Complete the Third Pair
Complete the Third Pair is an 11+ verbal reasoning question type that gives two complete word pairs linked by the same hidden rule, followed by a third pair with its second word missing, for example (HOT, COLD) (UP, DOWN) (FAST, ?). Pupils work out the rule connecting the first two pairs, a meaning link or a spelling link such as reversed letters, then apply it to complete the third pair.
Method
- Look at the first two pairs together and decide whether the link is about meaning, such as opposites or a job and its tool, or about spelling, such as reversed letters or a letter removed.
- Say the rule out loud in your own words, checking it works for both given pairs before moving on.
- Apply the exact same rule to the first word of the third pair to predict the missing word.
- Compare your prediction with the five options and pick the closest match.
- Reject options that apply the rule in the wrong direction, or that use the right idea loosely rather than precisely.
- Double check by re-reading all three pairs with your chosen answer in place, to confirm the rule holds for all three.
Worked example
(RIVER, WIDE) (MOUNTAIN, TALL) (OCEAN, ?) A) Deep B) Blue C) Salty D) Wet E) Wave.
- A river is typically described by how wide it is, and a mountain is typically described by how tall it is, so the rule links each place to the everyday word most used to measure it.
- Applying the same rule, an ocean is most often described by how deep it is.
- Blue, Salty and Wet are all true facts about oceans, but they are not the standard measuring word the way wide and tall are, so they do not match the rule as precisely.
- Wave is a feature of an ocean, not a describing word for it, so it does not fit either.
- Final answer: A) Deep.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Work out the rule linking each pair of pairs, then choose the option that completes the third pair. a) (TEACHER, CLASSROOM) (SURGEON, OPERATING THEATRE) (JUDGE, ?) - A) Courtroom B) Jury C) Law D) Prison E) Gavel. b) (OWL, HOOT) (LION, ROAR) (SNAKE, ?) - A) Hiss B) Slither C) Fang D) Scale E) Bite. c) (BRAKE, RAKE) (CLOVER, LOVER) (STRAP, ?) - A) Trap B) Rap C) Tap D) Trip E) Strip.
Work out the rule linking each pair of pairs, then choose the option that completes the third pair. d) (TALL, TALLER) (FAST, FASTER) (WISE, ?) - A) Wiser B) Wisest C) Wisely D) Wise E) Wisdom. e) (LION, PRIDE) (CROW, MURDER) (FISH, ?) - A) Herd B) Shoal C) Flock D) Pack E) Swarm. f) (SLICE, LOAF) (DROP, OCEAN) (STEP, ?) - A) Staircase B) Ladder C) Stride D) Journey E) Climb. g) (RISE, FALL) (BUY, SELL) (BORROW, ?) - A) Lend B) Owe C) Take D) Give E) Return.
Work out the rule linking each pair of pairs, then choose the option that completes the third pair. h) (STAR, RATS) (STOP, POTS) (SAW, ?) - A) Was B) Wave C) Wasp D) Way E) Wars. i) (STETHOSCOPE, DOCTOR) (TELESCOPE, ASTRONOMER) (MICROSCOPE, ?) - A) Scientist B) Farmer C) Teacher D) Engineer E) Astronomer.
Free printable worksheet
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