HSPT Verbal : Specific Terminology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Specific Terminology

Dental is to teeth as renal is to __________.

Possible Answers:

gambling

mildew

auditory

kidney

eye

Correct answer:

kidney

Explanation:

Things that are dental are related to teeth. The “dent-” portion of the word comes from the Latin for teeth. The word “renal” is used to describe something pertaining to the kidneys.  It too is related to a Latin root, namely “renes,” which means “kidney.” When someone suffers “renal failure,” he or she is suffering from kidney failure. The analogy thus reads, “As ‘dental’ describes things related to the teeth, so does ‘renal’ describe things related to the kidneys.”

Example Question #2 : Specific Terminology

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Dentist is to teeth as optometrist is to __________.

Possible Answers:

feet

office

doctor

skin

eyes

Correct answer:

eyes

Explanation:

A "dentist" is a doctor that specializes in "teeth," whereas an "optometrist" specializes in "eyes."

Example Question #3 : Specific Terminology

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Carnivore is to meat as herbivore is to __________.

Possible Answers:

herbs

dinosaur

sausage

food

plants

Correct answer:

plants

Explanation:

A "carnivore" is one who eats primarily "meat," whereas an "herbivore" eats mainly "plants."

Example Question #4 : Specific Terminology

Nasal is to nose as aural is to __________.

Possible Answers:

glorious

ears

hospital

music

mouth

Correct answer:

ears

Explanation:

The word "nasal" pertains to the "nose," while anything "aural" is referring to what can be heard through the "ears."

Example Question #5 : Specific Terminology

Geology is to earth as biology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

life

university

science

chemistry

doctor

Correct answer:

life

Explanation:

"Geology" is the science dedicated to the study of the "earth," as "biology" is dedicated to studying "life."

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