A Walk Through Analogies
What is an analogy?
If A stands for Trees and B for Forest, can you form a bridge between these two words.
Yes, we can say trees are present in a forest. But can you form a bridge expressing more subtle relationship between the words?
Think!!
Now look at this:
Trees:Forest::Ship::?
Trees:Forest :: Ship:Fleet
These two form an analogy pair as they have the same relationship.
What skills are tested in analogies section?
The analogies section tests your ability to establish the logical sound relationship between the given pair of words and then select the pair from among the five set of answer choices, having an identical relationship.
A typical GRE analogy question will look like:
Directions: In each of the sample questions, a related pair of words or phrases is followed by five lettered pairs of words or phrases. Click on the lettered pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair.
A) plot:story
B) string:guitar
C) drill:recitation
D) recital:music
E) valedictory:speech
Choreography is composition of sequences of steps in dance. The bridge is “X is composition of sequences of steps in Y”. Plot is composition of sequences of steps in story. So Answer is (A). Other choices can be eliminated as this bridge does not fit-in in any other choice.Recital is performance of music.A valedictory is farewell speech (one delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of a graduating class.)
How do you solve an analogy?
STEP 1 Identify the relationship between the given pair of words.
LURK:WAIT
A) prattle:talk
B) abscond:depart
C) brisk:walk
D) skimp:read
E) eloquence:speak
Let’s try to form a bridge between the given pair of words.To lurk is to wait secretly. Now in the sentence, lets replace
the given words with the words from the answer choices.
Choice A: Is it correct to say:
prattle is to talk secretly? No
Choice B: To abscond is to depart
secretly..Yes this can be the answer.
Choice C: To brisk is to walk secretly? No
Choice D: To skimp is to read secretly? No
Choice E: To eloquence is to speak secretly? No
Hence answer is B.
BAT: CRICKET
A) board:chess
B) ball:soccer
C) team:basketball
D) racket:badminton
E) racket:tennis
LAVISH:PARSIMONIOUS
A) mendicant:poor
B) spendthrift:puerile
C) affluent:mansion
D) eternal:ephemeral
E) laud:exemplary
Types of relationship that may exist between pair of words:
I Synonym/Antonym
In this type of analogy, the two words of a given pair will be either synonyms or antonyms.
EXEMPLARY:IR-REPREHENSIBLE
A) outstanding:reproachable
B) hackneyed:uncommon
C) charlatan:genuine
D) castigate:laud
E) obsequious:subservient
Both exemplary and ir-reprehensible (meaning blameless) are synonyms. The words obsequious and subservient (meaning servile) are also synonyms. The remaining answer choices form an antonym pair. Hence answer is E.
II Part/Whole
In these analogies, one word of a pair will be a part of the other word of the pair.
e.g Musician:Orchestra::Player:Team
Musician is a part of Orchestra as Player is a part of a team.
III Member/Class
The bridge here is “X is a type of/kind of Y”
e.g Apple:Fruit::Trowel:Tool
An apple is a kind of fruit as trowel is a kind of tool.
IV Effect/Cause
A) utterance:voice
B) celebration:revelry
C) motion:traction
D) sanity:treatment
E) remonstrance:sin
A) forgiveness:punish
B) stockpile:accumulate
C) testimony:falsify
D) treasure:money
E) intimation:fear
A) shears:cutting
B) crops:planting
C) lights:reading
D) screws:turning
E) saws:gluing
A scythe is a tool used for reaping. Similarly, shears are used for cutting.
Nice explanation…
I have a doubt on the following analogy. Could please provide the solution.
EPIC : EPIGRAM ::
A. opera : lied
B. museum : exhibit
C. manuscript : illumination
D. Filibuster : Delay
E. Renegade : Ambition.
Epic defines a long poem while epigram defines something terse. So both are antonyms. Is the bridge right?
What does lied imply here?
a vry gud lesson indeed to make d concepts clear
great!!!!nice way to learm.
Great!!! It helped me to understand better
thankyou for such a lucid explanation. It has helped me to a great extent in understanding analogies in GRE
suits 4 a blue-ribbon nd meritorious!!!! exquisite explanation…very useful
good tips and tricks to do the analogies
Very satisfactory !!!!!! it's succinct composition make this section lucid n interesting ……..
very nice way of explaining the things….really good.
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