Mastering Analogy Questions for IBA Test
Mastering Analogy Questions for IBA Test
Analogy
Analogies are common component of the IBA admission test, designed to test your ability
to recognize relationships between words and concepts. At their core, analogies draw
parallels between two sets of items, challenging you to understand how they are
connected and to identify similar connections in other word pairs. This skill goes beyond
mere vocabulary knowledge; it requires a deep understanding of how words function in
relation to each other.
For example, consider the analogy: Tree : Forest :: Star : Galaxy. Here, a tree is part of a
forest just as a star is part of a galaxy. Recognizing this relationship involves
understanding both the meanings of the words and how they are contextually related.
Analogies involve pairs of words. Your task is to determine the relationship between
the first pair and then find a pair among the choices that has the same relationship.
The general form is: A : B :: C : D, where you need to identify the relationship
between A and B and then find a pair (C, D) that maintains a similar relationship.
Synonym: Words that have similar meanings. For example, happy : joyful.
Antonym: Words that have opposite meanings. For example, hot : cold.
Part-to-Whole: One word is a part of the other. For example, wheel : car.
Function: The word pair shows a functional relationship. For example, pen : write.
Degree: One word is an extreme form of the other. For example, hot : scalding.
Once you identify the relationship between the first pair, compare it to the answer
choices. Look for a pair that matches the same type of relationship.
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Eliminate choices that do not fit the identified relationship. Pay attention to nuances of an "office" as a whole. An "actor" is portrayed on the "screen," but an "actor" does not
and ensure the relationship is precisely the same. do something as one part of a "screen" as a whole.
Be cautious of pairs that are close in meaning but don't exactly replicate the 1. Synonym Analogy:
relationship
● The words in the pair are synonyms or have similar meanings.
1. mechanic : car ● One word in the pair causes or results in the other.
2. songwriter : lyrics
Example: Fire: Smoke :: Rain : Flood
3. desk : office
4. player : team 4. Part to Whole Analogy:
5. actor : screen
● One word is a part of the other.
Ask yourself what a musician has to do with an orchestra. A musician plays in an
Example: Finger: Hand :: Wheel : Car
orchestra. Or more specifically, a musician plays an instrument as one part of an orchestra
as a whole. Your general sentence becomes "A ____ does something as one part of a
5. Degree of Intensity Analogy:
____ as a whole." The correct answer is D: A player participates as one part of a team as
a whole. Although answer choice B includes words related to music, the exact relationship ● One word represents a higher degree or intensity of the other.
is not the same as the relationship in the question stem; a "songwriter" does not
Example: Warm: Hot :: Big : Huge
participate as one part of "lyrics" as a whole. Likewise, the remaining answer choices do
not fit logically into the general sentence that you created. A "mechanic" does not do 6. Function Analogy:
something as one part of a "car" as a whole. Although a "desk" might be considered one
part of an "office," a "desk" is an inanimate object, so it does not do something as one part ● The words in the pair have a similar function or purpose.
7. Classification Analogy:
Practice questions:
● The words in the pair belong to the same category or classification.
● The words in the pair are often associated with each other. B) map : locations
D) paintbrush : colors
9. Action Analogy:
E) guitar : cello
● The words represent actions or verbs.
These are some very basic types of analogy. We will get to know a lot more types and see D) scared : terrified
different examples of analogy as we proceed.
E) nervous : calm
However, there might be time when you wont be able to find an answer despite 3. ENDORSE : CANDIDATE ::
using the methods we have discussed so far. Then, use the Process of Elimination
A. sign : affidavit
This strategy is useful if you are unable to find the correct answer using any of the
B. endure : trial
previously mentioned strategies. Look at each answer choice and determine whether you
C. idolize : celebrity
know something about each word in the pair, and use that information to eliminate answer
D. espouse : idea
choices that are clearly incorrect. The process of elimination can be time-consuming, so it
E. devise : plan
should generally be saved for "last-ditch" efforts in selecting the correct answer. You will
probably employ this strategy in conjunction with the others mentioned, eliminating answer [Link] : TALKATIVE ::
choices that do not fit logically into the sentence that you created.
A) timid : bold
To ace analogy questions, we need to do a lot of practice. Thats why lets jump to practice
B) somber : cheerful
a bit.
C) reserved : outgoing
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C. banish : doubts
A. departure : arrival
D. juxtapose : positions
B. culmination : upshot
E. clarify : intentions
C. refutation : approval
6. BINDING : BOOK D. approach : return
A. criminal : gang E. escapade : punishment
B. display : museum
C. artist : carpenter
D. nail : hammer 11. PENURY :: MONEY
E. frame : picture
A. starvation : sustenance
B. independence : freedom
7. EXPLORE : DISCOVER
C. infirmity : illness
A. read : skim D. reality : foresight
B. research : learn E. spontaneity : care
C. write : print
12. ARCHIPELAGO :: ISLAND
D. think : relate
E. sleep : wake A. village : hamlet
B. constellation : star
8. MARATHON : RACE :: C. river : sea
C. filibuster : speech
13. PETAL : FLOWER
D. novel : author
E. deposition : question A)salt : pepper
B)tire : bicycle
C)base : ball
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A. comprehension : understanding
B. revision : correction 19. NEEDLE :: PINE
C. simplification : decoration
A. pin : cloth
D. accuracy : abnormality
B. trunk : tree
E. expurgation : distortion
C. flower : leaf
15. DEFERENCE :: RESPECT D. spine : cactus
E. stalk : root
A. admiration : jealousy
B. condescension : hatred [Link] :: PRAISEWORTHY
C. affection : love
A. pretentious : harmful
D. pretence : truth
B. virulent : innocuous
E. gratitude : charity
C. epidemic : widespread
16. PERENNIAL :: EPHEMERAL D. antiseptic : medicinal
E. admirable : laudable
A. volatile : evanescent
B. mature : ripe [Link] :: CONFIDENCE
C. diurnal : annual
A. obscure : peculiarity
D. permanent : temporary
B. faithful : security
E. majestic : mean
C. submissive : equanimity
17. CONSPICUOUS :: VISIBLE D. fervid : vigor
E. unstable : balance
A. sensual : audible
B. irrevocable : changed [Link] :: DISPLEASURE
C. elastic : stretched
A. hunch : certainty
D. ignominious : denounced
B. fidget : restlessness
E. sensitive : felt
C. pucker : ambivalence
[Link] : HEGEMONY D. squirm : collusion
E. strut : humility
A. romance : sympathy
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C. verdant : sunshine
A. congregate : voluble
B. castigate : angry D. tap : drops
C. enshroud : hidden
E. silent : sound
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C. plutonium : rich
[Link]: SELF-DENIAL ::
D. theocracy : clergy
A. nationalist : orthodoxy
E. democracy : crowd
B. philanthropist : altruism
C. writer : publication
[Link] :: DULLNESS
D. traitor : allegiance
A. erudite : wisdom
E. general : soldier
B. desultory : error
C) tempestuous : stormy
[Link] : SATURNINE ::
D) considerate : sympathetic
A. reputable : elusive
E) cacophonous : harmonious
B. antiquated : modern
C) capricious : fixed
[Link] : MISERLY ::
D) elemental : primary
A. enthusiastic : fanatical
E) biased : judgmental
B. faithful : kind
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C. passionate : appreciative
61. DISINTERESTED :: UNBIASED
D. unhappy : miserable A. indulgent : intolerant
B. exhausted : energetic
E. vocal : quiet
C. languid : lethargic
D. unconcerned : involved
E. illusory : predictable
A. desire : frustrate
B. fiasco : foil
[Link] : PERNICIOUS :: C. irritant : annoy
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E. concatenate : circumstance
(E) recast explain
[Link] : WALK ::
(B) inhibit:spontaneity
[Link]:SKIN::
(C) regret : guilt
(A) dentist:organs
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Answer and explanation Taciturn refers to someone who is quiet or does not speak much, while talkative is
the opposite, describing someone who talks a lot.
2. A
6. E
FRUSTRATED : IMPATIENT :: ANGRY : HOSTILE
BINDING : BOOK
Explanation:
Answer: frame : picture
● To ENDORSE a CANDIDATE means to publicly declare support for them. Answer: filibuster : speech
● To ESPOUSE an IDEA means to adopt or support it. Explanation: A marathon is a long race, just as a filibuster is a prolonged speech.
9. E
4. C MASON : STONE
Answer: carpenter : wood
TACITURN : TALKATIVE :: RESERVED : OUTGOING
Explanation: A mason works with stone, just as a carpenter works with wood.
Explanation:
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27. Option C: just as conventional is the opposite of unorthodox (not conforming to accepted
HACKNEYED : FRESHNESS :: PONDEROUS : LIGHTNESS standards).
34. Option C: profligate : spend
Explanation:
Explanation: Abstemious means avoiding indulgence, just as profligate means
● Hackneyed means something that is overused, clichéd, and lacks freshness. The excessively spending.
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● Plutocracy is a form of government where the wealthy or rich people hold power.
44. Option C: insist : forceful
● Similarly, theocracy is a form of government where the clergy or religious leaders
Explanation: Command implies authority and is often associated with being
hold power.
peremptory (decisive and commanding). Similarly, insist implies a strong assertion and
is often associated with being forceful.
51. Option C: boisterous : calm
Explanation: Scintillating means lively and sparkling, which contrasts with
45. D. abstain : abstemious dullness. Similarly, boisterous means noisy and lively, which contrasts with calm.
actions or qualities. [Link] and impromptu are synonyms; both words describe action that is
spoken or performed with little preparation, unrehearsed.
46. Option B: quack : deception
Explanation: A zealot is someone with extreme passion for a cause, just as a 53. Option A: enthusiastic : fanatical
quack is someone who practices deception, often falsely claiming expertise. Explanation: Thrifty means being careful with money, while miserly means
excessively frugal or stingy. Similarly, enthusiastic means showing excitement,
47. Option A: stoic : vulnerability while fanatical means having excessive enthusiasm.
Explanation: A philanthropist is someone who is generous, which contrasts with
frugality (being economical). Similarly, a stoic is someone who shows little emotion 54. Option B: philanthropist : altruism
or vulnerability, contrasting with the concept of vulnerability. Explanation: An ascetic practices self-denial as a core principle, similar to how a
philanthropist practices altruism as a core principle.
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Explanation: To upbraid is to reproach or criticize someone, which is similar to related to a rectangle. Both pairs describe the measure around a specific shape.
how "dote" (to show excessive affection) is to "like" (to have affection for). Both
pairs involve an action and its related emotion or feeling. 77. Option D: recluse : privacy
Explanation: A hedonist seeks pleasure, and similarly, a recluse seeks privacy. Both
70. Option A: tend : fuss
pairs describe a person characterized by a specific pursuit or preference.
Explanation: To assert means to state firmly, while to belabor means to explain or
78. Option E: jargon : profession
discuss something in detail. Similarly, to tend means to care for, while to fuss means to
Explanation: Vernacular is specific to a place, and similarly, jargon is specific to a
show unnecessary concern or worry.
profession. Both pairs involve specialized language related to a particular context.
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excess). "Covetous" and "rapacious" both relate to an extreme desire for something, where
"rapacious" is a more intense form of "covetous," similar to how "distraught" is a more
85. Option C intense form of "troubled."
GUSH : EFFUSIVE
Gush is an example of being effusive, as effusive means expressing feelings 90. Option A
or emotions in an unrestrained way.
MERCENARY : MONEY A mercenary is someone who works for money. The relationship
Giggle : Innocent is about motivation or driving force.
A giggle is often associated with being innocent, as it is typically a light,
carefree response.
A vindictive person is driven by revenge, similar to how a mercenary is driven by
Given this relationship, Option C: giggle : innocent money.
93. D
89. Option C
Infiltrate : enter
Troubled" and "distraught" are related in that "distraught" is a more extreme or severe To infiltrate is to enter stealthily or secretly.
state of being troubled.
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98. Option D
94. Option C
Hoax: Deceive
Declamation : grandiloquence
A hoax is intended to deceive.
Declamation is a type of speech characterized by grandiloquence, which means lofty or
extravagant language. ● Answer: Filibuster : delay
A filibuster is a tactic used to delay or obstruct legislative processes, similar to how
● Answer: Diatribe : abuse
a hoax is meant to deceive.
A diatribe is a bitter or abusive speech or piece of writing, similar to how
grandiloquence characterizes declamation. 99. Option B
To nurture means to care for and encourage the growth of a child. To deport is to expel someone from a country.
To cultivate means to prepare and use land for growing crops, similar to how nurturing To expel is to remove someone from a school, similar to how deport involves
97. Option E
Glimmer : Dazzle
A glimmer is a faint or wavering light, while dazzle is an intense, bright light. The
relationship is one of degree.
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