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Word Analogy

Practice MCQs

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Vocabulary Word Analogy Word Relationships

Word Analogy questions test your ability to identify the relationship between two words and apply the same relationship to another pair of words.

What is Word Analogy?

A word analogy shows a relationship between two words. You must understand that relationship and find another pair with the same relationship.

For example, Doctor : Hospital means a doctor works in a hospital. Similarly, Teacher : School means a teacher works in a school.

Quick idea: Do not look at the words separately. First find the relationship between the first pair.
Analogy Pair Relationship Similar Pair
Doctor : Hospital Person and workplace Teacher : School
Bird : Nest Animal and home Bee : Hive
Knife : Cut Tool and function Pen : Write
Hot : Cold Opposite meaning Day : Night

“In analogy questions, the relationship is more important than the words themselves.”

Vocabulary Tip
Key points
  • Identify the relation between the first two words.
  • Apply the same relation to the second pair.
  • Check word order carefully.
  • Do not choose an option only because it looks familiar.
  • Common relations include synonym, antonym, part-whole, tool-use, and worker-place.
relationship logic vocabulary exam skill

Common Types of Word Analogies

Word analogy questions usually follow repeated relationship patterns. Learning these patterns helps you solve them quickly.

Synonym Relationship

Both words have similar meanings.

  • happy : joyful
  • big : large
  • quick : fast
Antonym Relationship

Both words have opposite meanings.

  • hot : cold
  • success : failure
  • ancient : modern
Worker and Workplace

A person is related to the place of work.

  • doctor : hospital
  • teacher : school
  • chef : kitchen
Tool and Function

A tool is related to what it is used for.

  • pen : write
  • knife : cut
  • key : unlock
Rule: Keep the order of the words in mind. Doctor : Hospital is person-to-place, while Hospital : Doctor is place-to-person.
Mini Word Analogy Strategy Bank
Find the Relation
Ask: Are the words synonyms, opposites, part-whole, tool-use, person-place, or cause-effect?
Make a Sentence
Convert the first pair into a sentence: “A doctor works in a hospital.”
Check Direction
The second pair must follow the same direction as the first pair.
Eliminate Distractors
Remove options that are related but do not show the same relationship.

Tip: If confused, write the relationship in words before checking the options.

Word analogy concept
Word Analogy questions test your ability to identify the relationship between two words and apply the same relationship to another pair of words.

Common Word Analogy Examples for Exams

Analogy Answer Relationship Explanation
Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ? School Person and workplace A doctor works in a hospital; a teacher works in a school.
Bird : Nest :: Bee : ? Hive Animal and home A bird lives in a nest; a bee lives in a hive.
Pen : Write :: Knife : ? Cut Tool and function A pen is used to write; a knife is used to cut.
Eye : See :: Ear : ? Hear Organ and function Eyes are used to see; ears are used to hear.
Hot : Cold :: Day : ? Night Antonym Hot is opposite of cold; day is opposite of night.
Book : Pages :: Tree : ? Leaves Whole and part A book has pages; a tree has leaves.
Seed : Plant :: Child : ? Adult Growth stage A seed grows into a plant; a child grows into an adult.
Fire : Heat :: Sun : ? Light Source and output Fire gives heat; the sun gives light.

Note: In analogy questions, more than one option may be related to the word. Choose the one that matches the exact relationship.

Practice

A) Multiple Choice: Choose the Correct Analogy
  1. Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?
    School Medicine Book Patient
  2. Bird : Nest :: Bee : ?
    Web Hive Den Stable
  3. Pen : Write :: Knife : ?
    Cut Read Draw Cook
  4. Hot : Cold :: Success : ?
    Victory Failure Progress Result
  5. Eye : See :: Ear : ?
    Speak Hear Taste Touch
B) Complete the Analogies
  1. Fish : Water :: Bird : ________ (Hint: natural place or medium)
  2. Book : Pages :: Tree : ________ (Hint: whole and part)
  3. Seed : Plant :: Child : ________ (Hint: growth stage)
  4. Chef : Kitchen :: Farmer : ________ (Hint: workplace)
  5. Day : Night :: Light : ________ (Hint: opposite meaning)
C) Identify the Relationship
Word Pair Relationship Type
King : Palace Person and place
Happy : Joyful Synonym
Open : Close Antonym
Wheel : Car Part and whole
Scissors : Cut Tool and function
Short Reading

Word analogy questions are like small puzzles. The first pair gives the rule, and the second pair must follow the same rule. If the first pair shows a worker and workplace, the second pair should also show a worker and workplace. If the first pair shows opposites, the second pair should also show opposites.

Task: Create five analogy pairs using synonym, antonym, tool-function, part-whole, and worker-place relationships.

Show Suggested Answers
Multiple Choice
  1. School
  2. Hive
  3. Cut
  4. Failure
  5. Hear
Complete the Analogies
  1. Air / Sky
  2. Leaves
  3. Adult
  4. Field
  5. Darkness
Relationship Type
  1. King : Palace → Person and place
  2. Happy : Joyful → Synonym
  3. Open : Close → Antonym
  4. Wheel : Car → Part and whole
  5. Scissors : Cut → Tool and function
Clue Explanation

The first word pair gives the relationship rule. The correct answer must follow the same rule and maintain the same word order.

Exam tips
  • Convert the first pair into a sentence.
  • Identify the exact relationship type.
  • Maintain the same order in the second pair.
  • Eliminate options that are only generally related.
  • Practise common analogy types regularly.
Practice MCQs

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