All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Abilities
"Cardiologist" is to "heart" as "ecologist" is to __________.
environment
forests
streams
biological
fauna
environment
The cardiologist is a specialist at studying the heart. The word itself as a root for “heart” in it—namely, “card-.” A “cardiac arrest” occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. An “ecologist” is one who studies the environment, generally speaking. An ecosystem, for example, is the whole system of organisms and material environment in a given area. While each of the other options are part of the environment and animals therein, none of them is equivalent to the environment in general.
Example Question #2 : Abilities
Musician is to concert as dancer is to __________.
tap
music
ballet
gyration
twirling
ballet
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.
Example Question #3 : Abilities
Choose the answer that best completes the comparison.
Cardiovascular is to heart as pulmonary is to __________.
brain
doctor
skeleton
lungs
kidneys
lungs
"Cardiovascular" is a medical term relating to the "heart," just as "pulmonary" refers to the "lungs."