Qualities, Abilities, and Other Analogies

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HSPT Language Skills › Qualities, Abilities, and Other Analogies

Questions 1 - 10
1

Ice is to cold as sun is to                     .

bright

sky

morning

daytime

diurnal

Explanation

This analogy is relatively simple, all you have to note is that “cold” describes ice. Thus, you are looking for something that describes the sun. All of the incorrect options are related to the “location” of the sun (i.e. “in” the sky) or when it is in the sky (“morning,” “daytime,” “diurnal”). None of these pertain to a description of the sun itself. Though simple, the best option is “bright.”

2

Ice is to cold as sun is to                     .

bright

sky

morning

daytime

diurnal

Explanation

This analogy is relatively simple, all you have to note is that “cold” describes ice. Thus, you are looking for something that describes the sun. All of the incorrect options are related to the “location” of the sun (i.e. “in” the sky) or when it is in the sky (“morning,” “daytime,” “diurnal”). None of these pertain to a description of the sun itself. Though simple, the best option is “bright.”

3

Virgin is to chaste as criminal is to                     .

iniquitous

arrested

jailed

arraigned

slinking

Explanation

A virgin is someone who has never had sexual intercourse. If this is by choice, such a person is characteristically chaste. Thus, the analogy requires that you look for a characteristic that could be applied to a criminal. Among those mentioned, you could consider any of the options, but the only one that covers the situation most generally is “iniquitous.” A criminal has done something wrong, and an iniquity is a sin or wrongdoing; therefore, the best characteristic term among those provided is “iniquitous.” A criminal can get away with a lot and not be caught, and not all criminal actions are done in a slinking way; however, inasmuch as they are criminal, they are wrong, and hence, iniquitous. (This presumes, of course, that they are true crimes—as Thomas Aquinas said, an unjust law is no law at all. This, however, is not our concern! Take the simple case of someone who is justly called a criminal).

4

Virgin is to chaste as criminal is to                     .

iniquitous

arrested

jailed

arraigned

slinking

Explanation

A virgin is someone who has never had sexual intercourse. If this is by choice, such a person is characteristically chaste. Thus, the analogy requires that you look for a characteristic that could be applied to a criminal. Among those mentioned, you could consider any of the options, but the only one that covers the situation most generally is “iniquitous.” A criminal has done something wrong, and an iniquity is a sin or wrongdoing; therefore, the best characteristic term among those provided is “iniquitous.” A criminal can get away with a lot and not be caught, and not all criminal actions are done in a slinking way; however, inasmuch as they are criminal, they are wrong, and hence, iniquitous. (This presumes, of course, that they are true crimes—as Thomas Aquinas said, an unjust law is no law at all. This, however, is not our concern! Take the simple case of someone who is justly called a criminal).

5

Musician is to concert as dancer is to                     .

ballet

music

twirling

tap

gyration

Explanation

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.

6

Musician is to concert as dancer is to                     .

ballet

music

twirling

tap

gyration

Explanation

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.

7

Choose the word that best completes the comparison.

Ice is to solid as vapor is to                     .

gas

evaporation

freezing

H2O

experiment

Explanation

"Ice" is a "solid," just as "vapor" is a "gas."

8

Choose the word that best completes the comparison.

Ice is to solid as vapor is to                     .

gas

evaporation

freezing

H2O

experiment

Explanation

"Ice" is a "solid," just as "vapor" is a "gas."

9

Congestion is to obstructed as cascade is to                     .

flowing

clean

soapy

washing

rinsed

Explanation

Congestion is the state of being blocked. The word is often used to describe traffic that has slowed because of the number of cars in a given area. It is likewise used to describe when one’s nose / air passages are filled with fluid or mucus. To be “obstructed” means “to be blocked.” Thus, we could say, “As congestion is by its nature obstructed, so is a cascade X.” A cascade is either a small type of waterfall or any type of continuous passing on of material or information. Thus, a cascade by its nature is something flowing.

10

Athlete is to fit as coward is to                     .

fearful

unreliable

retreat

intemperate

vicious

Explanation

An athlete can be described as being “fit,” that is being “in shape.” Thus, this analogy is looking for a word that would adequately describe a coward. This is not necessarily a synonym as much as it is a descriptive adjective. Among the options provided, it might be that a coward is unreliable or perhaps, for some ethicists at least, vicious (in the sense of having a vice); however, the only option that really describes the coward as a coward is “fearful.”

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