Analogies
Analysis: It is important that you focus on understanding the relationship between the original pair of words, because this is really what you are trying to parallel.
First, you should find the primary relationship first, then look for a secondary or closer relationship. The idea is to select the BEST answer or most similar relationship.
Here are some of the most frequently used analogies:
( Source: )
Synonyms / end: terminate
Antonyms / artificial: real
Worker and Tool Used / photographer: camera
Tool and Object Its Used Upon / scissors: paper
Worker and Object He Creates / poet: poem
Cause and Effect / negligence: accident
Effect and Cause / tsunami: earthquake
Material Used and End Product / lumber: house
Function of a Tool / saw: cut
Part to Whole / leaf: tree
Person and What He Looks For / mineralogist: ore
Person and What He Avoids / student: failure
Masculine and Feminine / host: hostess
Age / infant: adolescent
Person and Closely Related Adjective / commander: competent
Person and Least Related Adjective / commander: coward
Symbol and What It Stands For / rose: love
Mathematical Relationship / seven: forty-nine
Measurement / mile: distance
Classification and Type / dog: greyhound
Degree of Intensity / cold: pneumonia
Samples: Here are some tips for solving analogy problems.
TREE: TRUNK: :
a. arm: letc. pen: inke. car: chassis
b. house: kitchend. cabin: log
You should read the analogy like this: TREE is to TRUNK in the same way that car is to chassis. The primary relationship is whole to part, but most of the choices fit this relationship. In this case there is a closer relationship. The trunk is the major part of the tree and the chassis is the major part of the car. The correct answer is E.
CANNON: GUN: :
a. knife: swordc. thumb: tacke. door: window
b. spear: dartd. mountain: molehill
The primary relationship here is size, large to small, but the secondary relationship is in the function. Answer A is a good choice, but it’s not in the correct order. The correct answer is B.
TASTING: EATING: :
a. swallowing: digestingc. skimming: readinge. acid: digestion
b. seeing: believingd. food: mouth
Answers A, D, and E are all from the world of eating, but the correct answer is C. The relationship here is between a sampling action and a complete action.
BUILDING: TALL
a. deer: swiftlyc. train: longe. huge: monument
b. cat: moused. small: think
This one is extremely easy if you look at the parts of speech of each word. The relationship here is noun followed by the adjective that describes it. Choice E is in the wrong order, but choice C works.
PRECOCIOUS: LATE
a. advanced: slowc. over: undere. belated: forewarned
b. previous: preceded. plentiful: fruitful
Even if the word precocious isn’t familiar to you, looking at the prefix “pre” tells you that it refers to “before.” The second word, late, should tell you that these words are opposites. In choice C the words are opposites, but choice A contains opposites that relate to time, the closer relationship.
LAUD: HERO
A. criticize: friend c. denounce: traitore. praise: actor
b. anticipate: actiond. laugh: comedy
This one’s easy too, even if you don’t know what laud means. You can cancel out choices B and D. The second word is not a person. Choices A and B are negative and we usually don’t relate negativity to the word hero. Therefore, choice E must be the correct answer.
Exercises:Solve the following analogy problems on a separate sheet of paper.
1. ENSUE : FOLLOW : :
A. run : lead
B. pursue : chase
C. permit : play
D. object : quit
2. CHAMBER : ROOM : :
A. diary : record
B. garage : house
C. privacy : property
D. title : book
3. CHAOS : ORDER : :
A. stinginess : strictness
B. regulation : rule
C. moisture : droplets
D. courage : cowardice
4. ASTOUND : AMAZE : :
A. blend : separate
B. postpone : delay
C. afford : sell
D. excel : surprise
5. DWINDLE : SHRINK : :
A. begin : start
B. grow : plant
C. forego : choose
D. attend : disappear
6. BLACKBOARD: CHALK: :
A. music: song
B. grass: lawn
C. ink: pen
D. nail: wood
E. pencil: paper
7. ENEMY: FEUD: :
A. meal: eat
B. rival: quarrel
C. knowledge: study
D. scene: observe
E. thief: respect
8. BACCHUS: DRINK: :
A. Amazon: ruler
B. Orpheus: Euridice
C. Diana: hunt
D. Zeus: Olympus
E. Plato: Aristotle
9. NORTH AMERICA: CANADA: :
A. land: lake
B.. valley: hill
C. wolf: dog
D. Europe: France
E. New York: Rochester
10. ANGLE: DEGREE: :
A. high: low
B. straight: crooked
C. line: inches
D. circle: square
E. ruler: protractor
11. OAK: ACORN: :
A. stable: barn
B. tree: branch
c. library: book
D. tulip: bulb
E. ruler: line
12. APPETIZER: DESSERT: :
A. hat: shoes
B. right: left
C. rug: carpet
D. introduction: epilogue
E. step: stair
13. NEEDLE: SEW: :
A. towel: dry
B. pencil: paper
C. radio: electricity
D. picture: color
E. book: cover
14. HORSE: CENTAUR: :
A. Pegasus: fly
B. cat: lion
C. unicorn: tapestry
D. worm: snake
E. fish: mermaid
15. DEPRESSION: SUICIDE: :
A. crime: prison
B. emulate: mimic
C. paranoia: delusions
D. express: sorrow
E. complain: condemn
16. FRICTION: WAR: :
A. pleasure: enjoyment
B. prologue: play
C. water: reservoir
D. teacher: grammar
E. discontent: strike
17. RADIUS: DIAMETER: :
A. 3:8
B. 4:6
C. 12: 15
D. 5: 10
E. 9: 13
18. BLADE: GRASS: :
A. air: gas
B. grain: sand
C. metal: rod
D. plant: leaves
E. roof: house
19. PIN: PUNCTURE: :
A. knife: stab
B. wood: hammer
C. clamp: grip
D. finger: point
E. rock: shatter
20. FULL: OVERFLOWING: :
A. frigid: cold
B. crowd: mob
C. dull: sharp
D. hot: warm
E. wet: drenched