HSPT Verbal : HSPT Verbal Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

EMBELLISH

Possible Answers:

Plagiarize

Terminate

Define

Decorate

Mimic

Correct answer:

Decorate

Explanation:

"Embellish" means to "decorate" or to add ornaments to something; one might embellish a story by adding details that are not true to an otherwise true account. "Terminate" means to end or to conclude. "Mimic" means to imitate or to copy. "Plagiarize" means to copy another person's work without crediting that person for it. "Define" means to state the definition or qualities of a person or thing.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

SNARE

Possible Answers:

Research

Prosper

Trap

Falsify

Contaminate

Correct answer:

Trap

Explanation:

"Snare" is a word that can be used as either a noun or a verb, but because all of the answer choices can be used as verbs, we will need to consider "snare" as a verb. When used as a verb, "snare" means to trap or to catch and usually refers to trapping an animal, so "trap" is the correct answer.  None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "snare" or "trap": "prosper" means succeed or flourish. "Contaminate" means pollute; "falsify" means mislead or show that something is false; and "research" means to study or investigate.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ENGENDER

Possible Answers:

Female

Ingratiate

Dangerous

Duplicate

Spawn

Correct answer:

Spawn

Explanation:

"Engender" is a verb which means to call forth. This can be used in the sense of creation of ideas, or in the sense of creating children.  "Spawn" can also mean to call forth. Additionally, it is, specifically, the laying of eggs by fish, amphibians or mollusks

"Dangerous" is an adjective which means causing harm.

"Ingratiate" is a verb meaning to flatter someone to create good will.

"Female" may seem like a good answer because it is a gender. "Engender" does not mean male or female, however.

"Duplicate" means to copy. This seems like a possible answer because, in the strictest sense, duplicating is an act of creation, just like engendering; however, "engender" has the connotation of creating something original:  an original idea or a child.  "Duplicate" is literally a copy of something else.  "Spawn" is a better answer because it, like "engender," has the connotation of creating something original.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Emotional Changes

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

BROOD

Possible Answers:

challenge

hide

annex

fret

preclude

Correct answer:

fret

Explanation:

"Brood" means to worry or to fret.

Example Question #322 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

AGONIZE

Possible Answers:

Laud

Gargle

Perpetrate

Depict

Worry

Correct answer:

Worry

Explanation:

"Agonize" means to worry greatly about something and is ofted used in the phrase "to agonize over" something. So, "worry" is the correct answer. "Perpetrate" means to commit or carry out a crime. "Laud" means to applaud or to praise. "Depict" means to show or demonstrate. "Gargle" means to clean or wash one's throat or mouth with a liquid substance.

Example Question #323 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

ASSUAGE

Possible Answers:

Atone

Enervate

Relieve

Amass

Narrate

Correct answer:

Relieve

Explanation:

"Assuage" means to "relieve" or to ease. "Amass" means to gather or to collect. "Atone" means to apologize or make amends for. "Enervate" means to weaken or to cause to lose energy. "Narrate" means to tell a story.

Example Question #2059 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ASSUAGE

Possible Answers:

Measure 

Decide 

Indicate 

Allay 

Reward

Correct answer:

Allay 

Explanation:

To “assuage” means to provide relief from something uncomfortable or distressing. You often hear it used to describe “assuaging guilt,” which means to make someone feel less guilty. The only answer choice that matches this definition is “allay.” Allay means to relieve or calm the severity of something. Both words describe the relieving of an unpleasant sensation.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Verbs

"Abhor" most nearly means __________.

Possible Answers:

instigate

covet

desire

enhance

despise

Correct answer:

despise

Explanation:

To "abhor" something is to loathe, despise or hate it. You might "abhor" violence and refuse to watch TV shows that promote violence. "Covet" and "desire" both mean to want something, so these are antonyms of abhor. "Instigate" means to start something and "enhance" means to make better.

Example Question #902 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CURTAIL

Possible Answers:

Decrease

Evolve

Contaminate

Duration

Accelerate

Correct answer:

Decrease

Explanation:

"Curtail" is a verb meaning to reduce or limit and sometimes impose a restriction on. The word closest in meaning to this is "decrease" which also means to reduce

"Accelerate" means to increase. This is the opposite of "curtail." 

"Contaminate" means to make impure

"Duration" is the time in which something happens.

"Evolve" means to gradually become more complex.

Example Question #1 : Verbal Classifications

Which word does not belong with the others?

Possible Answers:

library

literature

history

math

Correct answer:

library

Explanation:

"Math", "history", and "literature" are all school subjects.  A library can be found in most schools, but it is not an actual subject like the others.

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