HSPT Verbal Skills
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HSPT Language Skills › HSPT Verbal Skills
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INNOCUOUS
Harmless
Vaccine
Indicate
Invariably
Conglomerate
Explanation
"Innocuous" is an adjective meaning innocent and harmless. For example: "The innocuous bull snake is often mistaken for the deadly rattlesnake."
"Invariably" is an adverb meaning always.
"Conglomerate" is a noun meaning distinct items that can be put together make a whole with distinct parts. A space station might be an example of a conglomerate.
"Vaccine" is a noun meaning a substance that makes the antibodies which inoculates a person against disease.
"Indicate" is a verb which means to point out or to show.
"Harmless" is an adjective which means innocent and inoffensive. Harmless has the most similar meaning to "innocuous."
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.”
"Abhor" most nearly means __________.
despise
covet
desire
instigate
enhance
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.
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Lucky is to fortuitous as drab is to __________.
dreary
radiant
curtains
fortunate
costly
Explanation
"Lucky" and "fortuitous" mean roughly the same thing, just as "drab" is another word for "dreary."
Complete this analogy.
Painter is to portrait as composer is to __________.
symphony
instrument
euphonious
trumpets
musician
Explanation
In days past, a portrait would be painted by a painter. It was the thing created by the painter; therefore, this analogy is one of “maker to thing made,” as though to say, “As the painter makes a portrait, so a composer makes X.” Among the options provided, only “symphony” describes what a composer would make. He would write the musical score for the symphony, which can just be called “a symphony” indicating the musical score itself.
Gory is to bloody as saturated is to __________.
wet
clogging
chained
fatty
overwhelming
Explanation
Something is gory when it is covered with blood, often shed because of violence. Thus, “bloody” is either a synonym or at least a characteristic of something that is “gory.” When something is “saturated,” it is completely filled. This word is most frequently used to mean “completely filled with water,” like a sponge that is fully saturated. The word is used in scientific expressions like “saturated fats” because these compounds are completely full of a particular kind of bond—they are saturated with them.
FORLORN
Miserable
Ecstatic
Arrogant
Informed
Significant
Explanation
"Forlorn" means miserable or sad. "Ecstatic" is the antonym; it means extremely happy. "Arrogant" means conceited or full of oneself. "Informed" means having knowledge or information regarding a topic. "Significant" means important or noteworthy.
Choose the best answer that completes the comparison.
Advance is to retreat as ascend is to __________.
descend
rise
sprint
break
shout
Explanation
"Advance" is the opposite of "retreat," so therefore the opposite of "ascend" would be "descend," or to go down.
Complete this analogy.
Water is to ice as magma is to __________.
stone
crust
subterranean
molten
circulating
Explanation
When water cools, it becomes ice; therefore, this analogy requires that which magma becomes when it cools. Magma is the liquid stone that flows under the earth’s crust. When this cools, it becomes stone again. This is the only option that fits among those provided.
Choose the best answer that best completes the comparison.
Balcony is to railing as road is to __________.
guardrail
street
car
city
railroad
Explanation
A "balcony" has a "railing" to keep people safe, much like a "road" has a "guardrail" to keep cars and their drivers safe.