All HSPT Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Tassel is to cord as valediction is to __________.
conversation
dismissal
signal
indication
salutation
conversation
A tassel is placed at the end of a cord, generally as an ornament. (It is the little “stringy tuft” at the end of such cords). A “valediction” is a statement of farewell. The “valedictorian” of a class is so named because he is the one who says “farewell” on behalf of the class. (Also, he speaks after the salutatorian, who is the one who greets the class. The word “salutatorian” comes from words in Latin used to greet someone). Thus, among the options provided, the only proper case is “conversation,” for a “valediction” comes at the end of a conversation as a tassel comes at the end of a cord.
Example Question #1 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Novice is to beginning as terminal is to __________.
airport
progression
travel
end
intermittent
end
A novice is a person who is inexperienced or new to a given field of study or work. Thus, such a person is at the beginning of his or her work in that area. A “terminal” is something that is at the end of a structure or process. A terminal does necessarily occur only at the “finish line” (so to speak), as both ends of a (e.g.) stick can be considered its “terminal points.” Still, just as a novice is metaphorically at the beginning of his or her work, so is a terminal point (physically or metaphorically) at an end of a process or physical being. Since no other option captures this sense of “location” (whether physically or metaphorically), “end” is the best option for this analogy.
Example Question #3 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Answer the question by selecting the word that best completes the comparison.
Seven is to septagon as nine is to __________.
geometry
octagon
triangle
nonagon
ten
nonagon
A "septagon" has "seven" sides, just as a "nonagon" has "nine" sides.
Example Question #25 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Pulmonary is to lungs as cardiac is to __________.
tongue
kidney
circulation
pump
heart
heart
The word “pulmonary” comes from the Latin word for the lungs. It is used to in English to describe physical conditions related to these organs, as when someone has pulmonary embolism, which is a type of blockage of blood to the lung. Just as “pulmonary” describes the lungs, “cardiac” describes conditions related to the heart.
Example Question #2 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.
Primary is to first as tertiary is to __________.
one
second
numbers
third
planet
third
"Primary" and "first" are synonyms, just as "tertiary" and "third" mean the same thing.
Example Question #3 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Answer the question by selecting the word that best completes the analogy.
Guitar is to lute as clarinet is to __________.
popular
piano
banjo
symphony
oboe
oboe
A "guitar" and a "lute" are both stringed instruments, just as a "clarinet" and an "oboe" are both woodwind instruments.
Example Question #4 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Syllable is to word as buckle is to __________.
fasten
secure
latch
belt
snap
belt
A syllable is a component of a word, a single unit of sound. We say that words are comprised of a number of syllables; therefore, we could write a bridge sentence like, “Just as a syllable is part of a word, so is a buckle part of a X.” While a buckle could be said to latch, snap, fasten, or secure, it is a part of none of these words. It is a part of a belt, which is a whole thing that has a buckle on it; therefore, this is the best option among those provided.
Example Question #1 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Pane is to window as phase is to __________.
episode
portion
temporary
electrical
procedure
procedure
The pane of a window is the glass portion that is placed in the window’s frame. It is not the whole window but merely part of it; therefore, you could write a bridge sentence like, “As a pane is part of a window, so a phase is part of a X.” A phase is a portion of some undertaking or procedure. For instance, a project could be said to be in “Phase 1,” “Phase 2,” “Phase 3,” etc, depending on how much of it has been completed thus far. A procedure is like a plan or outline for a project, and it can be broken up into phases.
Example Question #5 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Nail is to finger as crown is to __________.
aristocratic
ceremony
arrogant
regal
head
head
While not all buildings have domes, all domes are placed upon the tops the buildings that have them. The best way to express this analogy is, “As a dome is on the top of a building, so is a capital on top of X.” While “capital” can mean the main city of nation or state, it likewise can mean the “head” of a column. Think of the columns that you have seen on some buildings. On the ends, there are designed “pedestals” of differing characters. These are the “capitals” on the columns. Just as a dome is on the top of a building, so is a capital on the top of a column. Do not be fooled by the other options that are tempting because of their general relationships to “capital.” None of them work correctly in the analogy.
Example Question #3 : Part And Whole
Dome is to building as capital is to __________.
legislature
money
suburb
column
city
column
While not all buildings have domes, all domes are placed upon the tops the buildings that have them. The best way to express this analogy is, “As a dome is on the top of a building, so is a capital on top of X.” While “capital” can mean the main city of nation or state, it likewise can mean the “head” of a column. Think of the columns that you have seen on some buildings. On the ends, there are designed “pedestals” of differing characters. These are the “capitals” on the columns. Just as a dome is on the top of a building, so is a capital on the top of a column. Do not be fooled by the other options that are tempting because of their general relationships to “capital.” None of them work correctly in the analogy.