All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Subject And Object
Poll is to opinion as net is to __________.
seine
fish
sailor
meshwork
hunter
fish
Although this analogy might seem a bit light-hearted, it does hold if you write a bridge sentence. Polls are used to gather opinions from a group of people. Among the uses that a net can have, it can gather things like fish. All of the other options are either synonyms for net or types of people who would use a net. Neither of these fit any sense that can be established between “poll” and “opinion;” therefore, as strange as it might seem, “fish” is the best option.
Example Question #2 : Subject And Object
Mentor is to tyro as master is to __________.
apprentice
untrained
maestro
liege
rule
apprentice
A tyro is someone who is inexperienced or a novice in some subject. Such a person would need to be mentored in order to gain adequate proficiency. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As a tyro learns from a mentor, so does X learn from a master.” Among the options provided, only “apprentice” fits this usage. An apprentice is someone who learns a trade from a master tradesman.
Example Question #331 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Inquisitor is to examining as recidivist is to __________.
cascading
reoffending
passing
retreating
falling
reoffending
The word “inquire” means “to ask” or “to investigate.” It is related to other words for “asking” such as “query” and “question.” An “inquisitor” is someone who examines another party for some set of information. Thus, the analogy could be formulated, “As an inquisitor is known for examining, so is a recidivists known for X.” A recidivist is someone who has committed a crime and then commits it again (often frequently). The “-cid-” portion of the word comes from the Latin for “to fall” as in “accident.” A re-cidivist is someone who “falls again” into the same old faults. Such a person is likely known for “reoffending.”
Example Question #332 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Pedestrian is to walking as mariner is to __________.
sailing
sails
circumnavigate
seafarer
motor
sailing
A pedestrian is someone who travels by walking. You likely use the word to describe people walking in a town in contrast to those who are using motor vehicles or bicycles. The word actually comes from the Latin for “foot” and is related to the similar sounding beginning of the word “podiatrist”—a doctor specializing in care of the foot. Thus the bridge sentence for our analogy could be written as, “Just as a pedestrian travels by walking, so a mariner travels by X.” A “mariner” is a sailor. The word is derived from the Latin for “sea” and is related to the English words “marine” and “submarine.” A sailor travels by sailing.
Example Question #333 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Deliberative is to discourse as polemical is to __________.
posted
inquiry
beams
argument
edification
argument
A deliberative body gathers in order to discuss and consider possible options. The aspect of discussion is very important to the notion of “deliberation.” The word itself comes from the Latin for “to weigh,” and we often speak of “weighing the options,” meaning effectively that we are deliberating. Discourse is discussion on a topic. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “As a deliberative group joins for the sake of discourse, something that is polemical joins (or acts) for the sake of X.” Note that the analogy does need to have some reworking because “polemical” is not quite the same in character as “deliberative.” The word “polemical” means “related to controversial and critical writing or speech.” Polemics are strong verbal / written attacks on positions / topics. Thus, something that is polemical is done for the sake of argument.
Example Question #341 : Analogies
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Owe is to debt as reap is to __________.
bludgeon
borrow
skill
house
reward
reward
One usually "owes" a "debt," just as one can also "reap" or collect a "reward."
Example Question #5 : Actor And Action
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Curmudgeon is to grumpy as idealist is to __________.
utopia
helpless
cranky
lonely
dreamy
dreamy
A "curmudgeon" is often "grumpy," just as an "idealist" is often "dreamy."
Example Question #342 : Analogies
Select the word that best completes the comparison.
Genius is to brilliant as idiot is to __________.
intelligent
politician
moronic
sharp
professor
moronic
A "genius" is "brilliant" while an "idiot" is "moronic."
Example Question #343 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Oration is to spoken as transcript is to __________.
connected
rendition
written
conversion
observation
written
An oration is a speech, often one given at a ceremony. It comes both from the Latin for to pray as well as more distantly from the word for mouth. (Think of words like “oral” and “adore.”) Thus, an oration is a type of spoken communication. We could write a bridge sentence like, “As an oration is something that is spoken, so is a transcript something that is X.” A transcript is a written version of some communication. For instance, a transcript of a television show is the written version made for people to read after the show has aired.
Example Question #337 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Pedant is to tedious as transgressor is to __________.
unforgiving
sentenced
guilty
judged
forgiveness
guilty
A pedant is a person who shows a great deal of learning to the point of being tedious and boring—going through every detail almost in a ridiculous fashion. Thus, “tedious” is an adequate description for a pedant. Someone who “transgresses” goes beyond the boundaries of the law. The “trans-” prefix means across (as in “transfer,” meaning, to carry across), and the “-gress” comes from the Latin for to step. It is related to many words like “grade,” “gradual,” “progress,” and “digress.” The options “judged” and “sentenced” might apply to a transgressor after a court case that acknowledges the guilt. In any case, a transgressor in general can be said to be guilty even before this is acknowledged in a court. This is the best description among those provided.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor