Solved Examples (Analogies)

Directions: Each question below consists of a related pair of words or phrases, followed four or five pairs of words or phrases labeled A through D/E. Select the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair.

1. TROUPE : PLAYER ::

   1. team : coach
   2. singer : conductor
   3. club : member
   4. puppy : litter
   5. flower : bulb

   (C. club : member) A troupe is a group of players or actors. Similarly, a club is a group of members.

2. GROWL : HOSTILITY ::

   1. smell : nose
   2. squeak : sound
   3. whinny : horse
   4. sigh : relief
   5. fear : bravery

   (D. sigh : relief) A growl is a verbal expression of hostility. Similarly, a sigh is a verbal expression of relief.

3. CAPTURE : TRAP ::

   1. shoot : bulls-eye
   2. staple : paper clip
   3. hide : fence
   4. grind : mill
   5. ride : bicycle

   (D. grind : mill) A trap is used specifically to capture. Similarly, a mill is used specifically to grind. The relationship type is functional.

4. CHILD : HUMAN ::

   1. bird : robin
   2. dog : pet
   3. snake : slither
   4. kitten : cat
   5. cow : milk

   (D. kitten : cat) A child is a young human being. Similarly, a kitten is a young cat.

5. TOOTH : ORTHODONTIST ::

   1. surgeon : doctor
   2. cardiologist : heart
   3. tree : arborist
   4. gardener : plant
   5. petal : botanist

   (C. tree : arborist) An orthodontist is a specialist whose field is the care of teeth. Similarly, an arborist is someone who specializes in the care of trees.

6. COLD : FRIGID ::

   1. hot : warm
   2. proper : prudish
   3. dark : light
   4. colorful : pale
   5. modest : bold

   (B. proper : prudish) To be frigid is to be extremely cold. Similarly, to be prudish is to be extremely proper.

7. BREAKFAST : DINNER ::

   1. lark : nightingale
   2. stone : wood
   3. tent : tepee
   4. radar : sonar
   5. realism : rationalism

   (A. lark : nightingale) The nouns describe meals, one of the morning, breakfast, and one of the evening, dinner. The lark is conventionally presented as a dawn singer, and the nightingale is associated with the evening and night. Although it is true that dinner can also describe a midday meal, no other answer choice provides a morning/midday option.

8. WAX : CANDLE ::

   1. string : kite
   2. ink : pen
   3. liquid : cup
   4. paper : pulp
   5. clay : pot

   (E. clay : pot) By definition, a candle is an object that is usually made out of wax. Similarly, by definition, a pot is an object that is usually made out of clay.

9. STUDENT : DORMITORY ::

   1. curtain : stage
   2. prisoner : jail
   3. alphabet : letter
   4. shirt : clothing
   5. skull : brain

   (B. prisoner : jail) A dormitory is a building that houses or contains students. Similarly, a jail is a building that houses or contains prisoners.

10. BANANA : PEEL ::

    1. ventricle : heart
    2. door : knob
    3. bark : tree
    4. orange : rind
    5. section : orange

    (D. orange : rind) A peel is the outside covering of a banana. Similarly, a rind is the outside covering of an orange.

11. VIGILANTE : POLICE OFFICER ::

    1. posse : sheriff
    2. judge : jury
    3. villain : criminal
    4. lynching : execution
    5. intern : doctor

    (D. lynching : execution) The first term is a extralegal counterpart of the second. A lynching is an illegal form of execution, as vigilante (a member of an enforcement group organized without legal authority) differs from a police officer.

12. PODIUM : PLATFORM ::

    1. pulpit : pew
    2. stadium : grandstand
    3. utterance : euphemism
    4. critique : oration
    5. evangelism : ecclesiast

    (D. critique : oration) A podium is a type of small platform. Similarly, a critique is a type of small (short) oration.

13. PLAGIARIST : APPROPRIATE ::

    1. counterinsurgent : militarize
    2. sentinel : watch
    3. journalist : report
    4. thief : loot
    5. felon : convict

    (D. thief : loot) A plagiarist is someone who appropriates written material unlawfully. Similarly, a thief is someone who loots or takes possession of material unlawfully.

14. OSSIFY : BONE ::

    1. chew : pulp
    2. intenerate : cud
    3. fossilize : stone
    4. cake : flour
    5. whisper : murmur

    (C. fossilize : stone) To ossify is to cause a substance to harden into bone. Similarly, to fossilize is to cause a substance to harden into stone.

15. WATER : CISTERN ::

    1. bolt : fabric
    2. fodder : silo
    3. garland : flower
    4. spell : incantation
    5. prayer : religion

    (B. fodder : silo) A cistern is a container specifically for water. Similarly, a silo is a container specifically for fodder or grain.

16. UNTRACTABLE : MALLEABLE::

    1. exorbitant : wasteful
    2. gregarious : sociable
    3. immutable : changeable
    4. palpable : surreal
    5. culinary : olfactory

    (C. immutable : changeable) Something that is untractable (not changeable) cannot be malleable (pliable). Similarly, something that is immutable is not changeable.

17. SANGUINE : CHEERFUL ::

    1. destitute : poor
    2. confident : presumptuous
    3. obscure : clear
    4. brilliant : valedictory
    5. pallid : ebullient

    (A. destitute : poor) By definition, someone who is sanguine is cheerful. Similarly, by definition, someone who is destitute is poor.

18. PLOTTER : CABAL ::

    1. crew : gathering
    2. advisor : cabinet
    3. conductor : orchestra
    4. choir : tenor
    5. senate : representative

    (B. advisor : cabinet) A cabal is a group of political plotters or conspirators. Similarly, a cabinet is a group of political advisors.

19. WISE : SAGE ::

    1. craven : knight
    2. erudite : leader
    3. judicious : mediator
    4. propitious : mendicant
    5. sensual : voluptuary

    (E. sensual : voluptuary) By definition, a sage is someone who is very wise. Similarly, by definition, a voluptuary is someone who is very sensual.

20. BOAT : WAKE ::

    1. path : trail
    2. thought : rumination
    3. inspiration : muse
    4. foot : track
    5. railroad : train

    (D. foot : track) A wake is the (aquatic) evidence for the prior passage by a boat. Similarly, a track is the (terrestrial) evidence for the prior passage of a human or animal foot.

21. DIRGE : MOURNING ::

    1. affliction : adversity
    2. mirth : entertainment
    3. laughter : merriment
    4. lamentation : funeral
    5. baffle : sound

    (C. laughter : merriment) A dirge is a verbal expression of mourning, usually in the form of a song sung at a funeral. Similarly, laughter is the verbal expression of merriment.

22. OIL PAINTING : CANVAS ::

    1. etching : acid
    2. violin : bow
    3. fresco : plaster
    4. building : architecture
    5. watercolor : brush

    (C. fresco : plaster) The canvas is the surface on which the oil painting is painted. Similarly, a fresco is painted on wet plaster.

23. SPIDER : OCTOPUS ::

    1. gibbon : salmon
    2. locust : water beetle
    3. coyote : dolphin
    4. cheetah : lobster
    5. oriole : ground hog

    (B. locust : water beetle) The spider and the octopus are eight-legged animals of land and sea. The locust and the water beetle are six-legged animals of land and sea. The leg count of the animals in the other options is not parallel.

24. WAIT : LURK ::

    1. prowl : slink
    2. expect : anticipate
    3. service : repair
    4. move : skulk
    5. trot : canter

    (D. move : skulk) The second of the two verbs adds sinister overtones to the action of the first-wait : lurk. Move and skulk (to move in a stealthy manner) are similarly related.

25. THWART : ABET ::

    1. unity : knit
    2. strip : befit
    3. lacerate : incise
    4. savor : enjoy
    5. murmur : caterwaul

    (E. murmur : caterwaul) The two verbs, thwart and abet, are opposites, like murmur (to make a low, indistinct sound) and caterwaul (to howl shrilly).

26. CUPOLA : ROOF ::

    1. branch : tree
    2. building : story
    3. bishop : scepter
    4. airplane : propeller
    5. statue : pedestal

    (E. statue : pedestal) A cupola is a small structure built or resting on a roof (sometimes used as a belfry or lookout point). The statue on a pedestal is the closest parallel.

27. CHECKERS : CHESS ::

    1. tennis : soccer
    2. field hockey : ice hockey
    3. basketball : gymnastics
    4. hearts : bridge
    5. square : diamond

    (D. hearts : bridge) Both checkers and chess are board games, but the moves and strategies in chess are more complex. Both hearts and bridge are card games, with the latter being the more complex.

28. PLAN : SCHEME ::

    1. antiquity : age
    2. annoyance : evasion
    3. statesman : politician
    4. assignment : task
    5. prison : jail

    (C. statesman : politician) A scheme is a plan with sinister connotations. Of the choices here, the closest is the statesman is a politician with negative connotations.

29. ESSAY : SHORT STORY ::

    1. symphony : concerto
    2. biography : novel
    3. acrylic : watercolor
    4. comedy : burlesque
    5. monologue : drama

    (B. biography : novel) An essay and a short story are both prose works, nonfiction and fiction. Similarly, a biography and a novel are both prose works, nonfiction and fiction, but they are longer works.

30. MAUDLIN : DISPASSION ::

    1. dauntless : trepidation
    2. mawkish : sentiment
    3. vociferous : predilection
    4. avuncular : kinship
    5. perfunctory : laxity

    (A. dauntless : trepidation) Someone who is maudlin (or overly emotional) does not have dispassion (or calmness). Similarly, someone who is dauntless (or brave) does not have trepidation (or fear).

31. PERORATION : ADDRESS ::

    1. preamble : speech
    2. orchestration : overture
    3. score : finale
    4. chapter : fiction
    5. denouement : novel

    (E. denouement : novel) A peroration is the closing or end of a formal address. Similarly, a denouement is the ending of a novel.

32. LUGUBRIOUS : DOLEFUL ::

    1. banal : insipid
    2. tractable : recalcitrant
    3. pensive : vacuous
    4. profligate : miserly
    5. tangible : illusory

    (A. banal : insipid) To be lugubrious is to be doleful; both terms refer to sorrow and mourning. Similarly, to be banal is to be insipid; both terms refer to the commonplace or trite.

33. ETHEREAL : EMPYREAL ::

    1. celestial : deferential
    2. earnest : saccharine
    3. fastidious : foolhardy
    4. obsequious : sycophantic
    5. empirical : speculative

    (D. obsequious : sycophantic) To be ethereal is to be empyreal; both terms refer to the heavenly or unearthly. Similarly, to be obsequious is to be sycophantic; both terms refer to behavior that is excessively fawning, servile, or submissive.

34. PROPHYLACTIC : THWART ::

    1. nostalgia : simper
    2. misanthrope : abhor
    3. penury : remunerate
    4. neophyte : begin
    5. stratagem : beguile

    (E. stratagem : beguile) A prophylactic is something that is used deliberately to thwart or prevent, as, for example, a drug is used to prevent symptoms. Similarly, a stratagem is something that is used deliberately to beguile, as, for example, a deceitful plan is used to trick. The relationship is one of function.

35. INFINITESIMAL : BANTAM ::

    1. diaphanous : obsolete
    2. fatuous : judicious
    3. gargantuan : immense
    4. commensurate : disparate
    5. quiescent : agile

    (C. gargantuan : immense) Something that is infinitesimal is very small or bantam. Similarly, something that is gargantuan is very large or immense.

36. PILGRIMAGE : JOURNEY ::

    1. hiatus : foray
    2. cruise : ship
    3. valediction : antecedent
    4. divination : prognostication
    5. crusade : pacifism

    (D. divination : prognostication) In the realm of religion, a pilgrimage is a type of journey. Similarly, divination is a type of prognostication.

37. APHORISM : PITHY ::

    1. brevity : inconcise
    2. adage : sagacious
    3. giant : diminutive
    4. antagonist : affable
    5. symphony : cacophonous

    (B. adage : sagacious) An aphorism is by definition a pithy (terse and cogent) saying, like “a stitch in time saves nine.” Similarly, an adage is a brief saying that is by definition sagacious or wise.

38. TORTUOUS : PASSAGE ::

    1. labyrinthine : enigma
    2. excruciating : pain
    3. serpentine : course
    4. helical : viper
    5. taciturn : orator

    (C. serpentine : course) A passage that is tortuous is one that is winding, twisted, or crooked. Similarly, by definition, a course that is serpentine is also considered to be winding.

39. AVIARY : FEATHER ::

    1. chicken : coop
    2. pen : zoo
    3. penitentiary : delinquent
    4. carrel : athenaeum
    5. aquarium : scale

    (E. aquarium : scale) An aviary is an enclosure for birds, or animals that are usually covered in feathers. Similarly, an aquarium is an enclosure for animals that are usually covered in scales.

40. WRATH : IRATE ::

    1. sloth : sleepy
    2. gluttony : starving
    3. pride : sullen
    4. envy : craving
    5. avarice : acquisitive

    (E. avarice : acquisitive) The noun wrath is the consequence of the disposition described by the adjective irate. Similarly, an acquisitive person is guilty of avarice.

41. PINK : CLOTH ::

    1. mortar : brick
    2. weigh : anchor
    3. weld : metal
    4. card : wool
    5. saw : board

    (E. saw : board) To pink is to cut (in this case, cloth) with a saw-toothed edge. The analogy is to saw a board.

42. TRIPTYCH : PANEL ::

    1. triangle : hypotenuse
    2. circle : arc
    3. cathedral : nave
    4. blossom : sepal
    5. cheese : butter

    (A. triangle : hypotenuse) A triptych is a hinged set of pictures or carvings with three panels. The hypotenuse is one of three sides of a triangle.

43. SAVANNAH : VELDT ::

    1. ulcer : eczema
    2. forest : woodland
    3. fathom : acre
    4. falcon : condor
    5. tundra : glacier

    (B. forest : woodland) Savannah and veldt are nearly synonyms, a flat, open grassland. The forest-woodland analogy is the closest.

44. CHIME : JAR ::

    1. hug : abjure
    2. seek : find
    3. inquire : question
    4. negotiate : haggle
    5. command : request

    (A. hug : abjure) To chime is to sound harmoniously, and to jar is to cause a sound discordantly. Similarly, to hug (to cling to or cherish) is the antonym of to abjure (to renounce). Both verbs might be used with a belief as object.

45. DOMINO : MASQUERADE ::

    1. tango : dance
    2. violin : concert
    3. tuxedo : prom
    4. taxi : limousine
    5. dice : casino

    (C. tuxedo : prom) One meaning of domino is a mask or a masked costume worn to a masquerade. The tuxedo is the proper prom costume.

46. SOMNAMBULIST : SOMNILOQUIST ::

    1. dancer : singer
    2. talker : walker
    3. mime : magician
    4. octogenarian : teenager
    5. follower : authority

    (A. dancer : singer) A somnambulist is a sleepwalker. A somniloquist is a sleeptalker. So the most similar relationship would be a dancer to a singer, because one concentrates on physical movement and the other concentrates on vocalizing. Choice B talker : walker would have been an excellent choice except that they are in the wrong order.

47. IRON : BLACKSMITH ::

    1. Cotton : Cloth
    2. Food : Gourmet
    3. Clay : Potter
    4. Silver : Miner
    5. Gold : Miser

    (C). A BLACKSMITH uses IRON to make things. A __________ uses ________ to make things.

48. FISH : SCALES ::

    1. Book : Papers
    2. Snake : Fangs
    3. Birds : Feather
    4. Car : Wheels
    5. Cat : Claws

    (C). FISH is covered by SCALES. __________ is covered by _________.

49. NOSE : SMELL ::

    1. Tongue : Speak
    2. Foot : Hit
    3. Hand : Finger
    4. Teeth : Chew
    5. Eye : Lid

    (D). Function of NOSE is to SMELL. Function of _________ is to _________.

50. COLLAGE : IMAGES ::

    1. Cement : Building
    2. Medley : Songs
    3. Furniture : Sofa
    4. Grains : Tree
    5. Book : Volumes

    (B). IMAGES are composed of COLLAGE. _________ are composed of _________.

51. SKETCH : ARTIST ::

    1. Secret : Confident
    2. Cell : Prisoner
    3. Palette : Painter
    4. Draft : Writer
    5. Lawyer : Court room

    (D). An ARTIST makes SKETCH before final work. A/An _________ makes _________ before final work.

Some High Frequency Relations

1. Object and Function

   KNIFE : CUT ::

   1. Winter : Summer
   2. Sword : Sharp
   3. Run : Fast
   4. Drill : Hole

   (D). The function of Knife is to Cut. Similarly, the function of a Drill is to make Hole.

2. Class and Member

   FISH : TROUT ::

   1. Hair : Black
   2. Bird : Aviary
   3. Tiger : Carnivorous
   4. Mammal : Cow

   (D). Trout is a member of class Fish. Similarly, Cow is a member of class Mammal.

3. Part to Part

   GILL : FIN ::

   1. Cockroach : Antenna
   2. Instrument : Pencil
   3. Hard Disk : Keyboard
   4. Bread : Butter

   (C). As Gills and Fins are parts of a fish, so Hard Disk and Keyboard are parts of a computer.

4. Part to Whole

   FISH : SCHOOL ::

   1. Puppy : Dog
   2. Novel : Story
   3. Cocks : Pride
   4. Ear : Nose

   (C). A School is a group of Fish, so as Pride is group of Cocks.

5. Defining the Characteristics

   COUNSELOR : ADVICE ::

   1. Artist : Musician
   2. Patron : Support
   3. Honesty : Charity
   4. Bank : Banker

   (B). A Counselor provides Advice. Similarly, Patron provides Support.

6. Cause and Effect

   RACE : FATIGUE ::

   1. Fasting : Hunger
   2. Round : Boxing
   3. Flower : Color
   4. Hiking : Gangrene

   (A). Race causes Fatigue, as Fasting causes Hunger.

7. Work Style

   STRUT : WALK ::

   1. Sweating : Wrestling
   2. Hunter : Fire
   3. Speech : Stage
   4. Stammer : Talk

   (D). To Strut is a style of Walking. Similarly, Stammer is a style of Talking.

8. Synonyms

   INDUSTRIOUS : HARDWORKING ::

   1. Sky : Blue
   2. Muddy : Unclear
   3. Book : Reading
   4. Pond : Lake

   (B). Industrious is the synonym of Hardworking, as Muddy is the synonym of Unclear.

9. Antonyms

   SCHOLAR : IGNORANT ::

   1. Hardworking : Lazy
   2. Knife : Sword
   3. Courage : Bold
   4. Luxury : Wealth

   (A). Ignorant is the antonym of Scholar, as Lazy is the antonym of Hardworking.

10. Intensity

    COOL : FROZEN ::

    1. Sharp : Cut
    2. Warm : Hot
    3. Hassock : Stool
    4. Freedom : Liberty

    (B). Cool and Frozen differ in intensity; similarly, Warm and Hot differ in intensity.