HSPT Verbal : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, and Progress

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

Abstemious means the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

restrained

gluttonous

abstinent

frugal

Correct answer:

gluttonous

Explanation:

"Frugal," "constrained," and "abstinent" mean the same as abstemious. "Abstemious" means sparing or moderate in eating and drinking. "Gluttonous" means tending to eat or drink excessively.

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

Accede is the opposite of __________.

Possible Answers:

disallow

acquiesce

subscribe

endorse

Correct answer:

disallow

Explanation:

"Acquiesce," "endorse," and "subscribe" are all synonyms of "accede." "Accede" means to give consent, approval, or adherence.

"Disallow" means to refuse to permit, or reject.

Example Question #3 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym for tame is __________.

Possible Answers:

caged

wild

carnivorous

terror

frightening

Correct answer:

wild

Explanation:

A number of the options provided for answers are likely tempting. When something is not tame, it likely must be caged. Similarly, it is a terror and frightening. Indeed, something “carnivorous” (meat eating) might be thought not to be tame; however, in all of these cases, the words do not directly oppose the notion of being tame. Only “wild” adequately opposes the notion of being “tame” in the sense of being “domesticated,” that is, “house broken” (like a pet). While the others are not unrelated, they are not sufficient antonyms either.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym of "corrupt" is __________.

Possible Answers:

distance

exalt

approve

ameliorate

misuse

Correct answer:

ameliorate

Explanation:

We tend to think of corruption in terms of moral decay. This is a true use of the word, but it is a restricted meaning. Primarily, the term indicates the deterioration of something from a state of purity. In contrast to such corruption, the "bettering" of something would be an excellent antonym. The word "ameliorate" indicates just such improvement. It comes from the Latin "melior," meaning better. It literally means to make better.

Example Question #2 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym of "waver" is __________.

Possible Answers:

belittle

straighten

militate

bemoan

persist

Correct answer:

persist

Explanation:

The word "waver" is derived from the physical act of moving in a wave pattern. However, it most often indicates the psychological state of going "back and forth" between two options without being able to make a decision. Often too, a wavering person is filled with doubt. In contrast to this, a person who persists shows a sureness that is quite the opposite of the phenomenon of wavering. Among the options provided, this is the best option for an antonym.

Example Question #4 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym of "impede" is __________.

Possible Answers:

destroy

diminish

accept

crescendo

facilitate

Correct answer:

facilitate

Explanation:

When something is impeded, it is prevented from doing its activity. The word literally comes from the Latin roots meaning to place something on the foot. (The word "pedestrian" has the same "pede" in it.) An antonym for impede would express the activity of helping something on its way. Among the options provided, the best such word is "facilitate," meaning to make easier. The "facil-" prefix means easy, as in "facile."

Example Question #5 : Antonyms: Verbs About Rules, Decisions, And Progress

An antonym of "sanction" is ___________.

Possible Answers:

incarcerate

reduce

levy

corrupt

proscribe

Correct answer:

proscribe

Explanation:

The word "sanction" can have two meanings when it is used as a verb. On the one hand, it can mean to threaten with a penalty. On the other hand, it can also mean to approve. Luckily, none of the wrong answers are an antonym for the meaning of threatening with a penalty. Therefore, we must assume that it means to approve. In contrast to this, to "proscribe" can mean to outlaw or to forbid.

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