HSPT Verbal Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which word is spelled INCORRECTLY?
- Necessary
- Accomodate (Correct answer)
- Occurrence
- Definitely
Correct answer: Accomodate
The correct spelling is 'accommodate' with two c's and two m's. This is one of the most commonly misspelled words in English.
Question 2: Choose the correct word: 'The principal/principle reason for the delay was weather.'
- principal (Correct answer)
- principle
- either is correct
- neither is correct
Correct answer: principal
'Principal' means main or chief when used as an adjective. 'Principle' is a noun meaning a fundamental truth or rule. Here, the adjective form is needed.
Question 3: What does the prefix 'anti-' mean?
- Before
- Against or opposite (Correct answer)
- After
- Together with
Correct answer: Against or opposite
The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek and means against or opposite, as in antibiotic (against bacteria), antithesis (opposite thesis), or antisocial (against social norms).
Question 4: Which sentence uses the correct form of the homophone?
- Their going to the park.
- They're going to the park. (Correct answer)
- There going to the park.
- Thier going to the park.
Correct answer: They're going to the park.
'They're' is the contraction of 'they are,' which is the correct form in this sentence. 'Their' is possessive, and 'there' refers to a place.
Question 5: Complete the analogy: Pen is to Writer as Brush is to ___.
- Painting
- Artist (Correct answer)
- Color
- Canvas
Correct answer: Artist
A pen is the tool used by a writer, just as a brush is the tool used by an artist. The analogy relates a tool to its user.
Question 6: What is the meaning of the word 'ephemeral'?
- Lasting forever
- Lasting for a very short time (Correct answer)
- Extremely large
- Very expensive
Correct answer: Lasting for a very short time
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time, fleeting or transitory. Cherry blossoms are often described as ephemeral because they bloom briefly.
HSPT Verbal Skills 2
Which word is spelled INCORRECTLY?