Verbal Reasoning: Analogies Set 5
Verbal Reasoning: Analogies Set 5 is the most advanced practice round on word and letter-pair analogies in this collection, mixing part-to-whole, function, degree and cause-and-effect relationships with letter pairs that combine an alphabet shift with a reversed letter order, so a pupil must correctly separate two rules working at once rather than assuming only one rule is in play.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Look at the first pair on its own and decide exactly what type of relationship links the two words, ignoring the options completely until you have a clear one-sentence rule.
- Say the rule as a specific sentence naming both words, then check that the same sentence, with only the words changed, still makes sense once applied to the third word and the correct option.
- For a letter-pair analogy, first check whether both letters simply move by the same alphabet shift; if the letters do not line up neatly, check whether the pair has also been reversed in order, since both changes can happen together.
- Work out each of the two possible letter rules, the shift and the reversal, separately, then confirm which combination, or which single rule, correctly explains the change from the first pair to the second.
- Apply the confirmed rule, or combination of rules, to the third pair one letter at a time, writing your working down rather than trying to do it from memory.
- Check your final answer against every option, ruling out any option that fits only part of the rule, such as the correct shift applied to the wrong letter.
Worked example
BD is to FD as CE is to ( ? )
- Compare BD with FD: B(2) to F(6) is a shift of 4, but D(4) to D(4) is a shift of 0, which are not equal, so a simple constant shift alone does not explain the change.
- Try shifting each letter of BD forward by the same small amount first: B+2=D and D+2=F, giving the pair (D, F).
- Compare (D, F) with the actual second pair, FD: the letters match exactly but their order has been swapped round.
- Confirm the full rule: shift each letter forward 2 places, then swap the two letters' order.
- Apply the same two-step rule to CE: shift first, C+2=E and E+2=G, giving (E, G), then swap the order to get (G, E). Final answer: GE.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1SPARK is to FIRE as CRACK is to ( ? ) A) Break B) Glass C) Sound D) Noise E) DamageShow answer
Answer: A) Break - a spark is a small early sign that can lead to fire, and a crack is a small early sign that can lead to a complete break.
Q2WARM is to SCORCHING as COOL is to ( ? ) A) Chilly B) Freezing C) Mild D) Damp E) SnowyShow answer
Answer: B) Freezing - warm to scorching is a jump from mild heat to extreme heat, so cool must jump to extreme cold, freezing; chilly is close to the same mild level as cool, not an extreme.
Q3STANZA is to POEM as MOVEMENT is to ( ? ) A) Song B) Symphony C) Orchestra D) Note E) RhythmShow answer
Answer: B) Symphony - a stanza is a structural section of a poem, and a movement is a structural section of a symphony.
Q4FILTER is to IMPURITIES as SIEVE is to ( ? ) A) Flour B) Lumps C) Kitchen D) Cook E) BowlShow answer
Answer: B) Lumps - a filter's job is to remove impurities, and a sieve's job is to remove lumps.
Q5GJ is to KN as HL is to ( ? ) A) LP B) LO C) KP D) MP E) LNShow answer
Answer: A) LP - both letters of the pair move forward 4 places in the alphabet.
Q6CF is to IF as DG is to ( ? ) A) JG B) GJ C) HJ D) JH E) IGShow answer
Answer: A) JG - each letter shifts forward 3 places, then the two letters swap order (C+3=F, F+3=I, giving IF; D+3=G, G+3=J, giving JG once swapped).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
SCULPTOR is to STATUE as ARCHITECT is to ( ? ) A) Building B) Blueprint C) Bricks D) City E) Design. State the relationship type, then give your answer.
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DF is to GE as EG is to ( ? ). Show your working.
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EXHAUSTED is to TIRED as TERRIFIED is to ( ? ) A) Scared B) Brave C) Calm D) Excited E) Worried. Explain the relationship, then give your answer.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: analogies set 5 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 22 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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