Verbal Classifications: Nouns - HSPT Verbal Skills

Three of these answers refer to an actual illness. A headache is just a symptom, and not an actual illness.

"Bench", "couch", and "chair" are all pieces of furniture that you can sit on. You can sit on a ladder, but it is not designed for that purpose, nor is it a piece of furniture.

"Rain", "sleet", and "snow" all describe types of precipitation. "Wind" is a weather term, but it does not describe a form of water falling to the earth.

All 4 of these words would be "things that float". However, "barge", "raft", and "canoe" are all types of floating objects built by people that can also be piloted by people.

"Chair," "table," and "armoire" are all types of furniture, while "kitchen" is a type of room.

Each of the words that are alike in this group pertain to fire in some way. Certainly “heat” and “blaze” are obvious in this regard. An “ember” is a hot coal or piece of wood left in the bottom of a dying fire—the little glowing red chips at the end of the long process of burning. A "cinder" is perhaps the most distantly related to fire, as it is a piece of burned material that still has some burnable matter in it. Still, note that the word is related to fire in a direct way. This is not a secondary meaning of “cinder” but, instead, its primary meaning. The word “log” has many meanings that are not at all related to fire—thankfully so, as many log cabins would be ablaze if logs had to be used in fire!

The group of similar words here all are synonyms for the general category of “abilities” that a person might have. An aptitude is a natural ability—think of the expression, “It is apt to do that.” This means “it will likely do that naturally.” A “knack” is an acquired skill. “To get the knack” of something is to come to be able to do it. The word “musician” is far too specific in comparison with these other words. Certainly, to be a musician is to have a certain skill and perhaps even to express an aptitude. Still, it is not at all synonymous with the general categories as is the case with the other options.

All of the related words pertain to some kind of subsequent presentation of an event. A reverberation or an echo are the “replayed” sound of some original action of making a noise. A reflection is the redisplaying of an image—as in the mirror that reflects an image that first was “in” the person seen therein or in a metallic surface that reflects light that had originated from another source. Finally, even a vestige is a “representation” of something, for it is a “leftover” that outlasts an original event. (A footprint is a vestige of an action of walking that happened before. Indeed, “vestige” comes from the Latin for footprint). Only “utterance” describes an originating, non-repeated, non-representational activity.

Note that every one of the related terms pertain to copying or replicating something else. Even the word “mirror” can be used as a verb that basically means “to show a reflection of (something else).” An imitation is something made in the “image” of something else. Imitation vanilla flavoring is an artificially created type of flavoring that is made to match the image of real vanilla flavoring. Do not be tricked by the word “sibling.” While siblings (brothers and sisters) are alike, the word itself does not indicate any kind of reflecting or sameness. The word “twin” could represent such replication. Sibling, however, falls short of such direct correspondence.

Each of the related words here are types written and printed material that pertain particularly to magazines and newspapers; however, the dissimilar term could be discerned even without thinking of the others in that strict sense. All of them definitely pertain to written forms of communication. The word “leader” might cause some problems, for it is somewhat rarely used in American English. It can mean “leading story,” though the expression is not quite as normal as the other terms. Still, given this meaning, the word “fable” differs from the others in that fables are neither explicitly related to news stories nor necessarily bound to written forms of communication.

All of the related words could be interpreted as pertaining to physical height (or even to some sort of metaphorical “height”). The apex is the highest point of something—whether physically (“the mountain’s apex”) or metaphorically (“the apex of his career”). The zenith likewise pertains to height in a similar way, though its physical use often applies to heavenly bodies. Do not be fooled by “depth” just because it is seemingly opposed to “height.” Depth still pertains to height. “Intensity,” on the other hand does not necessarily pertain to height but more properly describes qualitative changes like “intense light” and “intense attitude.”

All of the related words can be interpreted as pertaining to some sort of building. A domicile is a “house.” (“Domestic” affairs are “affairs of the house”—whether that house be an actual familial household or the “household” of a nation). An edifice is a building—from the Latin for “to build.” Something “edifying” is something that “builds up” morally or intellectually. A lodging is a temporary location of living. “Position” is far too abstract to be used in a manner synonymous to any of these other options.

The related words here are perhaps a bit perplexing, for they include a mixture of contradictory terms. On the one hand, you have “agreement” and “consensus,” while on the other you are presented with “dispute” and “contention.” A consensus is a form of agreement, and contention is strife and disagreement; however, note that all of these words do share the notion of indicating things pertaining to agreement or lack thereof. In contrast to this, a legislature is at best the place where such agreement and disagreement occur. It does not indicate such agreement or disagreement itself.

All of the related words pertain to some kind of undulating motion—that is, to the motion that we find in waves. Something that is “billowing” is wave like (as though produced by waves of emitted substance—like smoke, etc). Ripples on the surface of water are little waves. The word “swing” does describe a motion but not necessarily the kind of motion found in waves. Swinging is a back and forth motion, not a rising and falling, wave-like motion.

All of the related words pertain to some kind of exchange between two parties—whether in an agreeable fashion or in disagreement. While debates and (particularly) disputes can be contentious and argumentative, they are still a type of active exchange between parties. A “questionnaire” is really a passive type of data interchange. Certainly, someone writes a questionnaire and gives it to the people who will answer it; however, there is no “back and forth” when someone receives a questionnaire (as there is in the case of all of our related words).

The set of related words here all include some notion of forcefulness in communication. While “announcement” merely indicates the fact that someone has promulgated some kind of information in a formal manner. A bombast is a speech that is made in an inflated form of speech, attempting to impress others. Blustering is an aggressive form of speaking. To rant is to speak in a passionate, often wild manner. Finally, to fulminate is to speak in protest in a strong manner. All of these words are far more forceful than the much more bland “announcement.”

All of these words describe some sort of ornamentation or jewelry. Do not be tricked into thinking that either decoration or ornament differs from the group. All five are actually somehow related to being a small item of decorative purposes—whether on a person or merely on a shelf. The real difference that sets “trinket” apart from the other words is the fact that a trinket is a small and often cheap ornament. This word alone indicates such inexpensiveness.

All of these options describe types of long clothing, neither pertaining to men or women necessarily. A gown, robe, or cloak could all be worn by either a man or by a women; however, note that all of the incorrect options do describe clothing that completely covers the body. Even a cloak, though an outer garment, completely covers the legs (generally, at least). It is different from a cap, which is often shorter and more decorative. In contrast to these options, a “skirt” merely “begins at the waist.” It is thus more limited in its coverage.

All of these words pertain to elevated areas of land. Something “alpine” is a type of land formation that is like the Alps—very elevated and mountainous. A sierra is a jagged mountain range. It is related to the word “serrated,” which is often used to describe knives that have jagged blades. (It ultimately comes from the word for “saw.” A sierra is a saw-like mountain range). A “massif” is a group of mountains, generally one that is gathered alone by itself in the middle of an otherwise non-mountainous terrain. In comparison with all of these words, “hillock” merely describes a small hill. Given that all the others describe elevations that are much higher, “hillock” is the word that does not fit with the group.