ANALOGIES

How to solve analogies:

Analogy is the study of similarity existing between a word pair. For example there exists a similarity
between a human hand and a whale’s flipper, a pump and a heart. A study of such similarity is Analogy.
Once you establish the similarity or understand the relationship between the word pair, identifying an
answer choice showing an identical relationship is not a tough task at all. The only impediment for the
student is to establish and understand an authentic relationship of the word pair given as the question.
Usually, the Analogy segment too has nine questions and each question is followed by five answer
options.
Types of Analogies and their relationships
There are a few established word pair relations that will help us navigate through and succeed in the
Analogy segment effortlessly. The only challenge for you is to commit these Analogy types to your
memory infallibly. Once you do this, the Analogy segment no longer remains a tough nut to crack.
Definition
An Analogy type like this focuses on the definition of a particular word. Mostly a word that you are aware
of or you at least came across once in your sixteen years of academic sojourn. For example:
Metamorphosis: Transforms
By definition, Metamorphosis is a scientific process that transforms the shape of an organism. This is how
we establish a relationship between a word pair.
Defining the Character
An Analogy type like this focuses on the personality trait of an animal/man. For example
Lamb: Herbivorous
The character of Lamb is that it is mild and herbivorous (plant-eating). So now your challenge lies in
identifying the option, a word pair that establishes a similar relationship. An ideal answer choice could be
Tiger: Carnivorous (flesh-eating).
Class and Member
This is an easier relationship to identify. For example:
Amphibia: Frog
A frog (member) belongs to the phylum Amphibia (class)
You have to select a word pair confirming similar relationship. It could be
Aves: Bird
Antonym Relationship
The easiest of all Analogy types is the Antonym relationship
The question pair appears like this:
Loquacious: Taciturn
Obviously the opposite of the word loquacious (talkative) is taciturn (reserved). You need to identify a
similar antonymous pair from the given options. It could be
Extravagant: Parsimonious
Synonym Relationship:
Once again it is the simplest of Analogy types. In this Analogy type there exists a synonymous
relationship between the words. It means the second word in the word pair is the meaning of the first
word. An illustration will make the explanation simpler:
Loquacious: Talkative
Talkative is the meaning of the word loquacious. You just need to identify an option that also has a
synonymous relationship of words. Something like:
Opulent: Wealthy
Degree of intensity
This Analogy type has a word pair showing relationship between a more intense and less intense word or
vice versa For example: Plead: Request
‘Plead’ is a more intense form of ‘Request’.
Part to Whole: This is an Analogy type that shows a relationship between a part of a thing and its relation
with the whole.
Stanza: Poem Stanza is just a part of the whole Poem.
Function
An Analogy type like this shows the relationship between a person and a process/place. For
example: a) Rehabilitation: Addict b)Asylum: Refugee
(An addict undergoes rehabilitation; a refugee seeks shelter in an asylum)
Manner
An Analogy type such as this suggests on the manner of speech, gait or any other thing.
a)Stammer: Talk b)Fumble: Walk
Action and its importance
This is an interesting Analogy type. The first word in the word pair shows the effect caused by the second
word. For example Grimace: Pain (Grimace is facial distortion caused due to extreme pain)
Worker and Article Created
This is an Analogy type that shows the relationship between the worker and his/her creation.
Example: Ode: Poet (An Ode is the creation of a Poet)
Worker and Tool
Sculptor: Chisel A sculptor (worker) uses a chisel (tool)
13.Worker and Workplace
Actor: Theater An actor (worker) performs in a theater (workplace)
Tool and its Action
Drill: Bore A drill is a tool used to bore holes.
Cause and Effect Eg: Rain (cause): Dampness (effect)
Gender Eg: Horse (male): Mare (female)
Age Eg: Calf (the little one): Cow (the adult form)
Symbol and its meaning Eg: Mace (symbol): Authority (meaning)

THE FOUR FUNDAMENTALS APPROACH

This is another approach to solve analogies.

GRE Analogy Questions Consist of Two Words

The two words, called the stem pair, are followed by five answer choices, each consisting of two words
that are also separated by colons. Analogy questions on the GRE/ CAT look like this:

1. LITER : VOLUME ::
bottle : can
knob : radio
scale : height
gram : weight
juice : vitamin

There Will Always Be a Direct and Necessary Relationship between the Words in the Stem Pair
You can express the relationship between the two stem words by making a short sentence that we call a
bridge. Your goals when you build an analogy bridge should be to keep it as short and as clear as
possible. For the analogy above, as strong bridge would be:

A LITER is by definition a measure of VOLUME.

WHAT'S A STEM PAIR?

Analogy questions consist of two words-the stem pair-that are separated by a colon.Stem pairs look like
this:

PREPARATION : SUCCESS ::

Try to Build a "Bridge" before Looking at the Answer Choices

Because the GRE CAT is a standardized test, you'll find that certain kinds of bridges appear on the test
over and over again. At Kaplan, we call these frequently appearing bridges Classic Bridges. Getting
familiar with Classic Bridges now will help you quickly recognize these relationships when you en- counter
them on the GRE CAT.

WHAT'S A BRIDGE?
A bridge is a short sentence that connects the two words in the stem pair. You should always build a
bridge before you look at the answer choices.

The Five Classic Bridges

1. Definition ("is alwaysn or "is never")
2. Function or Purpose
3. Lack
4. Characteristic Actions or Items
5. Degree (sometimes to the point of excess)

Each of the five classic bridges are illustrated below.The Definition Bridge

CYGNET : SWAN A CYGNET is a young SWAN.

The Function or Purpose Bridge

TRUSS : SUPPORT A TRUSS is used as a SUPPORT.

The Lack Bridge

LOUT : GRACE A LOUT lacks GRACE.

The Characteristic Actions or Item Bridge

SKUNK : SCENT A SKUNK defends itself with its SCENT.

The Degree Bridge (sometimes to the point ofexcess)

INTEREST : ENTHRALL To INTEREST greatly is to ENTHRALL.

Remember the five classic bridges and keep them in mind as you practice for the GRE. WHAT MAKES A
STRONG BRIDGE?
You might think that the words apple and pie have a strong bridge. Don't be fooled. You can make many
things other than pies out of apples, such as apple juice and apple sauce. And there are many different
types of pies. Apple and fruit, on the other hand, do have a strong bridge. An apple is a type of fruit. This
is always true: It's a strong,definite relationship.

Watch Out for Common Wrong Answer Types

Because the bridges on GRE analogies are predictable, wrong answer types to these questions are also
predictable. If you get stumped on any GRE analogy, you can earn points by ruling out as many wrong
answer choices as you can and then picking from the remaining choices. Here are some of the typical
wrong answer choices that appear on GRE analogies:

Unrelated Words
A pair of words with no strong relationship is a common wrong answer.

Same Subject Trap

The words in the answer choice are in the same fields (or have the same subject) as the words in the
stem pair, but don't have the same bridge.

"Both Are" Bridges

This involves words that aren't related to each other, but are both related to a third word. For instance, the
words bracelet: necklace refer to pieces of jewelry. Yet a bracelet has no necessary connection to a
necklace.

Context Traps
Words that often appear together in context, but don't have any relationship. For instance,
mitigating : circumstance.

Reverse Analogy
The bridge would be right if the order of the words were reversed.

Au Contraire or Opposite Bridge

The bridge is the exact opposite of the bridge between the wbrds in the stem pair.

Irrelevant Bridge
The bridge is strong, but it doesn't have anything to do with the bridge in the stem pair.

Drill
Identify the Classic Bridges in the following stem pairs.
1. MISER : CHEAP
3. RULER : MEASURE
4. ELATED : HAPPY
5. BEAK: BIRD

Now build a bridge for each of the following stem pairs.

1. CHICKEN : POULTRY
3. LOOM : WEAVE
4. RECLUSE : SOLITARY
5. LANGUID : ENERGY

THE KAPLAN FOUR-STEP METHOD

Now that you have learned the basics for tackling analogies questions, you're ready for Kaplan's strategic
approach to analogies on the GRE. Approaching analogies in a systematic manner is the best way to
avoid common pitfalls and improve your score.

Find a Strong Bridge between the Stem Words

In most cases, the more precisely you can express the connection between the two words, the better. A
precise formulation is more likely to help you find the right answer.

Plug the Answer Choices into the Bridge

Look for the answer choice pair that has the same relationship as the stem pair. Immediately eliminate
answer choices that don't fit the bridge. Always try all the answer choices; you might find that more than
one answer choice works with the bridge that you built.If only one answer choice works with the bridge
you built, select that answer choice.

Adjust the Bridge, if Necessary

If more than one answer choice works, you'll have to narrow your bridge (make it more precise). If none of
the answer choices work, you probably need to expand it (make it more general). Consider alternate
definitions for the stem words. Perhaps your bridge uses the wrong definition of a word.

If Stuck, Build Bridges between Answer Choice Pairs and Work Backwards
Eliminate all answer choices that have no strong bridge.
Eliminate all answer choices that have an identical bridge to another answer choice.
Beware of answer choices that reverse the bridge.

Try It Out
Let's apply the Kaplan Four-Step Method for Analogies to an example.
. HANGAR : AIRCRAFT : :
orchestra : music
vault : money
hand : fingers
farm : trees
ecosystem : insect
 Begin by building a bridge: A HANGAR is a place built to keep AIRCRAFT. Now plug each of our answer
choices into our bridge "a BLANK is a place to keep BLANK."
Is an orchestra a place built to keep music? No. Eliminate choice (1).
Is a vault a place built to keep money? Yes, so keep choice (2).
Is a hand a place built to keep a fingers? No, so eliminate this choice as well.
Is a farm a place built to keep a trees? Maybe, maybe not. Eliminate choice (4).
Is an ecosystem a place built to keep insects? No. Eliminate choice (5).
There is no need to adjust the bridge, since only answer choice (2) worked.
If we needed to work backwards, we could have eliminated choices (4) and (5), since there is no strong
bridge between the words in these pairs.

PRACTICE SET
1. LUCID : OBSCURITY ::
ambiguous : doubt
provident : planning
furtive : legality
economical : extravagance
secure : violence

2. ATTENTIVE : RAPT ::
loyal : unscrupulous
critical : derisive
inventive : innovative
jealous : envious
kind : considerate

3. CLEAVER : BUTCHER ::
palette : artist
stage : dancer
dictionary : poet
lock : burglar
chisel : sculptor

PRACTICE TEST

1. MASON :: STONE 2. ARTICULATE :: SPEECH

A. soldier : weapon A. predictable : event
B. lawyer : law B. coordinated : movement
C. blacksmith : forge C. dangerous : disease
D. teacher : pupil D. active : thought
E. carpenter : wood E. erratic : path

3. INCEPTION :: CONCLUSION 4. SCINTILLATING :: DULLNESS

A. departure : arrival A. erudite : wisdom
B. culmination : upshot B. desultory : error
C. refutation : approval C. boisterous : calm
D. approach : return D. cautious : restraint
E. escapade : punishment E. exalted : elevation

5. ELUCIDATE :: CLARITY 6. SHARD :: POTTERY

A. envision : memory A. seed : flower
B. aggravate : problem B. smoke : fire
C. conceal : oblivion C. dish : menu
D. illuminate : light D. chair : furniture
E. mystify : enlightenment E. splinter : wood

7. REPEL :: LURE 8. PENURY :: MONEY

A. dismount : devolve A. starvation : sustenance
B. abrogate : deny B. independence : freedom
C. abridge : shorten C. infirmity : illness
D. enervate : weaken D. reality : foresight
E. miscarry : succeed E. spontaneity : care
9. ARABLE :: LAND
A. impenetrable : jungle
B. navigable : waterway
C. fertile : fertilizer
D. shallow : pond
E. flat : field
11. FURNACE :: SLAG
A. vegetable : garbage
B. factory : goods
C. fire : ashes
D. automobile : gasoline
E. silo : grain
13. SALACIOUS :: WHOLESOME
A. religious : private
B. expensive : profligate
C. conservative : stoic
D. mendacious : truthful
E. fulsome : generous
15. HACKNEYED :: FRESHNESS
A. stale : porosity
B. facile : delicacy
C. ponderous : lightness
D. central : vitality
E. relevant : pertinence
17. DIVIDEND :: STOCKHOLDER
A. patent : inventor
B. royalty : author
C. wage : employer
D. interest : banker
E. investment : investor
19. PRECIS :: ELABORATION
A. comprehension : understanding
B. revision : correction
C. simplification : decoration
D. accuracy : abnormality
E. expurgation : distortion
21. DISINTERESTED :: UNBIASED
A. indulgent : intolerant
B. exhausted : energetic
C. languid : lethargic
D. unconcerned : involved
E. profligate : flippant
10. ATTENUATE :: SIGNAL
A. exacerbate : problem
B. modify : accent
C. dampen : enthusiasm
D. elongate : line
E. dramatize : play
12. PROSAIC :: MUNDANE
A. obdurate : foolish
B. ascetic : austere
C. clamorous : captive
D. loquacious : taciturn
E. peremptory : spontaneous
14. PONDER :: PROBLEM
A. remove : doubt
B. capture : runaway
C. seize : time
D. ruminate : idea
E. curl : hair
16. ELECTED :: INAUGURATION
A. enrolled : graduation
B. condemned : execution
C. chosen : selection
D. gathered : exhibition
E. appointed : interview
18. ARCHIPELAGO :: ISLAND
A. village : hamlet
B. constellation : star
C. river : sea
D. finger : hand
E. tongue : mouth
20. MINCE :: WALK
A. bang : sound
B. wave : gesture
C. waltz : dance
D. simper : smile
E. hike : run
22. AMBIVALENT :: CERTAIN
A. indifferent : biased
B. furtive : open
C. impecunious : voracious
D. discreet : careful
E. munificent : generous

23. DEFERENCE :: RESPECT 24. AUTHORITARIAN :: LENIENT

A. admiration : jealousy A. philanthropist : generous
B. condescension : hatred B. virtuoso : glamorous
C. affection : love C. hedonist : indulgent
D. pretence : truth D. servant : servile
E. gratitude : charity E. miser : charitable

25. ALLAY :: SUSPICION 26. PERENNIAL :: EPHEMERAL

A. tend : plant A. volatile : evanescent
B. impede : anger B. mature : ripe
C. calm : fear C. diurnal : annual
D. fell : tree D. permanent : temporary
E. exacerbate : worry E. majestic : mean

27. DIRECTORY :: ADDRESS 28. PRIMITIVE:: SOPHISTICATE

A. list : number A. employee: superior
B. catalogue : shop B. socialite: recluse
C. thesaurus : fact C. tyro: expert
D. dictionary : spelling D. native : inhabitant
E. encyclopaedia : solecism E. applicant : member

29. TAP :: PUMMEL 30. TRAGEDY :: DRAMA

A. tiptoe : stamp A. farce : actor
B. hit : hurt B. cartoon : film
C. lumber : stumble C. prosody : poem
D. talk : chat D. accident : ambulance
E. pump : water E. epigram : anecdote

SENTENCE COMPLETIONS

1. As ______ beings we live each day conscious of our shortcomings and victories.
a. sensational
b. sentient d. static
c. sentimental e. senile

2. The curious crowd gathered to watch the irate customer ______ about the poor service he received in
the restaurant.
a. antiquate d. placate
b. trivialize e. fetter
c. rant

3. The man’s ______ driving resulted in a four-car pile-up on the

freeway.
a. burdensome d. boastful
b. charismatic e. negligent
c. exceptional
4. Ron didn’t know the rules of rugby, but he could tell by the crowd’s reaction that it was a critical ______
in the game.
a. acclamation d. enigma
b. conviction e. revelation
c. juncture

5. My ancestor who lost his life in the Revolutionary War was a______ for American independence.
a. knave d. nonconformist
b. reactionary e. martyr
c. compatriot

6. The ______ sound of the radiator as it released steam became an increasingly annoying distraction.
a. sibilant d. sinuous
b. scintillating e. scurrilous
c. diverting

7. It is helpful for salesmen to develop a good ______ with their

customers in order to gain their trust.
a. platitude d. tribute
b. rapport e. disinclination
c. ire

8. In such a small office setting, the office manager found he had ______ responsibilities that required
knowledge in a variety of different topics.
a. heedless d. manifold
b. complementary e. correlative
c. mutual

9. David’s ______ entrance on stage disrupted the scene and caused the actors to flub their lines.
a. untimely d. fortuitous
b. precise e. tensile
c. lithe

10. The settlers found an ideal location with plenty of ______ land for farming and a mountain stream for
fresh water and irrigation.
a. candid d. timid
b. provincial e. quaint
c. arable

11. The ______ seventh-grader towered over the other players on his basketball team.
a. gangling d. abject
b. studious e. reserved
c. mimetic

12. Carson was at first flattered by the ______ of his new colleagues,but he soon realized that their
admiration rested chiefly on his connections, not his accomplishments.
a. reprisal d. rapport
b. adulation e. retinue
c. bulwark

13. For a(n) ______ fee, it is possible to upgrade from regular gasoline to premium.
a. nominal d. bountiful
b. judgmental e. jovial
c. existential
14. Searching frantically to find the hidden jewels, the thieves proceeded to ______ the entire house.
a. justify d. ransack
b. darken e. glorify
c. amplify

15. The ______ deer stuck close to its mother when venturing out into the open field.
a. starling d. begrudging
b. foundling e. hatchling
c. yearling

16. The police officer ______ the crowd to step back from the fire sothat no one would get hurt.
a. undulated d. permeated
b. enjoined e. delineated
c. stagnated

17. Jackson’s poor typing skills were a ______ to finding employment at the nearby office complex.
a. benefit d. temptation
b. hindrance e. canoe
c. partiality

18. Through ______, the chef created a creamy sauce by combining brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon
in a pan and cooking them over medium-high heat.
a. impasse d. diversion
b. obscurity e. liquefaction
c. decadence

19. The defendant claimed that he was innocent and that his confession was ______.
a. coerced d. benign
b. flagrant e. futile
c. terse

20. Harvey was discouraged that his visa application was ______ due to his six convictions.
a. lethargic d. segregated
b. immeasurable e. aggravated
c. nullified

21. The rebel spies were charged with ______ and put on trial.
a. sedition d. reiteration
b. attrition e. perdition
c. interaction

22. Keith was ______ in his giving to friends and charities throughout the year, not just during the
holidays.
a. munificent d. guileful
b. portly e. forensic
c. amphibious

23. Calvin reached the ______ of his career in his early thirties when he became president and CEO of a
software company.
a. zephyr d. nocturne
b. plethora e. zenith
c. vale

24. Although I’d asked a simple “yes” or “no” question, Irfan’s reply was ______, and I didn’t know how to
interpret it.
a. prodigal b. irate
c. equivocal e. harrowing
d. voracious

25. The high-profile company CEO was given an ______ for speaking at the monthly meeting of the area
business leaders’ society.
a. expiation d. interpretation
b. honorarium e. inquisition
c. inoculation

26. Zachary was doomed to a miserable life, for no matter how much he had, he always ______ the
possessions of others.
a. protracted d. coveted
b. exalted e. filibustered
c. engendered

27. Jack Nicholson was at the ______ of his career when he received the Oscar for Best Actor.
a. detriment d. rogue
b. pinnacle e. repose
c. oligarchy

28. The class endured a loud and lengthy ______ by the teacher on the subject of submitting written
work on time.
a. guile d. tirade
b. polemic e. heresy
c. bravado

29. Charlie’s ______ behavior made it clear that he had been highly educated in matters of etiquette.
a. decorous d. caustic
b. surreptitious e. irksome
c. erratic

30.. Staring at the ______ crystal blue water of the sea, Eileen thought she had never seen anything so
beautiful.
a. flamboyant
b. appalling
c. devious
d. pristine
e. fiery