All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Actor And Action
Inquisitor is to examining as recidivist is to __________.
passing
retreating
reoffending
falling
cascading
reoffending
The word “inquire” means “to ask” or “to investigate.” It is related to other words for “asking” such as “query” and “question.” An “inquisitor” is someone who examines another party for some set of information. Thus, the analogy could be formulated, “As an inquisitor is known for examining, so is a recidivists known for X.” A recidivist is someone who has committed a crime and then commits it again (often frequently). The “-cid-” portion of the word comes from the Latin for “to fall” as in “accident.” A re-cidivist is someone who “falls again” into the same old faults. Such a person is likely known for “reoffending.”
Example Question #2 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
Pedestrian is to walking as mariner is to __________.
circumnavigate
seafarer
sails
sailing
motor
sailing
A pedestrian is someone who travels by walking. You likely use the word to describe people walking in a town in contrast to those who are using motor vehicles or bicycles. The word actually comes from the Latin for “foot” and is related to the similar sounding beginning of the word “podiatrist”—a doctor specializing in care of the foot. Thus the bridge sentence for our analogy could be written as, “Just as a pedestrian travels by walking, so a mariner travels by X.” A “mariner” is a sailor. The word is derived from the Latin for “sea” and is related to the English words “marine” and “submarine.” A sailor travels by sailing.
Example Question #3 : Actor And Action
Deliberative is to discourse as polemical is to __________.
beams
inquiry
edification
argument
posted
argument
A deliberative body gathers in order to discuss and consider possible options. The aspect of discussion is very important to the notion of “deliberation.” The word itself comes from the Latin for “to weigh,” and we often speak of “weighing the options,” meaning effectively that we are deliberating. Discourse is discussion on a topic. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “As a deliberative group joins for the sake of discourse, something that is polemical joins (or acts) for the sake of X.” Note that the analogy does need to have some reworking because “polemical” is not quite the same in character as “deliberative.” The word “polemical” means “related to controversial and critical writing or speech.” Polemics are strong verbal / written attacks on positions / topics. Thus, something that is polemical is done for the sake of argument.
Example Question #3 : Actor And Action
Choose the word that best completes each comparison.
Owe is to debt as reap is to __________.
borrow
skill
bludgeon
house
reward
reward
One usually "owes" a "debt," just as one can also "reap" or collect a "reward."
Example Question #4 : Actor And Action
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Curmudgeon is to grumpy as idealist is to __________.
cranky
helpless
utopia
lonely
dreamy
dreamy
A "curmudgeon" is often "grumpy," just as an "idealist" is often "dreamy."
Example Question #4 : Actor And Action
Select the word that best completes the comparison.
Genius is to brilliant as idiot is to __________.
sharp
moronic
intelligent
politician
professor
moronic
A "genius" is "brilliant" while an "idiot" is "moronic."
Example Question #5 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
Oration is to spoken as transcript is to __________.
rendition
conversion
connected
observation
written
written
An oration is a speech, often one given at a ceremony. It comes both from the Latin for to pray as well as more distantly from the word for mouth. (Think of words like “oral” and “adore.”) Thus, an oration is a type of spoken communication. We could write a bridge sentence like, “As an oration is something that is spoken, so is a transcript something that is X.” A transcript is a written version of some communication. For instance, a transcript of a television show is the written version made for people to read after the show has aired.
Example Question #6 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
Pedant is to tedious as transgressor is to __________.
sentenced
guilty
judged
forgiveness
unforgiving
guilty
A pedant is a person who shows a great deal of learning to the point of being tedious and boring—going through every detail almost in a ridiculous fashion. Thus, “tedious” is an adequate description for a pedant. Someone who “transgresses” goes beyond the boundaries of the law. The “trans-” prefix means across (as in “transfer,” meaning, to carry across), and the “-gress” comes from the Latin for to step. It is related to many words like “grade,” “gradual,” “progress,” and “digress.” The options “judged” and “sentenced” might apply to a transgressor after a court case that acknowledges the guilt. In any case, a transgressor in general can be said to be guilty even before this is acknowledged in a court. This is the best description among those provided.
Example Question #708 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Blindness is to sight as mute is to __________.
hearing
ear
mouth
waves
speaking
speaking
"Blindness" is the lack of ability to see, thus this analogy is merely looking for that which is lacking to one who is mute. Used as a noun, a “mute” is a person who is unable to speak. Even if used as an adjective, “mute” can describe someone who is not speaking at a given time: “He remained mute, refusing to speak a word while his ‘friend’ screamed at him.” The mute setting on a television is so called because it stifles the sound.
Example Question #7 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
Shy is to laconic as depressed is to __________.
thrilled
joyous
lachrymose
overwrought
angry
lachrymose
Someone who is “laconic” uses few words. “Shy” is not necessarily synonymous with “laconic,” so a good way to understand this analogy is to form a sentence like, “As someone who is shy is likely to be laconic, so is someone who is depressed likely to be X.” The word “lachrymose” means tearful or likely to weep. The word is taken from the Latin for tear or to cry. The “tear ducts” that produce fluid in the eye are called the lacrimal glands. To be “depressed” is not synonymous with being “lachrymose,” but just like the case with shyness and being laconic, it is likely that someone who is depressed will be given to weeping.