Analogy

Analogy literally means a comparison of one thing with another thing that has similar features. In this questio
relation or the other. Along with a question pair of words, there are pairs of words as options. The student is r
question pair. Keeping this relation in mind, the student should find out the pair of words from the given optio
However, the given options might be confusing. It is likely that the student finds more than one option as the
after a logical careful reading the difference in the relation between the words in the different options become

Types of relationship that may exist between pair of words:

1. 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 subservi
choices form an antonym pair. Hence answer is E.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Effect/Cause:
In this type,One word in the pair is the cause, and the other is the effect. That means that one word is a result,
e.g Earthquake:Tsunami: :Negligence:Accident
The bridge here is “X causes Y” or “X is the result of Y.”

5. Varying degrees of a quantity or quality

The one word of a given pair may be better/worse/stronger/weaker form of the other pair of a given word.
NOISE:DIN
A) utterance:voice
B) celebration:revelry
C) motion:traction
D) sanity:treatment
E) remonstrance:sin
This analogy is based on degree. Din is a great noise and revelry is great celebration. Utterance is just a kind
B.

6. Definition/Evidence:
The bridge in this type of analogy is “X is a defining characteristic of Y.”
CACHE:HIDE
A) forgiveness:punish
B) stockpile:accumulate
C) testimony:falsify
D) treasure:money
E) intimation:fear
Here Cache can be either a verb or a noun.Since the first word of the options is noun so cache is used here as
store something. So we can say that hide is a defining characteristic of Cache. Similarly to accumulate is a de

7. Purpose/Function:
One word of the pair defines the function of the other word of a pair.
SCYTHE:REAPING
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.

How do you solve an analogy?

STEP 1: Identify the relationship between the given pair of words.
STEP II: The sentence forming the relationship should be neither too general nor too vague. Look for a deep
the given choices or fits into more than one choice.
BAT: CRICKET
A) board:chess
B) ball:soccer
C) team:basketball
D) racket:badminton
E) racket:tennis
The bat is used to play cricket.If we use this bridge, it eliminates only the choice C. Let’s look for a more sub
A bat is used to strike a ball in cricket. Also a racket is used to strike a ball in tennis. So E is the correct choic

STEP III: Check for the parts of speech of the given words. It may help you in arriving at the right answer fo
noun:verb pair. The part of speech of both the given pair and the answer will always be the same.

STEP V: The order of the pair of words is important. The answer choices should form the same relationship
changed.

Few sample questions from Dhaka University Evening MBA test are given below:

(*Bold option is the correct answer)

1. Play:Acts
A. Opera:Arias B. Games:Athletes C. Poem:Rhymes
D. Novel:Chapters E. Essay : Topics

2. Words:Writer
 A. Batter: Baker B. Chalk: Teacher C. Laws: Policeman
D. Mortar: Bricklayer E. Honor: Thieves

3. Heart: Human
A. Tail:Dog B. Hand:Child C. Kitchen: House D. Brick:Wall E. Engine:Car

4. Liability : Immunity
A. Debit:Credit B. Pardon:Amnesty C. Real Estate:Property
D. Fidelity:Honesty E. Equinox:Winter

5. Spool: Thread
A. Bale:Hay B. Peck:Potatoes C. Verse:Song D. Coil:Rope E. Reel:Line

6. Judge:Courthouse
A. Carpenter: Benc B. Lawyer: Brief C. Architect: Blueprint
D. Physician: Infirmary E. Landlord: Studio

7. Hand : Neil
A. Foot: Toe B. Head:Hair C. Paw:Claw D. Ear:Nose E. Jaw:Tooth

8. Faith : Atheistic
A. Honesty: Ethical B. Difficulty: Slothful (Aalos) C. Apparel : Nude
D. Gymnast: Agile (Namonio) E. Tenet : Believing

10. Precarious: Vulnerable

A. Certain:Secure B. Impede: Progress C. Hazardous: Uncertain
D. Assertive: Dislike E. Accustomed: Unsual

11. Patron : Support

A. Spouse: Divorce B. Restaurant : Management C. Councilor : Advice
D. Host : Hostility E. Artist : Imitation

12. Emulate (anukaron kara) : Model

A. Copy : Imitate B. Genuine: Real C. Transparent D. Obvious : Visible

13. Revulsion (biroktikar) : Dislike

A. Pleasure: Delight B. Abomination (prochondo ghrena): Aversion (oneha)
C. Approval: Confirmation D. Magnanimity : Generosity
E. Management : Confusion

14. Car : Fuel

A. Camera: Film B. Computer : Typewriter C. Sugar :Molasses
D. Fountain Pen: Ball-oint Pen E. Eraser: Duster

15. Interminable (akkhay) : Perpetual

A. Endless : Unlimited B. Preparation : Neglect C. Domestic : External
D. Distance: Friendly E. Conditional : Fixed

16. Giant : Small

 A. Hard : Difficult B. good: Fair C. Plain : Simple D. Loud : Quite
E. Bread : Butter

17. Embezzle : Fund

A. Wield : Influence B. Exploit : Victim C. Usurp : Power
D. Overcome : Combatant E. Impede: Obstacle
Usurp = annayvabe khamota dakhol kara

18. Attachment : Fidelity

A. Attraction : Devotion B. Detach : Understand C. Investigate : Authority
D. Economical : Examination E. Analysis : Optimistic

19. Rebellious ( Bidrohi): Insubordinate (abadho)

A. Dutiful: Obedient B. Revolutionary : Submissive C. Mutinous : Rationality
D. Judgement : Dabate E. Intractable : Seditious

20. Smoke: Pollution

A. War: Death B. Water:River C. Iron: Strength D. Vaccination: Immunity
E. Degeneration (adhopaton): Decay (Khay)

21. Delirium : Disorientation

A. Paralysis: Immobility B. Anorexia : Pain C. Insomnia: Fretfulness
D. Rash: Vaccination E. Malaria: Relapse

23. Biography : Autobiography

A. Dead: Living B. Memories : History C. Mobile : Automobile
D. Author : Performer E. Testimony : Confession

24 Ocean : Bay
A. Archipelago: Atoll B. Island: Inlet C. Headland : Promontory
D. Continent: Peninsula E. Comet: Galaxy

25. Unemployed : Worker

A. Unknown: Artist B. Fallow (Patito jami): Field C. Renovated : House
D. Observant: Spectator E. Unconscious : Sleeper

26. Bouquet: Flowers

A. Forest : Tress B. Husk: Corn C. Mist :Rain D. Woodpile : Logs
E. Drift : Snow

27. Nicotine: Tobacco

A. Calcium: Bone B. Iodine: Salt C. Protein: Meat D. Pulp : Fruit
E. Caffeine : Coffee

28. Insipid Invention

A. Ironic: Gravity B. Foppish: Affection C. Realistic : Originality
D. Generic : Artistry E. Prosaic : Imagination

29. Grain: Silo

 A. Seed:Plant B. Druggist: Doctor C. Furlong : Mile D. Water : Bucket
E. Tree : Fruit

30. Play : Acts

A. Essay : Topics B. Game: Athletes C. Novel : Chapter
D. Poem : Rhymes E. Drama : Actors

31. Caution : Accident

A. Radar: Collision B. Police: Criminal C. Worry: Disaster
D. Sanitation: Health E. Carelessness: Plan

32. ANARCHY : GOVERNMENT

A. Confederation : State
B. Trepidation : Courage
C. Serenity : Equipment
D. Surfeit : Food
E. Computer : Hard Drive

33. STANZA : POEM

A. Flag : Anthem
B. Storey : Building
C. Mural : Painting
D. Refund : Deposit
E. Weigh : Value

34. LITTLE : BIG

A. Easy : Simple
B. Quiet : Loud
C. Good : Better
D. Huge : Tiny
E. Plain : Ugly