Analogy based Questions: Theory and
Practice for GRE & CAT(Online Class)
ONLINE CLASS BY: SATYADHAR JOSHI
FEB 2011
EMAIL:SHIVGAN3@YAHOO.COM
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE CLASS ON
ANALOGY
http://www.freegregmatclass.com/
http://onlineclasses.nanotechbiz.org/
Contents of Plan
 Introduction
 Types of links and probabilities
 When you don’t know
 Strategy
 Application and imbibing techniques
 Analogy bible from Big book ETS, Nova, Barons
 List from Bible
 References
Key concepts
 Before looking at answer think of the short sentence that
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makes the relationship
Example Fish : School, here the group of fish is called a school
; Club: golf, (Club is used to play Golf)
Types of relations
Eliminate choices with no relationship (imp:brahmastra)
Watch for eye catchers
Use part of speech for the words
You can reverse the words or carefully make your own
sentences (stem)
Conjecture is an important skill
Use 30-50 seconds, don’t be over-fast
Diplomatic language is importance issue here too
Types of Analogy
 Synonyms & Antonyms
 Member and class
 Degree of intensity (stronger, harsher, or more in degree)
 Part of whole
 Definition
 Lack of
 Manner of
 Function
 Action & significance
 Pertaining to
 Different connotation
 Worker and action & worker and workplace
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Constrains of the Examiner
 He cannot give any other relation than the 10
 Relation should be strong
 Answer should be non controversial
 Two basic themes are antonyms and synonyms
 The answer or the brahm-astra we have is the “Power of
Elimination”
 Even if we don’t know the meaning then also we have to
use POE carefully as we cannot skip the question and our
slightest of idea about the words can benefit us
When you don’t know the meaning
 How to guess?
 There are few relationship which are common
 My personal estimates are that 70% of analogy are
antonym & synonym based
 Verb vs Verb & Adj vs adj
Collection or Grouping
 Philately: stamp ( collector of stamps)
 Numismatics: coin ( collector of coins)
Secondary meanings
 Pan: camera ( pan in very means rotating a camera)
Page70; Book: GRE Barron's
Determination of word’s part of speech
 Sap: vitality :: drain : resolve
More examples of guessing: Practice
Cloyed: Jaded::
 A) Circumscribed: trifling
 B) Insatiable: cormorant
 C) Effeminate: conscientious
 D) Rectilinear: graceful
 E) Penurious: fatuous
Answer
 Correct answer is B
 Type of question: Synonyms
 Elimination of irrelevant answers
 Secondary meaning of Cormorant is greedy
Practice Session
Draconian: coercion ::
A. Insouciant: resplendence
B. Munificent: philanthropy
C. Blatant: concealment
D. Submissive: consequent
E. Spent: existence
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answer
 Correct answer is B
 Type of question: Property
 Elimination of irrelevant answers
 Draconian has strict and coercive rules, similarly
munificent has philanthropic behavior
Degree question
 Resolute : Will::
A. Violent : peaceful
B. Fanatic : concern
C. Balky : contrary
D. Notorious : infamy
E. Virtuous : wholesome
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answer
 Answer is B
 Power of elimination can be applied
 Possible relation exploration
 Resolute means very strong willed, fanatic means
very strong concern
Degree Question
 Saturate : Dampen ::
A. Contaminate : pollute
B. Besmirch : sully
C. Extol : praise
D. Waive : donate
E. Pronounce: presume
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answer
 Answer is C
 Saturate is to dampen thoroughly, similar to extol is
to praise highly
 Degree check
 Relation
 Don’t get confused in synonyms and antonyms
Example of Worker & Tool
 Welder : Torch
A. Carpenter : file
B. Farmer : plow
C. Printer : binder
D. Painter : roller
E. Sailor : compass
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answer
 Answer is C
 Welder uses a torch, printer uses binder
 POE
 A&S
Spatial order questions
 Epilogue : story
A. Postscript : Epistle
B. Preface : Manuscript
C. Foundation : ground
D. Title : cognomen
E. Alphabet : missive
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answer
 Epilogue comes as a summary towards the end of a
story, similarly postscript comes at end of Epistle
 Hence answer is A
 Use elimination
 Depict all possible reason when not sure about
meaning
Tough questions
 Hector : Equanimity
A. Quicken : cognition
B. Harass : contravention
C. Affirm : scruple
D. Deviate : Itinerary
E. Maraud : locality
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answers
 Hector, the word comes from a roman hero of the famous
Trojan war.
 Hector is to intimidate, whereas equanimity is calmness
of mind
 Now affirm means assert, and scruple means misgivings
or doubt
 Hence the correct answer is C
 This is a tough question where B is the eye catcher
 Also notable is the importance of Greek based words
Another tough one
 Peccadillo : Flaw ::
A. Mediator : dispute
B. Grammar : error
C. Nick : Score
D. Forensic : judiciary
E. Invasion : putsch
Page 400-450, From Book: GRE Nova
Answer
 Ans C
 Peccadillo is a small flaw likewise nick is small score
 Here Error is the eye catcher
 Be careful in these questions
Another question (Example of Noun and
Diplomatic Languge)
 Aristocrat : Land ::
A. Bureaucracy : enslavement
B. Monarchy : abnegation
C. Gentry : talent
D. Dignity : rank
E. Junta : anarchy
Answer
 Answer is D
 POE
 Eliminate A also due to diplomacy language
 Also land is noun, therefore the answer cannot have
adjective or very on the right side
 An Aristocrat has privilege due to land, similar a
dignitary has rank
Vocabulary for Tough Questions
 Limp is to walk unevenly similarly stutter is to walk unevenly
 Awl is used to pierce, similarly pestle is used to mash
 Splint is used to reduce mobility, similarly is used to reduce friction
 Reticent is one who talks less, abstemious is one who doesn’t gorge
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himself
Curator is person who collects or hold many paining, similarly the
librarian holds a collection of books
Astrolabe is a nautical instrument, similarly colander is a culinary
instrument (Engineering)
To complain a lot is called carp, similarly to drink a lot is called
guzzle
Filigree is twisted wires, similarly lace is twisted thread (clothes)
Corral is collection of horse, similarly coop is collection of chicken
Page 2-5, Analogy Bible
Vocabulary for Tough Questions
 Painter paints on canvas to make his painting, similarly sculptor
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uses marble to make the statue (Art renaissance)
Fresco is a painting on wall, similarly parquetry is painting on floor
(Renaissance)
Alcove: recess :: dome : roof
Doggerel is poor verse, burlesque is poor plat (arts)
Peroration is ending speech, coda is end of sonata (Literature
poems)
Embroider is design on clothing, likewise chase is design on/using
metals (clothes and arts)
Tourniquet is used to check flow of blood, like dam checks river
(medical term)
Grow : burgeon :: beat : palpitate
Epitaph is inscription on tombstone :: motto is on shield
Simper is irritating smile, babble is senseless talk
Page 6-9, Analogy Bible
Vocabulary for Tough Questions
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Egg chicken :: roe salmon
Embellish : austere :: adulterate : pure
Clay is used in porcelain, like flax is used in linen
Parquet is decoration of : wood :: mosaic : glass
Needle is used to make knit, likewise loom is used for
weave
Hemorrhage causes bleeding, likewise vertigo causes
dizziness
Pluck : quit :: pride : grovel (political social)
Epidermis : mammal :: bark conifer
Leaf : oak :: needle (leaf of pine): pine
Voting : roll call :: terminate : cloture (political words)
Page 9-11, Analogy Bible
Vocabulary for Tough Questions
 Tango : dance :: elegy : poem
 Usury is taking high interest, similarly gouge is to make high
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price
Stray : group :: digress : subject
Enunciate is to speak clear words, likewise limn is to draw
lines
Muffler : neck :: mitten :: hand
Denture (false teeth): teeth :: toupee (wig or artificial hairs) :
hair
Script is of play : like score is for symphony
Potter : shard :: bread : crumb
Frieze : ornament :: pillar : support
Foil : metal :: veneer : wood
Vocabulary for Tough Questions
 Fidget : nervousness :: cringe : dread(fearfully)
 Fang : tooth :: finger digit
 Bolster : Support :: Tackle : Hoist
 Ballad : stanza :: novel : chapter
 Silver : tarnish :: Iron : rust (economics)
Practice
 Take more test and use the methods shown in this
presentation
 While practice use even the slightest idea you have
about the word
References
 GRE Barron's (Buy the book which is requisite for
this class
 GRE Nova’s (Buy the book which is requisite for this
class at http://novapress.net/)
 Analogy Bible