All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Qualities, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Choose the word that best completes the comparison.
Ice is to solid as vapor is to __________.
gas
evaporation
freezing
H2O
experiment
gas
"Ice" is a "solid," just as "vapor" is a "gas."
Example Question #411 : Analogies
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Stubborn is to hardheaded as easygoing is to __________.
brutal
overworked
obnoxious
stressed
laid-back
laid-back
"Stubborn" and "hardheaded" are both synonyms, just as "laid-back" and "easygoing" mean the same thing.
Example Question #542 : Hspt Verbal Skills
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Alabaster is to white as jet is to __________.
pack
plane
black
dark
color
black
"Alabaster" is often used to describe "white," just as "jet" is often used to describe "black."
Example Question #22 : Qualities
Answer the question by selecting the word that best completes the comparison.
River is to fresh as ocean is to __________.
brackish
broken
expansive
acidic
saline
saline
A "river" is filled with "fresh" water whereas an ocean is filled with "saline" (or salty) water.
Example Question #412 : Analogies
Frivolity is to shallow as gravity is to __________.
planetary
motion
solemn
weight
attractive
solemn
Something “frivolous” is not serious, and when applied to a person, the term can mean carefree. Frivolous pleasures are really shallow, inconsequential pleasures. Thus, we could say, “Just as frivolity is shallow, so is gravity X.” Although “gravity” is often used in the sense of a physical force, it can likewise mean “weighty” in a metaphorical sense, as in “a grave, important manner.” Someone who has gravity (or as is often said in the media, “gravitas”) has a certain solemnity—or, “is solemn.”
Example Question #23 : Qualities, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Atrium is to open as greenhouse is to __________.
glass
arrangement
flamboyant
florit
arboreal
glass
An atrium is a type of entranceway that has an open ceiling, so the analogy must be referring to the ceiling when it places “open” in relation to “atrium.” The best way to write a bridge sentence would be, “As the ceiling of an atrium is open, so is the ceiling of a greenhouse X.” None of the other options pertain to the ceiling of a greenhouse. Even if the option “closed” were also among the other answers, even then would “glass” be the best answer, for it is more specific to “greenhouse” than “closed.” The atrium’s open roof / ceiling is a necessary characteristic. This analogy is not opposing closed and open as much as it is paralleling the characteristics of the two types of structure.
Example Question #413 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Trustworthy is to credence as malicious is to __________.
evil
wicked
sinful
fear
preponderant
fear
The word “credence” means belief in the truth of something. If someone is "trustworthy," we are likely to give credence to his or her words or claims. Something "malicious" is evil or ill-intentioned and harmful. Such a thing or person deserves to be feared, which adequately fulfills the parallel for this analogy.
Example Question #24 : Qualities, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Nebula is to misty as vacuum is to __________.
cleaning
empty
implosion
air
sterilization
empty
A nebula is a cloud of dust and gas in space, appearing misty like dust in the air—at least when magnified by a telescope. The word actually comes from the Latin word for “mist,” and when we call something “nebulous,” we imply that it is unclear and / or vague, as though it were shrouded in mists. The analogy could be written, “As a nebula is misty in appearance (or misty in character), so is a vacuum X in appearance / character.” Note that the analogy requires some flexibility since the two words are not quite the same in character—a vacuum really is a lack of something, one could say somewhat paradoxically, “It is a nothing.” In any case a property of being a vacuum is the fact that it has no contents and thus is empty.
Example Question #1 : Abilities
"Cardiologist" is to "heart" as "ecologist" is to __________.
environment
fauna
forests
biological
streams
environment
The cardiologist is a specialist at studying the heart. The word itself as a root for “heart” in it—namely, “card-.” A “cardiac arrest” occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. An “ecologist” is one who studies the environment, generally speaking. An ecosystem, for example, is the whole system of organisms and material environment in a given area. While each of the other options are part of the environment and animals therein, none of them is equivalent to the environment in general.
Example Question #2 : Abilities
Musician is to concert as dancer is to __________.
gyration
twirling
music
ballet
tap
ballet
A musician performs a concert, so the answer must be something that a dancer performs. While you might think that “gyration” would work, this is a specific action, not a type of event (like concert). Thus, “ballet” is the best answer for this. Even though all dancers do not necessarily perform ballets, this option alone establishes a parallel with dancer in a manner similar to the relationship between musician and concert.
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