HSPT Verbal : Antonyms: Verbs About Existence, Ownership, and Quantities

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Antonyms: Verbs About Existence, Ownership, And Quantities

An antonym of "transfer" is __________.

Possible Answers:

convey

relocate

grant

retain

disdain

Correct answer:

retain

Explanation:

The word "transfer" literally means to carry across (as in carrying across a border). When someone transfers goods or money, he or she sends them to someone else (or to another place). In contrast to such conveyance, we could consider an antonym to be "to hold on to." The word "retain" means just this, namely to keep something in someone's own possession (instead of giving it).

Example Question #602 : Hspt Verbal Skills

An antonym of "subsist" is ___________.

Possible Answers:

survive

burgeon

meander

obscure

accede

Correct answer:

burgeon

Explanation:

When someone is said to "subsist" on something, he or she barely survives—only well enough to keep together his or her physical being. This comes from the old philosophical notion of subsistence, which indicates the basic existence of a being—though not necessarily implying any great flourishing. In contrast to this, "burgeoning" growth is great, fruitful growth. When something or someone is burgeoning, that thing is greatly flourishing. This is a good contrast to merely "subsisting."

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