HSPT Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #891 : Hspt Verbal Skills

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

FATHOM

Possible Answers:

Pelt

Satisfy

Irritate

Understand

Bewilder

Correct answer:

Understand

Explanation:

"Fathom" means comprehend or understand, so "understand" is the correct answer. "Bewilder" is an antonym of "fathom"; it means confuse. "Satisfy" means meet a certain condition or meet the expectations of someone. "Pelt" means bombard or attack someone or something with projectiles. "Irritate" means bother or annoy.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

"Baffle" most nearly means _____________.

Possible Answers:

mythical

crystal

determined

bewilder

complete

Correct answer:

bewilder

Explanation:

As a verb, "baffle" means to confuse someone, or to be confused. An example is, "Walking through the maze, Diana was baffled about how to get out." If you're confused, you are "bewildered." Although "complete" is also a verb, it means to finish. None of the other words are verbs. "Determined" and "mythical" are adjectives. "Determined" means to have made a firm decision and "mythical" means having something to do with ancient myths or legends. "Crystal" is a noun and means a specific type of glass.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

"Beguile" most nearly means __________.

Possible Answers:

manipulate

invest

destroy

intrude

disturb

Correct answer:

manipulate

Explanation:

"Beguile" means to charm, sometimes in a deceptive way. For instance, "The little boy beguiled his grandmother into giving him a cookie when he told her she was a wonderful cook." When you "manipulate" someone, you convince him or her to do something by tricking him or her or using his or her emotions against him or her. For example, "Mandy manipulated Mark into taking her to the dance by telling him she already had a dress but no one to go with."

Example Question #131 : Synonyms

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

HEED

Possible Answers:

Hinder

Abhor

Enliven

Hoard

Obey

Correct answer:

Obey

Explanation:

"Heed" can be used as both a noun and a verb. For example, as a noun: "He paid no heed to the warnings." As a verb, "He should heed the teacher's warning." The word closest in meaning to "heed" on this list is "obey."

"Hinder" means to create problems that result in delay

"Hoard" means to stockpile. You might hoard all the chocolate in your house so that no one else can eat it. 

"Abhor" means a deep revulsion. You might abhor the sight of blood.

"Enliven" means to make more lively.

Example Question #141 : Synonyms

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

CAREEN

Possible Answers:

assemble

congregate

loosen

threaten

hurtle

Correct answer:

hurtle

Explanation:

"Careen" means to move quickly and uncontrolled in a particular direction, or hurtle through somewhere.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DWINDLE

Possible Answers:

Rotate

Foretell

Tease

Hang

Diminish

Correct answer:

Diminish

Explanation:

"Dwindle" means diminish gradually, so "diminish," which means decline or decrease, is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "dwindle" and "diminish": "foretell" means predict or prognosticate; "hang" means dangle or suspend; "rotate" means spin or revolve; and "tease" means goad or mock.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

CAPSIZE

Possible Answers:

Debate

Signify

Mature

Sink

Fulfill

Correct answer:

Sink

Explanation:

"Capsize" means to overturn or to sink, and usually refers to ships. So, "sink" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "capsize": "fulfill" means to carry out or complete a task or an assignment; "debate" means to discuss or argue about an issue or topic; "signify" means to indicate; and "mature" means to grow up physically or mentally.

Example Question #202 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

EMBELLISH

Possible Answers:

Define

Terminate

Decorate

Plagiarize

Mimic

Correct answer:

Decorate

Explanation:

"Embellish" means to "decorate" or to add ornaments to something; one might embellish a story by adding details that are not true to an otherwise true account. "Terminate" means to end or to conclude. "Mimic" means to imitate or to copy. "Plagiarize" means to copy another person's work without crediting that person for it. "Define" means to state the definition or qualities of a person or thing.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

SNARE

Possible Answers:

Trap

Falsify

Prosper

Contaminate

Research

Correct answer:

Trap

Explanation:

"Snare" is a word that can be used as either a noun or a verb, but because all of the answer choices can be used as verbs, we will need to consider "snare" as a verb. When used as a verb, "snare" means to trap or to catch and usually refers to trapping an animal, so "trap" is the correct answer.  None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "snare" or "trap": "prosper" means succeed or flourish. "Contaminate" means pollute; "falsify" means mislead or show that something is false; and "research" means to study or investigate.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ENGENDER

Possible Answers:

Female

Duplicate

Ingratiate

Dangerous

Spawn

Correct answer:

Spawn

Explanation:

"Engender" is a verb which means to call forth. This can be used in the sense of creation of ideas, or in the sense of creating children.  "Spawn" can also mean to call forth. Additionally, it is, specifically, the laying of eggs by fish, amphibians or mollusks

"Dangerous" is an adjective which means causing harm.

"Ingratiate" is a verb meaning to flatter someone to create good will.

"Female" may seem like a good answer because it is a gender. "Engender" does not mean male or female, however.

"Duplicate" means to copy. This seems like a possible answer because, in the strictest sense, duplicating is an act of creation, just like engendering; however, "engender" has the connotation of creating something original:  an original idea or a child.  "Duplicate" is literally a copy of something else.  "Spawn" is a better answer because it, like "engender," has the connotation of creating something original.

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