Two Odd Ones Out: Practice Set 2
Two Odd Ones Out: Practice Set 2 is a second practice round for the same question type as Two Odd Ones Out, where five words are given, three share a hidden link, and pupils must name the two words that do NOT share it. This set uses fresh categories, including hidden smaller words, spelling patterns and vocabulary links not used in the first set, so the pattern must be found again from scratch each time.
Method
- Read all five words first and check for an obvious shared category before looking for anything trickier.
- If no obvious category links three words, check for a hidden smaller word inside each word, such as a hidden number, colour or weather word.
- If that fails, check spelling patterns: silent letters, double letters, words that make a new real word when a letter is added or removed, or anagrams of each other.
- Once a pattern links exactly three of the five words, the remaining two words are your answer, whatever, if anything, links those two.
- Double check your group of three really does share the pattern in all three words, not just two of them.
- If two different patterns each seem to link three words, choose the one that genuinely works for exactly three, since a proper question only has one correct grouping.
Worked example
Here are five words: KNIFE, SPOON, WRIST, TABLE, GNOME. Three of these five words share something in common. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?
- Scan for an obvious category first: these are not all cutlery, furniture or body parts, so the link must be something else.
- Look at how each word starts: KNIFE begins with a silent K, WRIST begins with a silent W, and GNOME begins with a silent G.
- Check the remaining two words: SPOON and TABLE both start with a letter that is pronounced normally, so they do not share the silent-letter pattern.
- Confirm all three grouped words really do start with a silent letter that is written but not spoken.
- Final answer: SPOON and TABLE do not belong with the other three.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Here are five words: TENANT, MARKET, NINETY, GARDEN, ONENESS. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?Show answer
Answer: MARKET and GARDEN (TENANT, NINETY and ONENESS each begin with a hidden number: TEN, NINE and ONE)
Q2Here are five words: BEACH, PENCIL, THROWN, MARKET, CEREAL. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?Show answer
Answer: PENCIL and MARKET (BEACH, THROWN and CEREAL are each a homophone of another word: BEECH, THRONE and SERIAL)
Q3Here are five words: BALLOON, CAMERA, COFFEE, PENCIL, RABBIT. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?Show answer
Answer: CAMERA and PENCIL (BALLOON, COFFEE and RABBIT each contain a double letter)
Q4Here are five words: SPARE, MARKET, STARE, GARDEN, PASTE. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?Show answer
Answer: MARKET and GARDEN (removing the last letter from SPARE, STARE and PASTE gives the real words SPAR, STAR and PAST; MARKET and GARDEN do not leave a real word)
Q5Here are five words: STOP, HOUSE, POTS, GARDEN, TOPS. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?Show answer
Answer: HOUSE and GARDEN (STOP, POTS and TOPS are all anagrams of each other, using the letters O, P, S and T)
Q6Here are five words: CARAVAN, PENCIL, TRAILER, MARKET, SCOOTER. Which TWO words do NOT belong with the other three?Show answer
Answer: PENCIL and MARKET (CARAVAN, TRAILER and SCOOTER are all vehicles)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Here are five words: FOOTBALL, HISTORY, TENNIS, SCIENCE, CRICKET. Three of these five words share something in common. Name the two words that do NOT belong, and explain the link that connects the other three. (2 marks)
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Here are five words: TRAIN, MARKET, GRAIN, GARDEN, SPRAIN. Three of these five words end with the same hidden four-letter word. Name the two words that do NOT belong, and state the hidden word. (3 marks)
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Here are five words: BRIGHT, FLIGHT, KITTEN, SLIGHT, MITTEN. A pupil notices that BRIGHT, FLIGHT and SLIGHT all rhyme, but also notices that KITTEN and MITTEN rhyme with each other. (a) Which grouping is the correct link for this question? (b) Name the two words that do NOT belong. (c) Explain why a genuine question only has one correct grouping, using this example. (5 marks)
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the two odd ones out: practice set 2 worksheet pack - 12 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 8 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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