HSPT Verbal : Specific Terminology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Specific Terminology

Dental is to teeth as renal is to __________.

Possible Answers:

gambling

kidney

auditory

eye

mildew

Correct answer:

kidney

Explanation:

Things that are dental are related to teeth. The “dent-” portion of the word comes from the Latin for teeth. The word “renal” is used to describe something pertaining to the kidneys.  It too is related to a Latin root, namely “renes,” which means “kidney.” When someone suffers “renal failure,” he or she is suffering from kidney failure. The analogy thus reads, “As ‘dental’ describes things related to the teeth, so does ‘renal’ describe things related to the kidneys.”

Example Question #2 : Specific Terminology

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Dentist is to teeth as optometrist is to __________.

Possible Answers:

feet

office

doctor

eyes

skin

Correct answer:

eyes

Explanation:

A "dentist" is a doctor that specializes in "teeth," whereas an "optometrist" specializes in "eyes."

Example Question #3 : Specific Terminology

Answer the question by choosing the word that best completes the comparison.

Carnivore is to meat as herbivore is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sausage

herbs

food

dinosaur

plants

Correct answer:

plants

Explanation:

A "carnivore" is one who eats primarily "meat," whereas an "herbivore" eats mainly "plants."

Example Question #4 : Specific Terminology

Nasal is to nose as aural is to __________.

Possible Answers:

music

ears

mouth

glorious

hospital

Correct answer:

ears

Explanation:

The word "nasal" pertains to the "nose," while anything "aural" is referring to what can be heard through the "ears."

Example Question #5 : Specific Terminology

Geology is to earth as biology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

science

chemistry

university

doctor

life

Correct answer:

life

Explanation:

"Geology" is the science dedicated to the study of the "earth," as "biology" is dedicated to studying "life."

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