- Refer to the diagram. The relationship is Square : 4 sides :: Pentagon : _____. Which answer best completes the analogy?
Answer: 5 sides
The diagram shows shapes with their number of sides. A square has 4 sides; a pentagon has 5 sides. Thus, "5 sides" completes the relationship. Other choices list incorrect attributes.
- CONDUCTOR : ORCHESTRA :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: captain : team
This analogy tests your understanding of leadership relationships and roles. When you see "CONDUCTOR : ORCHESTRA," think about what specific relationship exists between these two elements.
A conductor leads and directs an orchestra, guiding a group of musicians to work together as a coordinated unit. The conductor has authority over the entire group and is responsible for their collective performance. You need to find another pair that shows this same "leader to group they direct" relationship.
Let's examine each option: Choice A (teacher : classroom) is incorrect because a classroom is a physical space, not a group of people that the teacher leads. The teacher leads students, not the classroom itself. Choice B (pilot : airplane) is wrong because a pilot operates or controls an airplane, but an airplane isn't a group of people working together—it's a machine. Choice C (director : movie) doesn't work because a movie is the final product, not the group being directed. A director leads actors and crew, not the movie itself.
Choice D (captain : team) perfectly mirrors the original relationship. Just like a conductor leads an orchestra, a captain leads a team. Both involve one person directing a group of individuals who must work together toward a common goal.
Strategy tip: In analogies about leadership roles, focus on identifying whether the second term is the group being led, the tool being used, the location, or the end product. The strongest analogies typically match both the type of relationship and the category of things being compared.
- FOUNDATION : BUILDING :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: roots : tree
Analogies test your ability to identify the relationship between two words and find another pair with the same relationship. In this analogy, you need to understand how "foundation" relates to "building" and find the word pair that shares this exact relationship.
A foundation is the underlying base that supports and sustains a building - it's what the building grows from and depends on for stability. The foundation comes first and provides essential support for everything built on top of it. So you're looking for something that serves as the fundamental base or support system for something else.
Looking at choice C) roots : tree, roots serve the exact same role for a tree that a foundation serves for a building. Roots are the underlying support system that anchors the tree, provides nutrients, and allows the tree to grow and thrive. Just like a foundation, roots come first and are essential for what grows above them.
Choice A) soil : garden is tempting, but soil is the medium the garden grows in, not the structural support system. Choice B) basement : house reverses the relationship - a basement is part of the house that sits on the foundation, not the foundation itself. Choice D) frame : picture describes a container-and-contents relationship, not a foundational support relationship.
When tackling analogies, always identify the specific relationship first, then test each answer choice to see which one demonstrates that same relationship. Don't be fooled by pairs that seem related but don't share the exact same type of connection as the original pair.
- TELESCOPE : ASTRONOMER :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: microscope : biologist
The correct answer is A. A telescope is the primary tool used by an astronomer to perform their work, just as a microscope is the primary tool used by a biologist. Both represent the relationship between a specialized instrument and the professional who uses it. Choice B is incorrect because a stethoscope is used ON a patient, not BY a patient. Choice C is incorrect because mathematics is a subject, not a person who uses calculators. Choice D is incorrect because technology is a field, not a person who uses computers.
- Use the pie chart below. Water : 70% :: Land : _____
Answer: 30%
The chart shows Earth's surface: 70% water, 30% land. Therefore land corresponds to 30%.
- Look at the geometric figure. Radius : Circle :: Edge : _____
Answer: Cube
The labeled diagram shows a circle with its radius and a cube with its edges. As a radius is a main line segment of a circle, an edge is a main line segment of a cube. Other 3-D shapes have edges but the cube is explicitly shown.
- Use the flowchart below. Seed → Sprout :: Idea → _____
Answer: Plan
Flowchart shows progression: Seed becomes Sprout. Similarly, Idea progresses to Plan in chart. Others are not next steps.
- ACCELERATOR : SPEED :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: volume knob : loudness
The correct answer is C. An accelerator controls and increases speed, just as a volume knob controls and increases loudness. Both represent controls that can vary the intensity of something measurable. Choice A is incorrect because brakes cause stopping, which is an action, not a variable quality like speed. Choice B is incorrect because steering wheels change direction but don't increase or decrease direction intensity. Choice D is incorrect because a switch turns electricity on or off rather than controlling its intensity or amount.
- Refer to the histogram. 0–2 books : Few :: 10–12 books : _____
Answer: Many
Histogram labels the 0–2 range as "Few" and the 10–12 range as "Many". Thus, the analogy completes with "Many".
- Use the bar chart provided. Soccer has 20 players. Basketball has _____ players.
Answer: 5 players
The bar chart shows Basketball with 5 players signed up for the after-school club. The other numbers do not match what is shown in the chart.
- Based on the graph shown: Cold : January :: Hot : _____
Answer: July
The temperature bar graph indicates January is the coldest and July the hottest month, so Hot corresponds to July. Other months have moderate temperatures on the graph.
- REHEARSAL : PERFORMANCE :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: practice : competition
The correct answer is A. A rehearsal is preparation that comes before the actual performance, just as practice is preparation that comes before the actual competition. Both represent preparatory activities followed by the main event. Choice B is incorrect because studying and homework are both preparatory activities, not a preparation followed by a main event. Choice C is incorrect because training and exercise are similar preparatory activities. Choice D is incorrect because the relationship is reversed - teaching includes lessons rather than lessons leading to teaching.
- Look at the bar graph. Monday : 12 cookies :: Friday : _____ cookies
Answer: 8
The sales bar graph shows Monday 12 cookies sold and Friday 8. Therefore Friday pairs with 8 cookies. Other numbers differ from the graph.
- ROUGH : SANDPAPER :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: sharp : knife
Analogies test your ability to recognize relationships between words. In this analogy, you need to understand how "rough" relates to "sandpaper," then find a word pair with the same relationship pattern.
The relationship here is that "rough" describes a key characteristic or quality of "sandpaper." Sandpaper is specifically designed to be rough—that's its defining feature that makes it useful for smoothing surfaces. You need to find another pair where the first word describes an essential quality of the second word.
Looking at choice D) "sharp : knife," this follows the exact same pattern. "Sharp" describes the essential quality of a knife—just like sandpaper is characterized by being rough, a knife is characterized by being sharp. This quality is what makes the object functional for its intended purpose.
Choice A) "smooth : silk" might seem tempting since silk can be smooth, but this reverses the texture relationship rather than maintaining the same pattern. Choice B) "hard : rock" describes a quality rocks can have, but hardness isn't the defining characteristic that makes a rock useful like roughness is for sandpaper. Choice C) "soft : cotton" also describes a quality, but again, softness isn't cotton's primary functional characteristic in the same way roughness defines sandpaper's purpose.
When tackling analogies, always identify the specific relationship in the given pair first, then look for the choice that maintains that exact same relationship pattern. Focus on how the characteristic makes the object useful or defines its essential nature.
- COMPASS : NAVIGATION :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: ruler : measurement
The correct answer is B. A compass is a tool used for navigation, just as a ruler is a tool used for measurement. Both represent instruments that enable a specific activity or process. Choice A is incorrect because geography is a subject of study, not an activity that maps enable. Choice C is incorrect because punctuality is a behavior or trait, not an activity that clocks directly enable. Choice D is incorrect because weather is a natural phenomenon, not an activity that thermometers enable (they measure temperature, enabling temperature measurement).
- DROUGHT : CROPS :: _____ : _____
Which word pair best completes this analogy?
Answer: flood : bridges
The correct answer is B. Drought is a harmful weather condition that damages crops, just as flood is a harmful weather condition that damages bridges. Both show a destructive natural phenomenon harming human-made or cultivated things. Choice A is incorrect because rain doesn't harm umbrellas; umbrellas protect against rain. Choice C is incorrect because wind helps sailboats move rather than harming them. Choice D is incorrect because snow enables skiing rather than preventing it.
