Diagnostic Test - Verbal - Analogies Review

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ANALOGIES
In analogy questions, the relationship between the words is more important than the meanings of the words themselves.

Before You Look at The Answer-Choices, Think of a Short Sentence That Expresses The Relationship Between The Two Words.

Example: FISH : SCHOOL ::

How are FISH and SCHOOL related? Well, a group of fish is called a school.

Example: JOURNALIST : TYPEWRITER ::

Paraphrase: A journalist uses a typewriter as a tool of his trade.

Example: ORCHESTRA : MUSICIAN :: (A) story : comedian (B) band : singer (C) garden : leaf (D) troupe : actor (E) government : lawyer

Paraphrase: "An ORCHESTRA is comprised of MUSICIANS." Now, a STORY is not comprised of COMEDIANS. Eliminate (A). A BAND may have a SINGER, but a BAND is not comprised of SINGERS: there may be a drummer, guitarist, etc. Eliminate (B). Similarly, a GARDEN is comprised of more than just LEAVES. Eliminate (C). But a TROUPE is comprised of ACTORS. The answer, therefore, is (D).

If More Than One Answer-Choice Fits Your Paraphrase, Make Your Paraphrase More Specific.

Example: CLUB : GOLF :: (A) type : book (B) ball : soccer (C) glove : baseball (D) racket : tennis (E) board : chess

Paraphrase: "A CLUB is used to play GOLF." However, this paraphrase eliminates only answer-choice (A). A more specific paraphrase is: A CLUB is used to strike a ball in the game of GOLF. Similarly, a RACKET is used to strike a ball in the game of TENNIS. The answer is (D).

Note: The parts of speech are consistent throughout an analogy problem. Hence, if the given pair is an adjective and a noun, then each answer-pair will be an adjective and a noun, in that order. This helps you determine the intended meaning when one (or both) of the given words has more than one part of speech.

Eliminate Answer-Choices That Do Not Have A Clear And Reasonably Necessary Relationship.

Educated guessing is a very useful technique on the GRE. If you can eliminate one or more answer-choices, you will probably increase your score by guessing.

Example: CORROSION : IRON ::
(A) sloth : energy
(B) disease : vision
(C) atrophy : muscle

In choices (A) and (C) there are clear and reasonably necessary relationships between the words of each pair: a SLOTHFUL person lacks ENERGY, and ATROPHY means "the wasting away of MUSCLE." But in choice (B) there is no necessary relationship between the words: most DISEASES have no effect on VISION. Hence, eliminate choice (B). The correct answer is (C) since CORROSION is the wasting away of IRON, just as ATROPHY is the wasting away of MUSCLE.

Note: Be careful when eliminating answer-choices to hard analogy problems because the relationship may not be strong, or it may actually be between esoteric (rare) meanings of the words. This is often what makes a hard analogy problem hard.

Watch Out For Eye-Catchers Unfortunately, the writers of the GRE often set traps by offering an answer-pair that reminds you of the original pair but has a different relationship. The correct answer-pair, of course, will have the same relationship as the original pair, but the words in the answer will typically be in an entirely different category. The following diagram indicates how the relationship functions between the original pair and the correct answer, and how the relationship functions between the original pair and the eye-catcher.

MONARCHY is an eye-catcher since it reminds one of GOVERNMENT--it's a type of government. Now, a paraphrase for ANARCHY : GOVERNMENT is ANARCHY is the absence of GOVERNMENT. Similarly, FREETHINKING is the absence of DOGMATIC thought. Notice that GOVERNMENT and DOGMATIST are in different categories: a DOGMATIST is not a GOVERNMENT.

Example: EXCERPT : NOVEL ::
(A) critique : play
(B) review : manuscript
(C) swatch : cloth
(D) foreword : preface
(E) recital : performance

Notice how in answer-choice (B) MANUSCRIPT reminds you of NOVEL: a manuscript could be an unpublished novel. However, a REVIEW is not part of a manuscript. Whereas, an EXCERPT is part of a NOVEL. (What is the other eye-catcher in this problem?) The answer is (C).

In Hard Problems, Eliminate Any Answer-Choice That Reminds You (However Vaguely) Of The Original Pair.

Eye-catchers are sometimes the answer to easy problems; rarely are they the answer to medium problems; and virtually never are they the answer to hard problems. When an average student guesses on a hard problem he chooses an answer that reminds him of the original pair. But if the eye-catcher were the answer, then the average student would get the problem correct and therefore it would not be a hard problem.

Example: EXORCISM : DEMON ::
(A) matriculation : induction
(B) banishment : member
(C) qualm : angel
(D) heuristic : method
(E) manifesto : spirit

This is a hard problem. Hence, eliminate any answer-choice that reminds you (however vaguely) of DEMON. A DEMON is a SPIRIT. So eliminate choice (E). Next, choice (C) is not strictly speaking an eye-catcher. But an ANGEL does remind one of a DEMON, and this is a hard problem. So eliminate choice (C). Now, to EXORCISE a DEMON means to drive it away. Similarly, to a BANISH a MEMBER of a group means to drive him or her away. The answer is (B).

ANALOGIES Part II (CLASSIFICATION)
In the last section, we analyzed the structure of an analogy problem; in this section, we will analyze the various types of analogies.

A. SYNONYMS
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings. True synonyms are from the same part of speech. However, we will also classify as synonyms words which have similar meaning but come from different parts of speech, for example: UNRULY (adjective) : LAWLESSNESS (noun).

Example: PERSPICACIOUS : INSIGHT ::
(A) ardent : quickness
(B) warm : temperature
(C) wealthy : scarcity
(D) rapacious : magnanimity
(E) churlish : enmity

PERSPICACIOUS and INSIGHT are synonyms, both mean "sharp, keen of mind." Similarly, CHURLISH and ENMITY are synonyms; both mean "dislike, rudeness." The answer is (E).

B. ANTONYMS
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Just as there are few (if any) exact synonyms, there are few (if any) exact antonyms.

In the antonym pair EGOIST : ALTRUISM, an EGOIST is one who thinks only of himself, whereas ALTRUISM is characteristic of one who thinks of all humanity. Often, however, the antonym pair are direct opposites as in the pair REMAIN : DEPART.

Example: UNPRECEDENTED : PREVIOUS OCCURRENCE ::
(A) naive : harmony
(B) incomparable : equal
(C) improper : vacillation
(D) eccentric : intensity
(E) random : recidivism

UNPRECEDENTED means "without PREVIOUS OCCURRENCE." Similarly, INCOMPARABLE means "without EQUAL." The answer is (B).

Note: In the other answer-pairs there is no clear relationship between the words. Hence, this problem can also be solved by elimination, without even knowing the meanings of the original pair.

C. MEMBER AND CLASS
Member and class analogies are usually easy problems (the first third of an analogy section). In this type of analogy, the first word may be an element of the class that the second word describes, or vice versa. This category can also be classified as "Type Of."

Example: SNAKE : INVERTEBRATE ::
(A) dolphin : fish
(B) eagle : talon
(C) boa constrictor : backbone
(D) penguin : bird
(E) bat : insect

A SNAKE is a type of INVERTEBRATE; likewise a PENGUIN is a type of BIRD. The answer is (D). Beware of choice (C). It's an eye-catcher. Although a BOA CONSTRICTOR is a SNAKE, it, like all snakes, does not have a BACKBONE.

D. DEGREE OF INTENSITY
The writers of the GRE consider these problems to be hard. However, once you get used to them, they can become routine. In a degree-of-intensity analogy, the two words express a similar concept, but one word is stronger, harsher, or more intense than the other.

Example: INTEREST : OBSESSION ::
(A) faith : caprice
(B) nonchalance : insouciance
(C) diligence : assiduity
(D) decimation : annihilation
(E) alacrity: procrastination

OBSESSION is extreme, unending INTEREST. Similarly, ANNIHILATION is complete DECIMATION. The answer is (D). Note, DECIMATION does not mean complete destruction; it literally means the destruction of one tenth of a population. By extension, it means widespread, but not complete, destruction.

Note, the degree of intensity in the answer-pair must be the same as in the original pair. In the pair INTEREST : OBSESSION the degree of intensity is from moderate to extreme; the same is true of the pair DECIMATION: ANNIHILATION .

E. PART TO WHOLE
In this type of analogy, the first word is part of the second word. The order can also be whole to part.

Example: ACTORS : TROUPE ::
(A) plotters : cabal
(B) professors : tenure
(C) workers : bourgeoisie
(D) diplomats : government
(E) directors : cast

A TROUPE is a group of ACTORS. Similarly, a CABAL is a group of PLOTTERS. The answer is (A). Be wary of the pair DIRECTORS : CAST it's an eye-catcher: CAST reminds one of TROUPE. In fact, a TROUPE is a CAST.

F. DEFINITION
This is probably the most common type of analogy problem. In a definitional analogy one of the words can be used to define the other.

Example: COFFER : VALUABLES ::
(A) mountain : avalanche
(B) book : paper
(C) vault : trifles
(D) sanctuary : refuge
(E) sea : waves

By definition, a coffer is a container in which to store valuables. Similarly, a SANCTUARY is by definition a place of REFUGE. The answer is (D).

Sometimes the definition is only partial: stating only one of the characteristics of the word.

Example: LION : CARNIVORE ::
(A) man : vegetarian
(B) ape : ponderer
(C) lizard : mammal
(D) buffalo : omnivore
(E) shark : scavenger

A defining characteristic of a LION is that it is CARNIVOROUS, meat-eating. Similarly, a defining characteristic of a SHARK is that it is a SCAVENGER. The answer is (E).

G. LACK OF
This sub-category of the definition type of analogy is important and common enough to warrant a name. In this type of analogy one word describes the absence of the other word.

Example: DISHEARTENED : HOPE ::
(A) enervated : ennui
(B) buoyant : effervescence
(C) amoral : ethics
(D) munificent : altruism
(E) nefarious : turpitude

DISHEARTENED means without HOPE. Likewise, AMORAL means without ETHICS. The answer is (C). Note, AMORAL does not mean immoral. If you commit an AMORAL act, you are not aware that you actions are unethical; whereas if you commit an immoral act, then you realize that your actions are wrong.

H. MANNER
This type of analogy describes the manner, way, or style by which an action is accomplished.

Example: PRATTLE : SPEAK ::
(A) accept : reject
(B) stomp : patter
(C) heed : listen
(D) promenade : walk
(E) ejaculate : shout

PRATTLE means to SPEAK in an idle, casual manner. Similarly, PROMENADE means to WALK in a casual manner. The answer is (D). Note, the pair EJACULATE : SHOUT is an eye-catcher since both words describe a manner of speaking.

I. FUNCTION
This type of analogy describes the purpose or function of something.

Example: MNEMONIC : MEMORY ::
(A) demonstration : manifestation
(B) pacemaker : heartbeat
(C) sanction : recall
(D) rhetoric : treatise
(E) impasse : fruition

A MNEMONIC functions to aid MEMORY. Similarly, a PACEMAKER aids in the regulation of one's HEARTBEAT. The answer is (B).

J. ACTION & SIGNIFICANCE
In this type of analogy one word describes an action and the other word indicates the significance of the action.

Example: CURTSY : REVERENCE ::
(A) assume : disguise
(B) bestir : deferment
(C) fret : contentment
(D) forgo : diversion
(E) fidget : uneasiness

A CURTSY (bow) is a sign of REVERENCE. Similarly, FIDGETING is a sign of UNEASINESS The answer is (E).

K. PERTAINING TO
In this type of analogy, one word refers to the category or class the other word belongs to. An example will illustrate.

Example: DIDACTIC : TEACH ::
(A) specious : revile
(B) cunning : steal
(C) forensic : debate
(D) troubled : broach
(E) puissant : injure

DIDACTIC refers to the teaching process. Similarly, FORENSIC refers to the debating process. The answer is (C).

L. SYMBOL & REPRESENTATION
In this type of analogy, one word stands for or represents a concept, action, or thing. An example will illustrate.

Example: CARET : INSERT::
(A) colon : sever
(B) pie : exponentiate
(C) gun : lance
(D) period : stop
(E) scalpel : delete

A CARET (^) is an editing symbol that indicates where a word should be INSERTED. Similarly, a PERIOD is a grammatical symbol indicating a STOP. The answer is (D).