Group D General Intelligence & Reasoning: Analogies — Concept Guide + MCQs
What are Analogies?
An analogy expresses a relationship between two pairs of words/numbers/letters. The key is identifying the type of relationship in the given pair and applying the same relationship to find the missing term.
Types of Analogies Commonly Asked
- Object : Use — Pen : Write :: Knife : Cut
- Animal : Young One — Cow : Calf :: Horse : Foal
- Animal : Home — Lion : Den :: Bee : Hive
- Worker : Tool — Carpenter : Saw :: Surgeon : Scalpel
- Country : Capital — India : New Delhi :: France : Paris
- Part : Whole — Chapter : Book :: Scene : Play
- Cause : Effect — Exercise : Fitness :: Study : Knowledge
- Word : Antonym — Hot : Cold :: Day : Night
- Number Analogy — 4:16 :: 5:25 (squares)
- Letter Analogy — AB:CD :: EF:GH (consecutive pairs)
Shortcut Tricks
Step 1: Identify the first pair's relationship precisely (not vaguely).
Step 2: Apply exactly the same relationship to the second pair.
Step 3: If multiple options look similar, check for specificity — the most precise answer wins.
Tip: In number analogies, first check: squares, cubes, multiplication, addition of digits, prime numbers.
Tip: Beware of "near-miss" options — examiners often include a related but wrong answer (e.g., Doctor:Hospital vs Doctor:Medicine).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Reversing the relationship direction (Puppy:Dog vs Dog:Puppy)
- Choosing a superficially related answer instead of the exact relationship
- Confusing antonym analogies with synonym analogies
Practice MCQs
Q1. Cat : Kitten :: Dog : ?
- A) Puppy
- B) Calf
- C) Foal
- D) Cub
Answer: A — The young one of a Cat is a Kitten; the young one of a Dog is a Puppy.
Q2. Eye : See :: Ear : ?
- A) Hear
- B) Smell
- C) Taste
- D) Touch
Answer: A — Eye is used to See; Ear is used to Hear.
Q3. Sun : Day :: Moon : ?
- A) Night
- B) Star
- C) Sky
- D) Cloud
Answer: A — Sun gives light during the Day; Moon gives light during the Night.
Q4. Pen : Ink :: Pencil : ?
- A) Graphite
- B) Chalk
- C) Paint
- D) Lead
Answer: D — A Pen uses Ink to write; a Pencil uses Lead (graphite) to write.
Q5. Teacher : School :: Doctor : ?
- A) Hospital
- B) Clinic
- C) Medicine
- D) Patient
Answer: A — A Teacher works in a School; a Doctor works in a Hospital.
Q6. Fish : Water :: Bird : ?
- A) Sky
- B) Air
- C) Tree
- D) Nest
Answer: B — A Fish lives in Water; a Bird lives in Air.
Q7. India : Delhi :: France : ?
- A) Paris
- B) London
- C) Berlin
- D) Rome
Answer: A — Delhi is the capital of India; Paris is the capital of France.
Q8. Shoe : Foot :: Hat : ?
- A) Head
- B) Hand
- C) Leg
- D) Neck
Answer: A — A Shoe is worn on the Foot; a Hat is worn on the Head.
Q9. Book : Read :: Food : ?
- A) Eat
- B) Cook
- C) Taste
- D) Smell
Answer: A — A Book is used to Read; Food is used to Eat.
Q10. 2 : 8 :: 3 : ?
Answer: A — 2³=8; 3³=27.
