Verbal Reasoning: Analogies and Word Relationships Set 2
Verbal Reasoning: Analogies and Word Relationships Set 2 is a deeper practice round on the classic 11+ analogy format, A is to B as C is to blank, where every analogy hides one of a small number of relationship types: a synonym pair, an antonym pair, a part-to-whole link, a function link, a category link, or a degree link between a milder and a stronger word. This set uses less familiar vocabulary and options built to look right on the general topic while missing the precise relationship, making naming the exact relationship before checking the options the decisive skill.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the first pair and decide which of six families it belongs to: a synonym pair, an antonym pair, a part-to-whole link, a function link (what the first word does for, or protects against, the second), a category link (a specific example and its general class), or a degree link (a stronger or weaker word on the same scale).
- Turn the relationship into one short, precise sentence, for example 'X is a small example of the general group Y' or 'X is used to protect against Y', rather than leaving it as a vague feeling that the words are connected.
- Check the direction of the sentence against the order the words are given in, since the same two words in the opposite order usually need the sentence rewritten the other way round.
- Apply the finished sentence to the third word before looking at the options, so you already know roughly what the missing word should mean.
- Test every option against the sentence itself, not just against the third word in isolation, and reject any option that is merely on the same general topic without matching the precise relationship.
- Where two options both seem plausible, check whether one of them matches the exact strength or precision of the first pair, the right level of a category or the right degree on a scale, while the other is too broad, too narrow, or one degree too far; the second is the trap.
- For short-answer questions with no options given, still write your one-sentence rule down before answering, since being able to state the rule is what proves the answer rather than a lucky guess.
Worked example
UMBRELLA is to RAIN as SUNGLASSES is to ?
- Identify the relationship for the first pair: an umbrella is used to protect you from rain, so this is a function link, an object paired with the specific condition it shields you from.
- Put the relationship into one precise sentence: 'an umbrella protects you from getting wet in the rain.'
- Apply the same sentence shape to the second pair: sunglasses protect your eyes from strong glare.
- Name the missing word at the same level of precision as 'rain': rain is one specific weather condition, so the answer must be a specific condition too, not a body part such as eyes or a whole season such as summer.
- Check that 'glare' fits this precisely: glare is the specific condition sunglasses are worn to guard against, matching how rain is the specific condition an umbrella guards against.
- Final answer: glare.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1PRISTINE is to SPOTLESS as DROWSY is to ? A) Awake B) Sleepy C) Excited D) Anxious E) HungryShow answer
Answer: B) Sleepy - this is a synonym link, pristine and spotless share a meaning, so the missing word must share a meaning with drowsy too; sleepy does, while awake is close to the opposite
Q2VICTORY is to DEFEAT as PRAISE is to ? A) Reward B) Criticism C) Applause D) Compliment E) SilenceShow answer
Answer: B) Criticism - this is an antonym link, victory and defeat are opposites, so the missing word must be opposite to praise; applause and compliment are synonyms of praise, not opposites, and silence is simply an absence of comment rather than a true opposite
Q3KEY is to PIANO as STRING is to ? A) Guitar B) Music C) Note D) Sound E) ChordShow answer
Answer: A) Guitar - this is a part-to-whole link, a key is one of many identical units a piano is built from, and a string is one of many identical units a guitar is built from; music, note, sound and chord are things a guitar produces, not the instrument itself
Q4LIFEJACKET is to DROWNING as HELMET is to ? A) Cycling B) Head C) Injury D) Safety E) RoadShow answer
Answer: C) Injury - this is a function link, a lifejacket is worn to protect against the specific harm of drowning, and a helmet is worn to protect against the specific harm of injury; head names where it is worn, not what it protects against, and safety is the positive opposite of a harm, not a harm itself
Q5DAISY is to FLOWER as OTTER is to ? A) Fish B) River C) Mammal D) Pet E) FurShow answer
Answer: C) Mammal - this is a category link, a daisy is a specific example of the general group flower, and an otter is a specific example of the general group mammal; river names where an otter lives, not the category it belongs to, and otters are not fish
Q6GOOD is to EXCELLENT as BAD is to ? A) Poor B) Terrible C) Wrong D) Sad E) UnfairShow answer
Answer: B) Terrible - this is a degree link, excellent is a much stronger version of good, so the missing word must be a much stronger version of bad; terrible fits, while poor is roughly the same strength as bad rather than a stronger word
Q7DIMINISH is to DECREASE as AUGMENT is to ? A) Increase B) Reduce C) Maintain D) Replace E) RemoveShow answer
Answer: A) Increase - this is a synonym link using harder vocabulary, diminish means to decrease, and augment means to increase; reduce is close in meaning to diminish, the opposite of what augment means, so it is a trap
Q8SECOND is to MINUTE as MINUTE is to ? A) Hour B) Day C) Week D) Clock E) SecondShow answer
Answer: A) Hour - this is a part-to-whole link based on a time hierarchy, 60 seconds make one minute, and in the same direct way, 60 minutes make one hour; day skips a level in the hierarchy, so it is not as precise a match
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Work out the relationship in each pair, then choose the option that completes the second pair the same way. a) STAPLER is to PAPER as WHISK is to ? - A) Bowl B) Kitchen C) Eggs D) Cook E) Metal. b) PEBBLE is to BOULDER as STREAM is to ? - A) Puddle B) Ocean C) River D) Lake E) Wave.
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Work out the relationship in each pair, then choose the option that completes the second pair the same way. a) PECULIAR is to STRANGE as CONCEALED is to ? - A) Visible B) Hidden C) Obvious D) Revealed E) Bright. b) TRANSIENT is to PERMANENT as ARTIFICIAL is to ? - A) Plastic B) Handmade C) Natural D) Chemical E) Synthetic.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: analogies and word relationships set 2 worksheet pack - 15 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 16 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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