Three-Step Method for Solving Analogies Problems
The best way to solve analogies problems is to attack them using this universal method. Each of
the following steps outlined in our Five-Step Method will work with any analogy you may
encounter, regardless of the relationship shared between the word pair.
Step 1:
Build a strong bridge sentence relating the words in the question pair. The bridge should be as
short and clear as possible.
Function Bridge:
SHOVEL : DIG
1) bag : buy
2) baby : cry
3) cloud : rain
4) fork : eat
5) car : stop
In the question, the question pair is SHOVEL : DIG. First, think about a necessary relationship
shared between this pair: A shovel is used to dig.
*Remember, no proper analogies question will put words in the question pair that do not
share a direct and necessary relationship.
Step 2:
Now, use this bridge with each answer choice, inserting them in place of the words in the
question pair.
1) A bag is used to buy. Perhaps, but this is not necessarily true. You may use a
shopping cart to buy something. Or, you may use money to buy something. So this
doesn’t work.
2) A baby is used to cry. This doesn’t work; a baby isn’t used to do anything.
3) A cloud is used to rain.. A cloud produces rain, but a cloud isn’t used to rain. Again, a
cloud isn’t necessarily used to do anything.
4) A fork is used to eat. Here we have a strong relationship. A fork is definitely used to
eat. This seems to be the correct answer, but let’s try the last one just to make sure.
5) A car is used to stop.. One of the operations of a car is to stop. However, a car is not
necessarily used to stop. A car is used to travel, or to transport. So, this doesn’t work.
Therefore, answer choice #4 must be the correct answer.
Step 3:
If after completing steps 1 and 2 you still have not found an answer pair that works, then it may
be necessary to adjust the bridge sentence. Let’s look back at our original example:
Function Bridge::
1) bag : buy
2) baby : cry
3) cloud : rain
4) fork : eat
5) car : stop
It may be that our original bridge was not strong enough. Imagine if our bridge was: A shovel
may be used to dig.
Now, it is possible to come up with two correct answers:
1)) A bag may be used to buy..
4)) A fork may be used to eat..
Our original bridge wasn’t strong enough. Therefore, we need to strengthen our bridge by
making it more specific, and repeat steps 1and 2.
Function Bridge Examples:
Synonyms- words that have the same meaning
ex: happy is to joy as wash is to clean
pupil: student, courageous: brave
Antonyms-words that have opposite meanings
ex: hot is to cold, as clean is to dirty
start: finish, fact: opinion
Part / Whole: an item is part of a whole object
ex: stem is to flower as trunk is to tree
leg: chair, shade: lamp
Function / Purpose: something is used to do something
ex: keyboard is to type, as telephone is to call,
paintbrush; paint, pen: write
Object and Group or Classification: something belongs in a larger, classified group
ex: Knife is to weapon, as red is to color
pants: clothing, fork: silverware, wolf & pack, tree & forest, seagull & flock
Object and Location: objects and their related logical location
ex: plane & hangar, dog & doghouse, tree & forest
Problem and Solution: presents a problem and then a solution to the problem
ex: itch & scratch, unemployment & job application, tired & sleep
Cause and Effect: presents something and then presents what causes it
ex.spin & dizzy, fire & burn, read & learn
Object and Related Object: the words mentioned in the example are all related to each other
in some way or another
ex: cat & kitten, plant & seed, dog & puppy, brother & sister, aunt & uncle
Performer and Action: compares a person to the action they perform
ex: painter & paint, soldier & to fight, scientist & to research
Sequence: compares items to which they are performed in order
ex: peel : eat :: pour : drink, numerical (second : third :: ninth : tenth)
Assignment:
Nowyou try some. Type in the function bridge statement and type for each analogy and then
identify each answer: Write a statement for each answer to justify your answer in the “why”
blank.
Example: Cheer : Happy
A. gloom : sad
B. knowledge : study
C. luck : gamble
D. food : hungry
E. satisfaction : work
1.
Function Bridge Statement: You cheer when you are happy_____
Type: synonym____________
Why: You are show gloom when you are sad, mean same thing
seek : find :: stumble : ______ Function Bridge Statement: __________________________
a. fall
b. yell
Type: ________________________
Why? __________________________________________
c. walk
d. look
2. 1. camera : photograph :: ruler : _______. Function Bridge Statement: ___________________
a. inch
Type: ________________________
b. foot
Why? __________________________________________
c. picture
d. measure
3. month : week : : year : _____
Function Bridge Statement: __________________________
a. time
Type: ________________________
b. month
Why? __________________________________________
c. decade
d. century
4. Cup is to coffee as bowl is to
a. dish.
Function Bridge Statement: _____________________
Type: ________________________
b. soup.
Why? ______________________________________
c. spoon.
d. food
5. Admit : Deny
A. innocent : guilty
B. scholar : accurate
C. deer : woods
D. hire : worker
E. question : scold
Function Bridge Statement: _________________________
Type: ________________________
Why? __________________________________________
6. orange : color :: elephant : ______
Function Bridge Statement: ______________________
a. food
Type: ________________________
b. yellow
Why?________________________________________
c. animal
d. region
For 7-17 Write one example of an analogy that you create on your own
for each analogy function type. Explain the relationship for each of
your examples.
Example: Synonym: happy: glad, Giggle: laugh
Happy and glad are the same, giggle and laugh are the same, have
same
meaning and are synonyms
7. Synonym-
8. Antonym-
9. Part / Whole:
10. Function / Purpose:
11. Object and Related Object:
12. Performer and Action:
13. Object and Group or Classification:
14. Object and Location:
15. Problem and Solution:
16. Cause and Effect:
17. Sequence:
Create your own analogies for 18-20 using any type and explain the relationship for the
pairs. State the type of each example.
18.
19.
20.