HSPT-TEST Sample Questions & Answers
Reading and math questions carry slightly more weight than the rest, alongside verbal skills like analogies, synonyms and antonyms, number series and comparisons in the quantitative section, and language mechanics, punctuation and grammar.
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- Question 1IntermediateSelect 2
Language · Grammar and Usage
Examine the following sentence: 'The old, weary traveler, whom had walked for miles finally saw a light in the distance.'
Which of the following errors are present in this sentence? (Select TWO)
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Correct answers: A, D
The clause 'whom had walked for miles' is a restrictive clause essential to identifying the traveler. Therefore, it should not be set off by commas. The comma after 'traveler' is incorrect.
The pronoun introduces the clause '[pronoun] had walked for miles.' The pronoun serves as the subject of the verb 'had walked.' Therefore, the subjective case 'who' should be used, not the objective case 'whom'.
- Question 2Beginner
Verbal Skills · Verbal Analogies
Complete the analogy.
CHAPTER is to BOOK as a _______ is to a BUILDING.
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Correct answer: B
The relationship in the analogy is 'part to whole.' A chapter is one part of a whole book. Similarly, a room is one part of a whole building. A roof is also a part, but 'room' is a more analogous subdivision, similar to how a book is divided into chapters.
- Question 3Intermediate
Mathematics · Problem Solving
A school is planning a field trip. There are 132 students and 11 teachers attending. If each bus can hold a maximum of 45 people, what is the minimum number of buses needed for the trip?
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Correct answer: C
First, find the total number of people attending: 132 students + 11 teachers = 143 people. Next, divide the total number of people by the bus capacity: 143 ÷ 45 = 3.177... Since you cannot have a fraction of a bus and all people must have a seat, you must round up to the next whole number. Therefore, 4 buses are needed.
- Question 4Beginner
Verbal Skills · Verbal Classification
Which word does NOT belong with the others?
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Correct answer: D
Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen are all chemical elements. Water is a compound, made up of the elements hydrogen and oxygen (H₂O). Therefore, water does not belong in the group of elements.
- Question 5Intermediate
Reading · Main Ideas and Details
A student is writing a report about the ancient city of Pompeii. The student has gathered information from several sources and written the following paragraph.
Pompeii was a bustling Roman city located near modern-day Naples. In 79 A.D., the nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius, erupted violently. A massive cloud of ash and pumice rained down, burying the city and its inhabitants. The ash, acting as a preservative, captured a moment in time. For centuries, the city lay hidden and forgotten beneath the volcanic debris.
Which of the following would be the most suitable topic sentence for this paragraph?
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Correct answer: B
This sentence best summarizes the entire paragraph. It introduces the key event (the eruption), the location (Pompeii), and the dual outcome (destruction and preservation) that the following sentences explain in detail.
- Question 6Advanced
Quantitative Skills · Geometric Comparisons
Compare the quantities in Column A and Column B.
Column A: The area of a rectangle with a length of 12 cm and a width of 5 cm.
Column B: The area of a square with a perimeter of 32 cm.
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Correct answer: B
First, calculate the quantity in Column A. Area of rectangle = length × width = 12 cm × 5 cm = 60 cm². Next, calculate the quantity in Column B. The perimeter of the square is 32 cm. Since a square has 4 equal sides, each side is 32 cm ÷ 4 = 8 cm. The area of the square is side × side = 8 cm × 8 cm = 64 cm². Comparing the two quantities, 64 cm² is greater than 60 cm².
graph TD subgraph Column A direction LR A1[Length = 12] --> A3(Area = 12 * 5 = 60); A2[Width = 5] --> A3; end subgraph Column B direction LR B1[Perimeter = 32] --> B2[Side = 32 / 4 = 8]; B2 --> B3(Area = 8 * 8 = 64); end subgraph Comparison C1[60] --> C3{64 > 60}; C2[64] --> C3; end A3 --> C1 B3 --> C2 - Question 7Advanced
Language · Sentence Structure
Which of the following sentences is structured most clearly and effectively?
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Correct answer: C
This sentence is the clearest because the modifying phrase 'covered in mud' is placed directly after the noun it describes, 'the dog'. This avoids the ambiguity present in other options. Option B incorrectly implies the boy is covered in mud. Option A uses a passive voice which is less direct. Option D separates the modifier from the noun, making the sentence slightly awkward.
- Question 8Intermediate
Quantitative Skills · Number Series
What is the next number in the following sequence?
5, 8, 14, 26, 50, ___
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Correct answer: B
The pattern is to multiply the previous number by 2 and then subtract 2.
(5 * 2) - 2 = 8
(8 * 2) - 2 = 14
(14 * 2) - 2 = 26
(26 * 2) - 2 = 50
Following the pattern, the next number is (50 * 2) - 2 = 100 - 2 = 98. - Question 9Intermediate
Language · Spelling
The words 'principal' and 'principle' are homophones, meaning they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. Which sentence uses the word 'principal' correctly?
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Correct answer: C
'Principal' can be a noun (the head of a school) or an adjective meaning 'main' or 'most important'. In this sentence, it correctly acts as an adjective modifying 'reason'. A 'principle' is a fundamental rule, belief, or truth. Options A and B should use 'principle'.
- Question 10Intermediate
Reading · Inferences
The Amazon River, flowing through South America, is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world. It carries more water to the sea than the next seven largest rivers combined. The vast Amazon basin, the area of land that drains into the river, covers about 40 percent of the South American continent. This immense watershed supports the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest, which is renowned for its incredible biodiversity.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that:
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Correct answer: B
The passage directly links the immense watershed of the Amazon River to its support of the Amazon rainforest, which is famous for its 'incredible biodiversity'. This connection allows the reader to infer a general relationship: a large river system can support a diverse ecosystem. The passage states the river is the largest by volume, not length.
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