Analogy Questions

The word analogy means to make a comparison between two objects or ideas. This is a common practice in the English language, considered helpful in writing and literature as in the daily figures of speech. Although there are many forms of comparison, a literary term that covers most types of comparison is perhaps known as an analogy. For example: ‘she’s as blind as a bat’, ‘life is a box of chocolates’, and so on. Through this blog, we bring you the complete guide on Analogy questions in competitive exams.

Also Read: Non Verbal Reasoning: Concepts, Types & Questions

Types of Analogies 

There are many types of analogies that are prominent. To understand analogy questions, it is important to understand the types of analogies. Some of them are listed and explained down below:

1. Opposite Analogy: smiling and crying are the example of opposite analogies as these two words are opposite in terms of meaning.
2. Object & Classification Analogy: Objects can be classified in a group but when the same object can be classified in different groups, it forms object and classification analogy. For example knife & weapon, knife & kitchenware, pants & clothing, red & colours etc.
3. Object and Group Analogies: These are objects that form a specific group when many are put together. Several wolves together form a pack, several trees a forest etc. Examples: wolf & pack or tree & forest.
4. Degrees of a Characteristic Analogies: This analogy, mostly comprises adjectives, but not for all cases. For example, tired & exhausted, cold & freezing, warn & hot etc.
5. Cause and Effect Analogies: Spin & dizzy, fire & burn, read & learn are examples of cause and effect analogies, where two things are related to one another in terms of cause and effect. One is the cause and the other is the effect of the cause. Hence it is known as cause and effect analogy.
6. Problem and Solution Analogy: Some problems have very obvious solutions like for example if you have a problem (tired) then you also have a solution (sleep) to solve that problem. These problems and solutions are gratefully used in word analogy problems. 
7. Object and Function Analogies: Some objects have designated functions that are inseparably connected to the affected object like for example you use a keyboard to type and a phone to call. These relationships are commonly used in analogy test problems.
8. Performer and action Analogy: In this analogy, both the performer and the right means of action are mentioned. For example, painter & paint, writer & write, chef & cook etc.
9. Antonyms: These are the words that have an opposite meaning. For example hungry & full, brave & coward, strong & weak etc.
10. Synonyms: These are words that have similar or  same meanings. For example hungry & starving, brave & courage, strong & powerful etc.

Must Read:Logical Reasoning For Competitive Exams

How to solve Analogy Questions?

We have understood the different types of analogies that are most prominent. Here are some tips that will help you to solve different analogy questions for competitive based exams. These are:

1. The only way to make improvements in verbal analogies is by practising. So keep on practising different sets of questions every day.
2. Familiarize yourself with the test format.
3. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
4. In the question, try to determine or identify the relationship. 
5. Translate analogies into phrases. Read analogy issues as sentences, even if they are not really written that way.
6. Go through tough problems systematically.
7. Read all response choices first prior to making a decision. This may sound obvious, but candidates generally stop reading response choices after they have found what appears to be a strong match.
8. Eliminate options in responses that do not have a similar type of relationship or that don’t match.
9. If the meaning of a word is unknown, try to remember the context where you encountered the word, subject, category etc.
10. Take another look at the relationship possibilities outlined above and try to search for them when trying to resolve analogies.
11. If all else fails, rule out improbable answers and make an educated guess.

Explore: Types of Reasoning Questions in Competitive Exams

Types of Analogy Questions Asked

1. India : New Delhi :: France : ?

a) Milan	b) Washington
c) Amsterdam	d) Paris

Ans: (d) Paris: ‘New Delhi’ is the capital of ‘India’. Similarly, ‘Paris’ is the capital of ‘France’.

2. Genuine : Authentic :: Mirage : ?

a) Reflection	b) Hideout
c) Illusion	d) Image

Ans – (c)Illusion: as ‘authentic’ is a synonym of ‘Genuine’. In the same way, ‘illusion’ is a synonym of ‘Mirage’.

While practicing these Analogy questions, check out our complete guide for English for Competitive Exams!

2. ‘Producer’ is related to ‘consumer’. In the same way as ‘Writer’ is related to?

a) Seller	b) Reader
c) Creator	d) Contractor

Ans – (b)Reader: as a ‘producer’ produces for the ‘consumers’, in the same way, a ‘writer’ writes for the ‘readers’.

4. Find a pair that is similar to the given pair of numbers:- 180 : 90

a) 64:30	b) 100:50
c) 33:43	d) 12:48

Ans – Clearly, the relationship here is 2x : x. This same relationship exists in option (b) 100 : 50. So, the correct answer is option (b).

5. BCDE: PQRS :: WXYZ : ?

a) KLMN	b) KJMN
c) QJWX	d)TSUZ

Ans – Each letter of the 1st group is moved 14 steps forward to obtain the corresponding letter of the 2nd group. A similar relationship will exist between the 3rd and 4th groups. Hence, the correct answer is option (a)

6. CHAIRS: EJCKTU :: PARROT: ____

a) RCTTQV	b) RCXXRT
c) QCTTRV	d) GHKKXY

Ans – (A) RCTTQV

7. Find the odd one out in the given options

a) Doctor: Patient	b) Shopkeepers: Customer
c) Teacher: Students	d) Painter: Paintbrush

Ans – (d) Painter : Paintbrush

8. Which of the given numbers is a part of the given set? 

Set: (13, 39, 65,  117)

a) 139	b) 169
c) 253	d)156

Ans – (b) 169

   9. Find the odd one out:

a) Tehri Dam: Uttarakhand	b) Hirakud Dam: Orisha
c) Bhakra Nangal Dam: Haryana	d) Sardar Sarovar Dam: Gujarat

Ans – (c) Bhakra Nangal Dam : Haryana

10. Based on the given analogies, find the odd one out

a) National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana	b) National Tree: Indian Neem
c) National Calender: Saka Calender	d) National Bird: Peacock

Ans – (b) National Tree : Indian Neem

So on this note, we end our blog on analogy questions. Hope that the blog must prove to be helpful and insightful for you all. Trying to prepare for competitive exams? Then reach out to our Leverage Edu experts and they will guide you for different entrance exams out there, international and national, that will make you land at your dream college. So book your free session today.