Analogy
Analogy means similarity in
examples or describing likeness between two or more
words. These questions ask the
reader to analyze the relationship between two
words in a pair and look for
another similar or equivalent pair of words. You are
provided with five other pairs of
words. You are expected to match the original
pair, which is given in the
question with one of the pairs in the given choices on
the bases of similar relationships
between them. This exercise or such questions
try to determine your basic
understanding towards vocabulary and your ability to
recognize the relationship between
words. Some questions may also ask you to
select a suitable antonym for a
given word.
Techniques To Solve Analogy
Questions
1.2.1 Do not read the
choices before you have analyzed the relationship between
the pair of words, yourself. Try to
understand the words more
appropriately and think on which
basis the relationship between the words
is formed. After you reach a
conclusion read the given choices afterwards
to get a proper match with another
pair having the same relationship.
1.2.2 When you find
yourself stuck with a word of difficult vocabulary, do not feel
confused. Try to understand its
meaning reference to the context or if it is
somewhat familiar try to remember
where and when you heard the word
before. It can be a great help.
1.2.3 Sometimes you
find that there is more than one pair that fits well to the
question and is appropriate for the
choice, give the original pair a little
more thought so that you can
further study the relationship between the
words and narrow it down to a more
distinct one. After you have been
successful in finding a closer
relationship you can now scrutinize the two
other pairs that confused you
earlier. Repeating the same procedure with
these words would prove useful.
1.2.4 Do not get caught
up by the tricks of the test makers. Sometimes the
questions are provided with very
tricky and dodging choices that misguide
greatly. Try to think of every
choice more specifically and narrowly.
1.2.5 If you are
familiar with the parts of speech and their nature, it can be
beneficial in making a more
sensible choice. Remember if the words in the
original pair are a noun and an
adjective, the correct choice you make
should also contain the words i n
the same grammatical order. Otherwise,
your choice is wrong. So, if you
are confused with two pairs and cannot
choose the correct choice you can
easily look at their grammatical order
and give preference to the one,
which matches the original one.
1.2.6 Exclude the
choice from your consideration that you think is incorrect, e.g. the choices
that do not have the same grammatical
unit as of the original pair cannot
match the original pair in anyway.
Spend more time on considering the
more possible choices.
1.2.7 You should know
about the various kinds of analogies that are more
frequently asked. Some of the
common analogy types are as
follows.
i. Synonyms
Some words are linked together in a
pair which means the same or
has a similar dictionary
definition. e.g Pretty- Beautiful
ii. Describing Qualities
Some pairs have some words in which
one word describes the other
word. Heavy- Rain
iii. Class and Member
Some pairs have words which are
based on class and member basis
e.g. Electronics-Radio
iv. Antonyms
Some pairs consist of the words
that are opposite to each other
e.g.
Love- Hate
v. Describing Intensity
Some pairs consist of the words in
which one describes the
intensity of the other e.g.
Smile-Laughter
vi. Function
In some pairs a word describes the
function of the other word e.g.
Pen-Write
vii. Manners
Some words in a speech describe the
manners and behavior e.g.
Polite-Speech
viii. Worker-Workplace
Some pairs in a word describe the
profession and its workplace e.g.
Doctor-Clinic
Example Questions1. HEIGHT: MOUNTAIN
(A) Depth : Trench
(B) Shade : Tree
(C) Weight : Age
(D) Speed : Highway
(E) Mineral : Mine
2. OBLIVIOUS : AWARENESS
(A) Comatose : Consciousness
(B) Serene : Composure
(C) Erudite : Knowledge
(D) Adroit : Skill
(F) Invigorate : Energy
3. BELLWETHER : BAROMETER
(A) Proselyte : Spark plug
(B) Panhandler : Kill
(C) Embezzler : Abduct
(D) Cynosure : Magnet
(F) Morass : Catalyst
4. ACT : ACTION
(A) Therapy : Thermometer
(B) Oblivion : Obvious
(C) Liturgy : Literature
(D) Image : Imagine
(E) Bowl : Bowdlerize
5. BIBULOUS : DRINK
(A) Rapacious : Clothing
(B) Gluttonous : Food
(C) Altruistic : Money
(D) Vegetarian : Meat
(E) Controversy : Reconcile
6. SONG : RECITAL
(A) Author : Bibliography
(B) Episode : Series
(C) Coach : Team
(D) Dancer : Agile
(E) Poetry : Prose
7. HOUSE : BIG
(A) Home : Live
(B) School : Daily
(C) Water : Cold
(D) Clothes : Socks
8. ANIMAL : MONKEY
(A) Zebra : Giraffe
(B) Stationery: Pencil
(C) Book : Cap
(D) Tree : Wood
9. HEAVY : LIGHT
(A) Fat : Thin
(B) Stupid : Idiot
(C) Rough : Surface
(D) Beautiful : Diary
Choose the lettered word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in
meaning to the word in capital letters.
10. DETER
(A) Twist
(B) Intimidate
(C) Encourage
(D) Straighten
(E) Supply
11. INDIGENOUS
(A) Modern
(B) Alien
(C) Ornamental
(D) Natural
(E) Conceal
12. THERAPEUTIC
(A) Curative
(B) Injurious
(C) Medicinal
(D) Practical
(E) Slander
13. QUIZZICAL
(A) Amused
(B) Unequivocal
(C) Contorted
(D) Dissimilar
(E) Lax
14. ANCILLARY
(A) Dependent
(B) Concomitant
(C) Appendix
(D) Primary
(E) Buffet
15. VIRTUOSO
(A) Wicked
(B) Dazzling
(C) Mediocre
(D) Honorable
(E) Bawdy
Answer Key
1. A 4. D 7. C 10. C 13. B
2. A 5. B 8. B 11. B 14. D
3. A 6. B 9. A 12. B 15. E
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