HSPT Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CONTEMPTUOUS

Possible Answers:

Impregnable

Remorseful

Surreptitious

Docile

Scornful

Correct answer:

Scornful

Explanation:

“Contemptuous” means showing scorn and hatred for something, so "scornful" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “remorseful” means full of guilt and sadness over something one did wrong; “docile” means calm and compliant; “impregnable” means unable to be captured or broken; and “surreptitious” means secret and sneaky.

Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

GREGARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Domineering

Supplementary

Implacable

Sociable

Complementary

Correct answer:

Sociable

Explanation:

“Gregarious” means friendly and sociable, so "sociable" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “implacable” means unappeasable, unable to be placated, or not forgiving; “domineering” means controlling; “complementary” means something that works well with something else; and “supplementary” means additional.

Example Question #10 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

STOIC

Possible Answers:

Unemotional

Frivolous

Fortuitous

Responsive

Critical

Correct answer:

Unemotional

Explanation:

Someone who is “stoic” is unemotional and unresponsive when faced with painful or difficult situations, so "unemotional" is the best answer. As for the other answer choices, “responsive” means reacting or done in response; “critical,” when referring to the significance of something, means highly important, though it can also mean pointing out the faults in something; “fortuitous” means owed to good-fortune or lucky; and “frivolous” means purposeless and not serious.

Example Question #41 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

MAGNANIMOUS

Possible Answers:

Submissive

Benevolent

Incoherent

Colloquial

Malevolent

Correct answer:

Benevolent

Explanation:

Someone who is “magnanimous” is generous and charitable, or "benevolent." As for the other answer choices, “malevolent” means wicked and unkind; “colloquial” means conversational or using language unique to a certain region; “incoherent” means unable to be understood; and “submissive” means listening to others and doing what they want without arguing.

Example Question #42 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

LAX

Possible Answers:

Negligent

Prolific

Tedious

Remorseless

Odious

Correct answer:

Negligent

Explanation:

“Lax” means negligentnot giving enough attention to something, or not taking something seriously enough, so "negligent" is the best synonym amongst the answer choices. As for the other answer choices, “odious” means unpleasant, revolting, or disgusting; “prolific” means able to produce a large quantity of something quickly; “tedious” means dull and boring; and “remorseless” means not feeling guilty about one's actions.

Example Question #43 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

"Verbose" most nearly means ____________.

Possible Answers:

intense

intelligent

silent

independent

loquacious

Correct answer:

loquacious

Explanation:

A "verbose" person uses more words than are necessary to describe something. Instead of saying, "The sunset was beautiful," a verbose description would include every color of the sunset and how the colors changed over time. "Loquacious" means talkative, which is the most similar in meaning to "verbose." All of the other answers are also personality traits, but do not have the same meaning as "verbose" and "loquacious." In fact, "silent" is the antonym of "verbose. 

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Other Adjectives

"Abominable" most nearly means __________.

Possible Answers:

systematic

questionable

desirable

dominant

detestable

Correct answer:

detestable

Explanation:

"Abominable" means universally hated. If you "detest" something, you hate it. "Desirable" is the opposite of hated; if you desire something, you want it. "Dominant" means most important or most powerful. This is also the opposite of abominable. "Systematic" means to do something in an organized fashion and "questionable" means doubtful. The only word similar to abominable is detestable.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors