Part and Whole - HSPT Verbal Skills

A citizen is a member of a nation and could justly be called a part thereof. Our bridge sentence could thus be written, “As a citizen is a part of a nation, so is a branch a part of a X.” Among the options provided, only “tree” gives the larger thing of which a branch is a part.

The ingredients of a recipe are the parts of which it is comprised; therefore, one could fairly write the bridge sentence, “Just as ingredients are the parts of a recipe, so are bristles part of a X.” Now, “bristle” can mean to become angry, but this comes from the description of an animal that is “bristling,” that is, having its hair stand up out of anger or fear. Bristles are a type of stiff hair that are used in brushes, which would be the best option for the “larger thing” of which the bristles are a part.

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.

The retina is the lining of cells at the back of the eye that are sensitive to light. Even if you did not know the exact function of the retina, you likely knew it was part of the eye; therefore, you could form the bridge sentence, “Just as the retina is part of the eye, so is a letter part of a X.” Among the options, you might be very tempted by “mail,” as to say, “A letter is part of the delivered mail”; however, do not be so tempted, for the better example is a letter (e.g. X, Y, Z) being part of a word. It is a necessary part of the word and is thus closer to the case that holds for the retina of the eye. The other wrong options are related to “letter” taken in the sense of something written and mailed.

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.

A knob is a part of a door; therefore, you could translate this analogy as, “Just as a knob is part of a door, so is a burner a part of a X.” A burner is the heating surface on a stove. This is the only option that functions as a whole of which the burner is a part.

This analogy is relatively simple. A pocket is part of a shirt, so you are looking for the that of which a lace is part. While lace can be a type of plaited fabric, here, the best option is to understand it as meaning the long string used in things like shoes. The lace is part of a shoe as a pocket is part of a shirt.

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.

A district is a part of a given city. For instance, a city might have a “market district” in which a number of food salespeople have shops for selling bulk quantities to potential restaurants in town. There might be an “Italian district” in which a number of Italians live and have set up shops and restaurants, giving the area a distinctive Italian appearance and character. The analogy could thus be rewritten, “As a district is part of a city, so too is an hour part of X.” An hour is part of a day. While it is a period of time, a measure of time, a moment (in the grand scheme, at least), and even “a portion” (of a longer time), it is only part of a day. The analogy requires a part-whole relationship.

An atom is the basic part from which molecules are constructed; therefore, this is a part-whole analogy. A minute is part of a larger measure of time. Here, you have to be careful. Two options are justifiably tempting, namely “hour” and “century.” Now, “molecules” are the “first rung” of combined atoms. We could, of course, say that organs are made up of atoms; however, this could be stated as “organs are made up of tissues, which are made up of cells, which are made up of molecules, which are made up of atoms.” Notice that “molecule” is the immediate product of atoms, not a distant one (as in the case of organs in relation to elements). This means that “hour” is a better option than “century.”

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.

A eulogy is a type of speech given at a funeral, generally made to praise the recently deceased person. The word actually means good speech. The “eu-” prefix comes from the Greek for good. The English “euphony” means good sounding. The bridge sentence for our analogy could be written, “Just as a eulogy is given at a funeral, so is a monologue given at X.” A monologue is a type of speech that is given by a single character in a play. In contrast with a dialogue, which is between multiple people, the monologue is said by one alone—like “thinking out loud.” The “mono-” means one and can be found in English words like “monopoly” and “monastery.” Notice that only “play” names a type of event at which a monologue is given.

The peak is the highest point of a mountain, and the consummation is the point of completion of some task or undertaking. While the word “goal” and “zenith” are potential synonyms for the word, the only acceptable option is “undertaking,” for it is an undertaking that reaches its consummation, as a mountain is “completed” by its peak.

A "link" is one of the small metal pieces in a longer chain. It also can mean any portion of a long “chain” of things (understood metaphorically). Hence, we speak of the “missing link” between apes and men—that is, the missing intermediary stage / being in the great chain of beings. The analogy could be written, “As a link is part of a chain, so is a chapter a part of X.” “Book” is the only option of something of which a chapter is a portion. (A chapter, of course, could be a part of a thesis, a novel, a report, etc.).

A filament is a small fiber, thread, or wire. In the case of a “bulb” it must mean “wire,” particularly if “bulb” is understood as being short for “light bulb” (as it can be). Old-fashioned, incandescent light bulbs use a filament to produce light. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As a filament is used by a bulb to produce light, so is graphite used by X for its regular activity.” Graphite is the substance used in pencils for writing. The only instrument listed among the possible answers is “pencil,” so this is the correct choice.

A "balcony" has a "railing" to keep people safe, much like a "road" has a "guardrail" to keep cars and their drivers safe.

A group of "cattle" is called a "herd;" similarly a group of "seagulls" is called a "flock."

Grains of sand comprise the content of a sandbank, which is a small deposit of sand found in shallow water. The relationship is thus part-to-whole. The analogy could be rewritten, “As a grain is a constitutive part of a sandbank, so is a key part of X.” Among the options provided, only “typewriter” functions well enough. In the days before computers, typewriters were the mechanical equivalent to a computer keyboard, allowing people to produce letters using a mechanical device and enabling them to write more rapidly and clearly. While the relation is not quite equivalent to that of the grains of sand and the piles of sand that are made thereby in sandbanks, it is a close enough part-whole relationship, particularly given that no other option comes close.

The most natural meaning for “tie” is the action of knotting a piece of fabric or even the type of clothing accessory that is worn around a man’s neck for decoration. The word can likewise mean something more general, like fastener or to fasten. The ties on a railroad track are the parts that hold it together. As you look at your potential answers, you will realize that none of them describes what a handle “holds together.” (Indeed, that is a rather strange notion anyway); however, the railroad tie is a part of the whole structure that is a track; therefore, you could say, that just as a tie is part of a track, so is a handle part of a door. This is the best option.