Fundamentals of GRE Analogy – High Scoring Tips
“The key to analogy success is being able to express the relationship between the words in a pair.”
An Introduction:
The Analogies Segment of GRE is one very challenging. Unlike the antonyms segment this segment doesn’t allow the student do some intelligent guessing. The student has to perfectly establish the relationship between the word pair given as the question, and select an answer that confirms a similar relationship.
You will have around 7 analogy questions on the CAT. The more questions you answer correctly, the harder the questions become.
What’s an Analogy?
Many types of relationships are possible in GRE analogies. The stem words may be related as above.
Analogy is the study of similarity existing between a word pair. For example there exists a similarity between a human hand and a whale’s flipper, a pump and a heart. A study of such similarity is Analogy.
Once you establish the similarity or understand the relationship between the word pair, identifying an answer choice showing an identical relationship is not a tough task at all. The only impediment for the student is to establish and understand an authentic relationship of the word pair given as the question. As any other GRE segment, the Analogy segment too has nine questions and each question is followed by five answer options.
Let us deal with the GRE Analogy questions and learn the way to crack them effectively in the subsequent blog. Let us for now comprehend a few very important Analogy types.
Types of Analogies and their relationships
As I already suggested that there are a few established word pair relations that will help us navigate through and succeed in the Analogy segment effortlessly. The only challenge for you is to commit these Analogy types to your memory infallibly. Once you do this, the Analogy segment no longer remains a tough nut to crack.
Definition
An Analogy type like this focuses on the definition of a particular word. Mostly a word that you are aware of or you at least came across once in your sixteen years of academic sojourn. For example:
Metamorphosis: Transforms
By definition, Metamorphosis is a scientific process that transforms the shape of an organism. This is how we establish a relationship between a word pair.
Defining the Character
An Analogy type like this focuses on the personality trait of an animal/man. For example
Lamb: Herbivorous
The character of Lamb is that it is mild and herbivorous (plant-eating). So now your challenge lies in identifying the option, a word pair that establishes a similar relationship. An ideal answer choice could be Tiger: Carnivorous (flesh-eating).
Class and Member
This is an easier relationship to identify. For example:
Amphibia: Frog
A frog (member) belongs to the phylum Amphibia (class)
You have to select a word pair confirming similar relationship. It could be
Aves: Bird
Antonym Relationship
The easiest of all Analogy types is the Antonym relationship
The question pair appears like this:
Loquacious: Taciturn
Obviously the opposite of the word loquacious (talkative) is taciturn (reserved). You need to identify a similar antonymous pair from the given options. It could be
Extravagant: Parsimonious
Synonym Relationship:
Once again it is the simplest of Analogy types. In this Analogy type there exists a synonymous relationship between the words. It means the second word in the word pair is the meaning of the first word. An illustration will make the explanation simpler:
Loquacious: Talkative
Talkative is the meaning of the word loquacious. You just need to identify an option that also has a synonymous relationship of words. Something like:
Opulent: Wealthy
Degree of intensity
This Analogy type has a word pair showing relationship between a more intense and less intense word or vice versa
For example:
Plead: Request
‘Plead’ is a more intense form of ‘Request’.
Part to Whole:
This is an Analogy type that shows a relationship between a part of a thing and its relation with the whole.
Stanza: Poem
Stanza is just a part of the whole Poem.
Function
An Analogy type like this shows the relationship between a person and a process/place. For example:
Rehabilitation: Addict
Asylum: Refugee
(An addict undergoes rehabilitation; a refugee seeks shelter in an asylum)
Manner
An Analogy type such as this suggests on the manner of speech, gait or any other thing.
Stammer: Talk
Fumble: Walk
Action and its importance
This is an interesting Analogy type. The first word in the word pair shows the effect caused by the second word. For example
Grimace: Pain (Grimace is facial distortion caused due to extreme pain)
Worker and Article Created
This is an Analogy type that shows the relationship between the worker and his/her creation.
Example: Ode: Poet (An Ode is the creation of a Poet)
Worker and Tool
Sculptor: Chisel
A sculptor (worker) uses a chisel (tool)
Worker and Workplace
Actor: Theater
An actor (worker) performs in a theater (workplace)
Tool and its Action
Drill: Bore
A drill is a tool used to bore holes.
These are the major Analogy types that you encounter in GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Besides these, there are some miscellaneous word pair relations too. I quickly enumerate them underneath.
Cause and Effect
Eg: Rain (cause): Dampness (effect)
Gender
Eg: Horse (male): Mare (female)
Age
Eg: Calf (the little one): Cow (the adult form)
Symbol and its meaning
Eg: Mace (symbol): Authority (meaning)
Read this blog pertaining to Analogies more than once. One reading will not help! Jot down all the Analogy types and try to comprehend them, imbibe their essence thoroughly. Underneath each Analogy type, try framing at least five word pairs having a similar relationship. You are suggested to share your Analogy types with us and all the other students who follow this blog. We all will be benefited immensely.
We are awaiting meaningful responses from you.
Wishing you Success!!
Anu Veluri
Manager- learnwordlist.com
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hi can you solve a doubt plz..
excessive : moderation (can u tel me how is this related to the given answer)
answer is- impulsive: reflection
one more.
-scale : justice
how is it related to
- torch : liberty
Dear Anushree..if u look at the question the Analogy type is obvious ..it is Antonym Analogy Type..right?..so the opposite of the word impulsive (which means an action undertaken without any thought) will be reflection, which means careful thought, consideration or deliberation..ok?
ok ya rite..figured tht out..thanks a lot..but wat abt d next one?..
Hi Anushree..where’s the next qs..could u pls put it here?
hey dis website really wrks well…..pls introduce sm more wrds in flash cards and phobias……also giv more practise of analogy questions which are unusual.
Thanks Kanika,
We are going to publish more flash cards soon and analogies as well.
Cheers,
Amit
Dear anushree,
Just like scale is the symbol of justice, so torch is the symbol of liberty
Hi this Janaki, I am very much appreciating you to encourage the student for GRE examination, That is very interesting best whishes to you. I have to ask one request from you, I need easiest way for grammar in English after that I have a fear about spoken English, if I know i can not spokevery well, please tell me some suggestion, and than, you have to send me the grammar like tenses.
Response to the second question (just for reference)
I think it’s a symbol type. scale (a rule) symbolize justice
and analogy ‘torch’ signify ‘liberty’ (think what the Statue of Liberty in NY hold)
That’s a pretty good explanation for the Analogy Praseed..
information is akey for one country and it is adriving wheel/engine for development
I do say that i sincerely appreciate the Analogy of GRE so ;
I can say:
God: heaven.
Sin :guilt
Can you please answer this question –
Purlieu:metropolis
Options are :-
region:sector
leeway:bearing
substance:capital
medium:milieu
dock:ship
God:heaven. it is a relation of person (entity) and place
Sin: GUILT; Expresses intensity of an act.
HAVE a nice day.
You are simply wonderful in furnishing us with all the information to ensure good success in GRE
Thanks.
Jeremia
Dear Jeremiah, thanks…tell us when are you taking GRE??…pls read the other blogs too..there are many in the segment that will help you understand the subtleties of the examination…
Wishing you success!!
hello Baffour,
can u plz explain the ans to this question again?
Purlieu:metropolis
Options are :-
region:sector
leeway:bearing
substance:capital
medium:milieu
dock:ship
Preparing for GRE exam on 3rd Nov 09 n i hope to do well.The GRE website has been of great help to me .Thanks for your continued support.How many marks should i score to get a micro Phd?
Hi, Beverly thanks for your comment. Beverly a GRE score will not help you get a PhD, it will add to your academic score and help you gain a seat either in a Master’s or a Research Program. And what is Micro..Microbiology?? Did not understand wht a micro PhD is..
dear DT
Purliue means “out lying parts, out skirt that is opposit of the metropolis.
kaijaz.
Purlieu : Metropolis :: Leeway: bearing
Could you confirm it.
Kaijaz
Hi!! The answer to this question is B…i.e leeway:bearing
when you buy without moderation.. and similarly when you act without reflection… can also explain that relationship
hi. i m preparing for the upconing GRE next year. i m M.Sc mathe matics and found this site very useful and provided me a lot of help in my preprations . please give the tips to secure high marks in the test. and also send me the most asked questions of quantitative in the test.
thanks.
Hi Farooq pls read all the articles on our blog segment…that will equip you with all the strategies required for Verbal..we are shortly coming up Quantitative tests, so pls stay tuned..
Thank You very much for the guidance provided by this website
Anupama
Thanks too Anupama, look at the other segments of the website…have you gone through all our word lists and tests..?? there are many, pls do spend some time with the site surveying it..
oh! its really fantastic to remember words. Thank u.
Truly awesome site .I find the flash cards really helpful I plan to take my gre around march .. i found analogies pretty tough to crack any help in this regard will be much appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Vivek..u stopped by after a long long time…Vivek in fact there is an other blog on Analogies..let me send u a link..pls do follow it .
http://learnwordlist.com/blog/gre-analogy-segment-strategies-and-techniques/2009/10/gre-word-list-test-blog-barrons-vocabulary
this site really help me a lot .i’m able to solve 80% of analogy question of the mock test thanks a lot………..
Thanks Vijay..i wish u share these experiences on the forum..