Analogies
An analogy question gives one pair of words or numbers with a specific relationship (tool-to-function, category-to-member, cause-to-effect, and so on) and asks you to find the matching second half of a new pair with the same relationship.
Common patterns
- Tool and its function
- Specific item and its general category
- Young animal and its adult form
- Worker and their typical workplace
- A consistent numeric operation (e.g. squaring, multiplying by a constant)
Worked example
Question: Pen is to Write as Knife is to:
Answer: Cut
A pen is used to write; a knife is used to cut — the relationship is "tool to its primary action."
How to approach Analogies
Identify the information given, test the simplest consistent rule, and verify that your rule explains every relevant part before answering.