HSPT Verbal : Verbal Classifications

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

active

frenzied

frenetic

hectic

feverish

Correct answer:

active

Explanation:

Although all of these words pertain to being active, the wrong answers are all related in that they describe frantic activity of some sort. You may not know “frenetic,” but it is somewhat akin to “frantic,” meaning “wild and fast with energy.” Likewise, “feverish” might seem to be the correct answer, for it can merely indicate that someone is ill with an elevated temperature (a fever); however, “feverish” activity can be thought of as “hot and fast moving” activity. The word indeed has the English meaning of being frenetic activity.

Example Question #1011 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

illumed

effulgent

illuminated

brightened

lightened

Correct answer:

effulgent

Explanation:

All of these options are in some way related to the provision of light for some area or surface. To “illuminate” something is to shine a light upon it. It literally means “to place light onto.” Light bulbs are rated as having a certain number of “lumens.” Lumens are units of light production—as opposed to mere power consumption as expressed by “watts.” The one word that is different among those provided is “effulgent,” which means “brightly shining.”  Even “brightened” might only mean that something has been relatively brightened—e.g. from dark grey to light grey; however, “effulgent” always indicates the state of strong or extreme brightness. Thus, the word differs from the others.

Example Question #102 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

effortless

facile

easy

undemanding

onerous

Correct answer:

onerous

Explanation:

All of the related words in this group describe easiness of some sort.  Likely you have no problem seeing that in “easy,” “undemanding,” and effortless. The word “facile” means “easily accomplished.” A “facile undertaking” is one that is very easy (and likely not very impressive either). Often, the word carries an implication like, “It was very easy—an hence not worth praise.” Something is “onerous” when it is very difficult.  It comes from the Latin “onus” meaning “burden or load.” When someone is “exonerated,” he or she is declared innocent in a court hearing. That person can be said to have had the “burden of guilt” lifted from him or her.

Example Question #103 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

intersecting

skew

perpendicular

elliptical

parallel

Correct answer:

elliptical

Explanation:

All of the related words describe some relationship between lines. Two parallel lines are ones that have the same slope and hence never meet. Skew lines are ones that never meet at all—but in three-dimensional space. Perpendicular lines are those that meet at 90-degree angle. Of course, “intersecting” pertains to lines!  “Elliptical,” while geometrical, does not necessarily pertain to linear matters.

Example Question #104 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

perennial

oak

deciduous

conifer

pine

Correct answer:

perennial

Explanation:

All of the related words describe types of trees. This is blatantly obvious in the case of “pine” and “oak.” A coniferous tree is a tree that has needles and cones. Literally, the word means “cone bearing” or “cone carrying.” The “-fer” portion can be found in words like “transfer,” meaning “to carry across,” and the name “Lucifer” of Judeo-Christian mythology, meaning “the light-bearer.” Deciduous trees are those that have leaves that fall every autumn. In contrast, “perennial” means either “lasting forever.” It can be applied to plants to mean those plants that you do not have to replant each year; however, in neither of these cases does the word strictly apply to trees as do the others.

Example Question #106 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

interior

communicated

personal

mental

private

Correct answer:

communicated

Explanation:

The set of related words all have to do with some level of interiority or privacy. The word “mental” can be included here because it indicates things that are kept “in the mind” in contrast to things that have been expressed. Likewise, something “personal” can be contrasted to something “public,” as when we say, “That is a personal matter and not appropriate for public discussion.” The word “communicated” expresses some degree of being “external” that is different from all of these other words.

Example Question #107 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

inconsequential

negligible

trifling

immaterial

significant

Correct answer:

significant

Explanation:

Note that all of the related words pertain to something being insignificant. When something is “inconsequential,” it is of little meaning—as though it were “of little consequence.” While “immaterial” could mean “spiritual” (like ghostly “immaterial substances”), it likewise can merely indicate that something is unimportant in a given set of circumstances. (It just doesn’t matter!). A “trifle” is a small thing, so a trifling matter is an unimportant one. Something that is negligible is so important that it is “neglect-able.” “Significant” stands in opposition to all of these options.

Example Question #108 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

indirect

implicit

explicit

latent

unstated

Correct answer:

explicit

Explanation:

All of the incorrect answers are somehow related to the word “implicit,” which means “not expressed openly or fully.” While something “explicit” is “spelled out” completely, “implicit” (or “implied”) matters are hidden and “unspoken.” Sometimes what we say can have implied meanings that are not directly stated—often leading to misunderstandings and disagreements when people misunderstand the implied remarks. Things “latent” are hidden and undeveloped—a notion at least similar to being implicit. “Indirect” is related to the sense of implying discussed above—indirectly communicating something in addition to the explicit meaning. Something “unstated” may still be implied even though it is not explicitly stated.

Example Question #109 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

weighty

trite

momentous

important

consequential

Correct answer:

trite

Explanation:

All of the related words pertain in some manner to the notion of being important. Something that is “consequential” can be thought of has “having consequences” (hence, being important). A “weighty” matter is not necessarily one that is physically heavy. The word is often used to describe something that is important—it has great weight metaphorically. A momentous occasion is one that is of great importance, often implying that its importance will influence the future in some way. Something “trite” is overused and thus ignored and generally unimportant. A trite expression of comfort is one that is so used that it really has no meaning and hence provides little or no comfort.

Example Question #110 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

definite

concrete

physical

abstract

tangible

Correct answer:

abstract

Explanation:

Perhaps the easiest way to see this answer is to realize first that “abstract” means “pertaining to an idea but removed from actual reality.” It often implies a type of removal and generality that is opposed to the immediacy of more tangible—literally “touchable”— things. The other options all are related to being definite in a way opposed to being abstract.

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