Tests like the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) often use "analogies" in the vocabulary section of the exam.
Analogies, in this context, are an abbreviated form of a sentence completion exercise. For example, consider the following analogy:
- candy : lemon :: sweet : sour
Analogies like this are read as "candy is to lemon as sweet is to sour".
Analogy tests usually consist of four terms. Sometimes, you are given two of the terms (for example, candy : lemon) and you must choose the two other terms that complete the analogy (for example, sweet : sour).
Sometimes, you are given the third and fourth terms. Here is an example:
- candy : lemon :: — : sour
You may be asked to provide the fourth term (—) from a list of multiple choices. In this example, your choices might be:
To get the right answer — sweet — you need to know not only the meaning of the word sweet (and the meanings of the other words) but also the relationship between the terms.
To learn the meaning of the words that the GRE might test you on, we recommend you try the popular software program called Ultimate Vocabulary (choose the GRE edition). To work out the relationship between the words, here are some clues and potential relationships to look for.
Parts of speech. You are sometimes given clues from the parts of speech that the analogy uses. For example, if the first two terms are both nouns (for example, novice : connoisseur) then you might look among your choices for another pair of nouns (for example, neophyte : expert); if the first term is a noun and the second term is an adjective (for example, lady : pretty), then you might look among your choices for another noun-adjective pair (for example, man : handsome). Similarly, if your first term can be, say, both a verb and a noun — for example, sieve — then if the other terms among your choices are all nouns, then you might assume that sieve is being used here as a noun.
Degrees or proportions. Consider whether the relationship between the words is one of degree or proportion. For example, decade : century :: cent : dollar.
Order. Look at the order of the terms. For example, if you're given innuendo : reference, then implicit : explicit is more correct than state : hint, since state : hint is not in the same order as innuendo : reference.
Part to whole. For example, bullet : gun; lead : pencil.
Function or use. For example, fan : cool; heater : warm.
Object and material. For example, quill : feather; blanket : wool.
Worker and tool. For example, carpenter : wood; teacher : chalk.
Size and degree. For example, creek : lake; sea : ocean.
Opposites. For example, hot : cold; light : dark.
Cause and effect. For example, bruise : hit; freeze : cool.
Characteristics. For example, athlete : fit; soldier : brave
Practice as many sample questions from GRE practice tests as you can and try to work out, for yourself, the kinds of relationships that analogy questions often use. See also, Ten Tips on Improving Your GRE Verbal Score.
References
Matthew F Ignoffo, "The Thread of Thought: Analogies as a Vocabulary Building Method" (1980) 23(6) Journal of Reading 519.