of the other words are continents. There are seven continents: Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, Europe, South America and North America. "Canada" is a country in North America. "Australia" is both a country and a continent.

Example Question #46 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?`

Possible Answers:

marigold

rose

daisy

corn

pansy

Correct answer:

corn

Explanation:

All of these words are a type of plant. "Corn" is a grain. "Marigolds," "pansies," "daisies" and "roses" are types of flowers. "Corn" does not belong with the other words.

Example Question #47 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

aunt

brother

mother

sister

grandmother

Correct answer:

brother

Explanation:

All of these words describe a family member. "Brother" does not belong with the other words because it describes a male family member. "Grandmother," "mother," "aunt," and "sister" all describe female family members.

Example Question #48 : Verbal Classifications: Nouns

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

Reflection

Utterance

Reverberation

Echo

Vestige

Correct answer:

Utterance

Explanation:

All of the related words pertain to some kind of subsequent presentation of an event. A reverberation or an echo are the “replayed” sound of some original action of making a noise. A reflection is the redisplaying of an image—as in the mirror that reflects an image that first was “in” the person seen therein or in a metallic surface that reflects light that had originated from another source. Finally, even a vestige is a “representation” of something, for it is a “leftover” that outlasts an original event. (A footprint is a vestige of an action of walking that happened before. Indeed, “vestige” comes from the Latin for footprint). Only “utterance” describes an originating, non-repeated, non-representational activity.

Example Question #1 : Verbal Classifications: Verbs

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

operate

insinuate

intervene

mediate

translate

Correct answer:

operate

Explanation:

All of the related words here have to do with some process of “standing between” two things. Someone “mediates” by attempting to help two parties agree. (More generally, the term can mean “to be a link between two things”). An intervention is an action by which something is stopped by means of some obstacle (literally or metaphorically). To translate is “carry” the meaning from one language to another. (The “-late” portion " the word literally means “carry”!). To insinuate can mean “to make a suggestion indirectly;” however, it can also mean “to manipulate a situation so as to place oneself into some favorable position.” Only “operate” does not convey this sense of “mediation” found in all the other options.

Example Question #2 : Verbal Classifications: Verbs

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

recount

specify

explicate

determine

describe

Correct answer:

recount

Explanation:

Each of the related words describes some action of making an idea more specific or explicit. For instance, to specify the details of an order is to “spell out” the exact details of that order.  A description can be seen as an itemizing or something in order to make it known in its details. When we “determine” to do something, we choose a certain actual thing to do after having had a number of potential activities. To explicate is to explain, often implying detailed analysis. Only “recount” has little to do with any of these other words. It means to “retell” as in “recounting a story.” This might be a nice detailed account, but the word does not necessarily signify such detail. 

Example Question #951 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

lurch

trip

blunder

stumble

shuffle

Correct answer:

shuffle

Explanation:

All of the words provided indicate some state of affairs when someone is unable to walk in a proper manner; however, note that the incorrect options all pertain to somewhat disastrous types of fumbling about. When someone stumbles, he or she nearly falls while walking about. A blundering person is clumsy. Someone lurching is uncontrolled in his or her movement. To “shuffle along” merely means to walk without picking up your feet. While not the best way of transporting oneself, this is not quite so extreme as the other cases.

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