Tricks & Solved Examples for Analogies | Logical Reasoning for UGC NET PDF Download

Understanding Analogies

An analogy refers to the comparison of two things based on their similarities. In the context of competitive exams, analogy questions test a candidate’s ability to discern relationships between pairs of words, numbers, or alphabets and apply the same relationship to find the correct answer. Here’s a detailed look at different types of analogies and how to solve them.

Word Analogy

In word analogy, pairs of words are given that are related to each other in a specific manner. The candidate’s task is to identify the relationship and select the word or pair of words from the options that have the same relationship.

Tricks

1. Identify the relationship: Look for a clear and straightforward relationship between the two words in the pair.
2. Apply the relationship: Once the relationship is identified, apply the same to find the matching pair among the options.
3. Eliminate options: Remove options that do not fit the relationship.
4. Contextual understanding: Consider synonyms, antonyms, part-whole relationships, cause-effect, etc.

Examples

1. Melt : Liquid :: Freeze : ?

   • (A) Ice
   • (B) Crystal
   • (C) Water
   • (D) Cubes
   • Answer: (A) Ice
   • Solution: Melting converts a solid to a liquid. Similarly, freezing converts a liquid to a solid (ice).

2. Success : Joy :: Failure : ?

   • (A) Anger
   • (B) Sorrow
   • (C) Happiness
   • (D) Defeat
   • Answer: (B) Sorrow
   • Solution: Success brings joy, just as failure brings sorrow.

3. Horse : Mare :: Fox : ?

   • (A) Vixen
   • (B) Doe
   • (C) Monkey
   • (D) Hen
   • Answer: (A) Vixen
   • Solution: A mare is a female horse, and a vixen is a female fox.

4. Eyes : Tongue : Ear :: ?

   • (A) Finger
   • (B) Thumb
   • (C) Knee
   • (D) Nose
   • Answer: (D) Nose
   • Solution: Eyes, tongue, and ear are all sense organs, as is the nose.

5. Pen : Pencil : Rubber :: ?

   • (A) Page
   • (B) Cell
   • (C) Pillow
   • (D) T.V.
   • Answer: (A) Page
   • Solution: Pen, pencil, and rubber are all stationery items, as is a page.

6. Dog : Puppy :: Cat : ?

   • (A) Kitten
   • (B) Calf
   • (C) Cub
   • (D) Foal
   • Answer: (A) Kitten
   • Solution: A puppy is a young dog, and a kitten is a young cat. The relationship is based on the young offspring of animals.

7. Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?

   • (A) School
   • (B) Office
   • (C) Market
   • (D) Library
   • Answer: (A) School
   • Solution: A doctor works in a hospital, and a teacher works in a school. The relationship is based on the professional workplace.

8. Day : Night :: Good : ?

   • (A) Best
   • (B) Bad
   • (C) Fine
   • (D) Better
   • Answer: (B) Bad
   • Solution: Day is the opposite of night, and good is the opposite of bad. The relationship is based on opposites.

9. Book : Read :: Food : ?

   • (A) Eat
   • (B) Cook
   • (C) Taste
   • (D) Serve
   • Answer: (A) Eat
   • Solution: A book is something you read, and food is something you eat. The relationship is based on the action performed with the object.

10. Knife : Cut :: Pen : ?

    • (A) Write
    • (B) Draw
    • (C) Print
    • (D) Sketch
    • Answer: (A) Write
    • Solution: A knife is used to cut, and a pen is used to write. The relationship is based on the function of the object. 

Alphabet Analogy

In alphabet analogy, two groups of letters are provided, and the candidate needs to identify the relationship between them. The same relationship should be applied to find the correct letter group from the options.

Tricks

1. Position in the alphabet: Identify the alphabetical positions of the letters.
2. Pattern recognition: Look for patterns such as consecutive letters, reverse positions, or specific shifts (e.g., +1, -2).
3. Opposite letters: Consider the opposite letters in the alphabet (A-Z, B-Y, etc.).
4. Consistent rules: Apply the same rule consistently to the options.

Examples

1. LS : OH :: ? : PC

   • (A) PK
   • (B) HP
   • (C) KX
   • (D) XY
   • Answer: (C) KX
   • Solution: L and S are opposites in alphabetical order, as are O and H. Following the same pattern, P and C are opposites of K and X.

2. BCD : EFG :: LMN : ?

   • (A) PQO
   • (B) OPQ
   • (C) QPO
   • (D) POQ
   • Answer: (B) OPQ
   • Solution: The sequence BCD moves three letters forward to EFG, and similarly, LMN moves three letters forward to OPQ.

3. ABC : DEF :: GHI : ?

   • (A) JKL
   • (B) MNO
   • (C) PQR
   • (D) STU
   • Answer: (A) JKL

4. PQR : STU :: WXY : ?

   • (A) ABC
   • (B) DEF
   • (C) YZA
   • (D) XYZ
   • Answer: (D) XYZ

5. JUMP : KVNQ :: STEP : ?

   • (A) TUFQ
   • (B) TQFS
   • (C) TWOP
   • (D) TRMQ
   • Answer: (A) TUFQ
   • Solution: Each letter in JUMP is moved one place forward in the alphabet to form KVNQ. Similarly, STEP becomes TUFQ.

6. BDF : CEG :: FHL : ?

   • (A) GIM
   • (B) HJN
   • (C) GHK
   • (D) IJN
   • Answer: (A) GIM

7. ACE : BDF :: GIK : ?

   • (A) HJL
   • (B) JKL
   • (C) HJM
   • (D) IJL
   • Answer: (A) HJL

8. KLM : NOP :: QRS : ?

   • (A) TUV
   • (B) UVW
   • (C) TWS
   • (D) TUW
   • Answer: (A) TUV

9. XZ : YW :: UT : ?

   • (A) RS
   • (B) VQ
   • (C) WV
   • (D) SQ
   • Answer: (A) RS

10. ACEG : BDFH :: IKMO : ?

    • (A) JLNP
    • (B) KMOQ
    • (C) JMNP
    • (D) JLOQ
    • Answer: (A) JLNP

Number-Based Analogy

In this type, the relationship between numbers is based on arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. The candidate needs to identify the same relationship in another set of numbers.

Tricks

1. Identify the operation: Look for arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
2. Apply the operation: Apply the same arithmetic relationship to find the missing number.
3. Check consistency: Ensure the same operation works consistently for all pairs.
4. Eliminate options: Remove options that do not fit the identified relationship.

Examples

1. 4 : 8 :: 16 : ?

   • (A) 28
   • (B) 18
   • (C) 20
   • (D) 32
   • Answer: (D) 32
   • Solution: 4 multiplied by 2 gives 8. Similarly, 16 multiplied by 2 gives 32.

2. 8 : 56 :: 9 : ?

   • (A) 10
   • (B) 63
   • (C) 7
   • (D) 9
   • Answer: (B) 63
   • Solution: 8 multiplied by 7 gives 56. Similarly, 9 multiplied by 7 gives 63.

3. 5 : 25 :: 6 : ?

   • (A) 36
   • (B) 30
   • (C) 31
   • (D) 35
   • Answer: (A) 36

4. 3 : 9 :: 7 : ?

   • (A) 42
   • (B) 49
   • (C) 48
   • (D) 50
   • Answer: (B) 49

5. 12 : 24 :: 20 : ?

   • (A) 40
   • (B) 30
   • (C) 50
   • (D) 60
   • Answer: (A) 40

6. 15 : 30 :: 25 : ?

   • (A) 50
   • (B) 60
   • (C) 55
   • (D) 70
   • Answer: (A) 50

7. 7 : 49 :: 9 : ?

   • (A) 72
   • (B) 81
   • (C) 90
   • (D) 99
   • Answer: (B) 81

8. 2 : 8 :: 3 : ?

   • (A) 9
   • (B) 12
   • (C) 15
   • (D) 18
   • Answer: (B) 12

9. 6 : 36 :: 4 : ?

   • (A) 20
   • (B) 16
   • (C) 24
   • (D) 18
   • Answer: (B) 16

10. 10 : 100 :: 8 : ?

    • (A) 64
    • (B) 72
    • (C) 80
    • (D) 96
    • Answer: (A) 64

Alpha-Numeric Analogy

In alpha-numeric analogy, the relationship involves both letters and numbers. The connection can be based on the position of the letters in the alphabet or the sum/product of these positions.

Tricks

1. Position in the alphabet: Identify the alphabetical positions of the letters.
2. Mathematical operations: Look for arithmetic operations involving the positions.
3. Consistent rules: Ensure the same rule is applied consistently across the pairs.
4. Sum/product relationships: Consider the sum or product of the positions.

Examples

1. NEWS : 14, 5, 23, 19 :: PAPER : ?

   • (A) 16, 5, 16, 1, 18
   • (B) 18, 5, 16, 1, 16
   • (C) 16, 1, 16, 5, 18
   • (D) 32, 2, 32, 10, 36
   • Answer: (C) 16, 1, 16, 5, 18
   • Solution: Each letter in NEWS is replaced by its alphabetical position (N=14, E=5, W=23, S=19). Similarly, PAPER is (P=16, A=1, P=16, E=5, R=18).

2. FILM : 10 :: HOTEL : ?

   • (A) 12
   • (B) 16
   • (C) 18
   • (D) 30
   • Answer: (A) 12
   • Solution: The sum of the alphabetical positions of FILM is 10. Similarly, the sum for HOTEL is 12.

3. CAT : 3, 1, 20 :: DOG : ?

   • (A) 4, 15, 7
   • (B) 5, 14, 6
   • (C) 3, 14, 20
   • (D) 4, 14, 7
   • Answer: (A) 4, 15, 7

4. BALL : 2, 1, 12, 12 :: GAME : ?

   • (A) 7, 1, 13, 5
   • (B) 8, 1, 14, 5
   • (C) 7, 2, 13, 4
   • (D) 6, 1, 13, 6
   • Answer: (A) 7, 1, 13, 5

5. TREE : 20, 18, 5, 5 :: FLOWER : ?

   • (A) 6, 12, 15, 23, 5, 18
   • (B) 7, 11, 16, 24, 6, 19
   • (C) 8, 10, 17, 25, 7, 20
   • (D) 9, 13, 18, 26, 8, 21
   • Answer: (A) 6, 12, 15, 23, 5, 18

6. WORD : 23, 15, 18, 4 :: SENTENCE : ?

   • (A) 19, 5, 14, 20, 5, 14, 3, 5
   • (B) 18, 6, 15, 19, 6, 15, 4, 6
   • (C) 17, 7, 13, 18, 7, 13, 5, 7
   • (D) 16, 8, 12, 17, 8, 12, 6, 8
   • Answer: (A) 19, 5, 14, 20, 5, 14, 3, 5

7. TABLE : 20, 1, 2, 12, 5 :: CHAIR : ?

   • (A) 3, 8, 1, 9, 18
   • (B) 4, 9, 2, 10, 19
   • (C) 5, 10, 3, 11, 20
   • (D) 6, 11, 4, 12, 21
   • Answer: (A) 3, 8, 1, 9, 18

8. RIVER : 18, 9, 22, 5, 18 :: MOUNTAIN : ?

   • (A) 13, 15, 21, 14, 20, 1, 9, 14
   • (B) 12, 14, 20, 13, 19, 2, 10, 15
   • (C) 11, 13, 19, 12, 18, 3, 11, 16
   • (D) 10, 12, 18, 11, 17, 4, 12, 17
   • Answer: (A) 13, 15, 21, 14, 20, 1, 9, 14

9. EARTH : 5, 1, 18, 20, 8 :: PLANET : ?

   • (A) 16, 12, 1, 14, 5, 20
   • (B) 15, 13, 2, 15, 6, 21
   • (C) 14, 14, 3, 16, 7, 22
   • (D) 13, 15, 4, 17, 8, 23
   • Answer: (A) 16, 12, 1, 14, 5, 20

10. SUN : 19, 21, 14 :: MOON : ?

    • (A) 13, 15, 15, 14
    • (B) 14, 16, 16, 15
    • (C) 15, 17, 17, 16
    • (D) 16, 18, 18, 17
    • Answer: (A) 13, 15, 15, 14