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Why We Practice AnalogiesPractice with analogies develops proficiency in logic. To answer analogy questions correctly, you

analyze two words and identify the relationship between them; then you identify another pair of wordsthat has the same relationship. In addition, when you study analogies, you think about the precise

meanings of words and fix these definitions in your memory. Finally, studying word analogies will

help you to gain higher scores on national tests that include multiple-choice analogy questions. Thenew Scholastic Aptitude Test-I Verbal Reasoning Test, for example, includes analogy questions.

Understanding Word AnalogiesA word analogy is a comparison between two pairs of words. Heres how word analogies are written.

Example 1 FIND : LOCATE :: lose : misplace

The colon (:) stands for the phrase is related to. Heres how to read the relationships in

FIND [is related to] LOCATE

lose [is related to] misplace

The double colon [::] between the two pairs of words stands for the phrase in the same way that.

Heres how to read the complete analogy:

FIND [is related to] LOCATE

[in the same way that]

lose [is related to] misplace

Heres another way:

FIND is to LOCATE as lose is to misplace.

A properly constructed analogy, then, tells us that the relationship between the first pair of words is the

same as the relationship between the second pair of words. In Example 1,find and locateare synonyms,just as lose and misplaceare synonyms.

Lets look at another example:

Example 2 GIFT : JOY :: grief : tears

Whats the relationship here? Agiftcausesjoy, just asgriefcausestears. A cause-and-effectrelationship links the two pairs of words in Example 2. To help you identify the relationship expressed

in analogies, we have designed the chart on the following page. No chart, of course, could include all

possible relationships between words, but these twelve relationships are frequently presented. Youshould familiarize yourself with these relationships.

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Relationship______Synonym

Antonym

Part and Whole

Characteristic Quality

Classification

Cause and Effect

Function

Location

Degree

Performer and Related

Object

Performer and RelatedAction

Action and Related

Object

Example____________DRY : ARID ::

lost : mislaid

KIND : CRUEL ::

happy : sad

CHAPTER : BOOK ::

fender : automobile

POEM : STANZAS ::

play : acts

MIRROR : SMOOTH ::

sandpaper : rough

POLKA : DANCE ::

frog : amphibian

BIRD : CARDINAL ::

House : igloo

GIFT : JOY ::

rain : flood

KNIFE : CUT ::shovel : dig

FISH : SEA ::moose : forest

CHUCKLE : LAUGH ::whimper : cry

CASHIER : CASH ::

plumber : pipe

AUTHOR : WRITE ::Chef : cook

BOIL : EGG ::

throw : ball

Explanation____________________Dryis similar in meaning to arid, just as

lostis similar in meaning to mislaid.

Kindis the opposite of cruel, just as happy

is the opposite ofsad.

A chapteris a part of a book, just as a

fender is a part of an automobile.

Apoemis composed ofstanzas, just as a

playis composed of acts.

Mirrorsare characteristicallysmooth, just

assandpaperis characteristically rough.

Apolkamay be classified as a dance, just as

afrogmay be classified as an amphibian.

A cardinalis classified as a bird, just as an

igloois classified as a house.

Agiftcan causejoy, just as raincan cause a

flood.

The function of a knifeis to cut, just as thefunction of ashovelis to dig.

Afishcan be found in thesea, just as amoosecan be found in aforest.

Chuckleand laughhave similar meanings,but differ in degree in the same way that

whimperand cryhave similar meanings but

differ in degree.

A cashierworks with cash, just as a

plumberwork withpipe.

You expect an authorto write, just as youexpect a chefto cook.

You boilan egg, just as you throwa ball.

(In these items, the object always receives

the action.)

A PROCESS FOR SOLVING ANALOGIES

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Your job in solving multiple-choice analogy questions is to identify the relationship between the first

two words and then to find the pair of words that has the most similar relationship. Here are four hintsto help you:

Hint #1. Eliminate choices that represent relationships that do not match the relationship between thecapitalized words.

Hint #2. Eliminate choices that have vague relationships. Remember, the original relationship willalways be clear. So, too, will the answers relationship.

Hint #3. Eliminate words pairs that express the same relationship as the capitalized pair, but appear inthe opposite word order.

Hint #4. If you cant determine the relationship between two words, try reading them backward.

Remember that a cause-and-effect relationship, for example, exists whether the pair is written Cause:EffectorEffect: Cause.

Heres a process that will help you with analogy questions:

Answering Analogy Questions: A 3Answering Analogy Questions: A 3Answering Analogy Questions: A 3Answering Analogy Questions: A 3----Step MethodStep MethodStep MethodStep Method

1. Identify the relationship between the capitalized pair of words.2. Look for that relationship in the pairs of words in the answer choices. Eliminate those

that do not have that relationship.

3. Choose the pair of words whose relationship and word order match those of thecapitalized pair.

Lets apply this pattern to a sample question in Example 3.

Example 3 FISH : SEA ::(A) sun : star

(B) hero : villain

(C) moose : forest(D) rocket : astronaut

(E) garage : car

1. Identify the relationship. Its location; afishcan be found in thesea.2. Eliminate choices. Choice A has a relationship of classification; thesunis astar. Choice B has

two opposites; herois an antonym for villain. Choice D consists of a performer (astronaut) and

a related object (rocket). None of these choices match.3. Choose the correct answer. Choices C and E both have location relationship: A moosecan be

found in aforest, and a carcan be found in agarage. But Choice E could only be correct if the

words appeared in the opposite ordercar:garage. So Choice C must be correct.

A FINAL WORDAnalogies are easier to tackle if you approach them with flexibility. Allow yourself to discover the

relationship between the first pair of words and to explore the relationships between the words in the

answer choices. Keep in mind that some words can represent more than one part of speech and thatmost words have multiple meanings. Remember, these little verbal puzzles are a test of your ability to

demonstrate flexibility as well as logic.