All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #891 : Hspt Verbal Skills
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FATHOM
Pelt
Satisfy
Irritate
Understand
Bewilder
Understand
"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 _____________.
mythical
crystal
determined
bewilder
complete
bewilder
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 __________.
manipulate
invest
destroy
intrude
disturb
manipulate
"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
Hinder
Abhor
Enliven
Hoard
Obey
Obey
"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
assemble
congregate
loosen
threaten
hurtle
hurtle
"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
Rotate
Foretell
Tease
Hang
Diminish
Diminish
"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
Debate
Signify
Mature
Sink
Fulfill
Sink
"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
Define
Terminate
Decorate
Plagiarize
Mimic
Decorate
"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
Trap
Falsify
Prosper
Contaminate
Research
Trap
"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
Female
Duplicate
Ingratiate
Dangerous
Spawn
Spawn
"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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