Questions based on ‘Analogy’ are important for English Language/Verbal section in Bank PO Examination.

Simply defined, analogy refers to a
comparison made between two things based on similarity or matching features. The
aim is to establish a relation so as to explain something in a better way.

A question based on analogy has a pair of
words (or even numbers/letters/figures) that are alike in some way. This pair
is followed by a third word for which the candidate has to find the fourth
suitable term. For this, you have to understand the relationship between the
original pair and choose an option that best expresses this relationship.

Knowing the different types of
relationships will enable you to identify the connection between the original
pair.

1. Meaning: One of the two words of
the original pair depicts the meaning of the other word.

For example: Clairvoyant:
Future
i.e. clairvoyant is someone who is supposed to be able to predict the future.

2. Synonyms: Two words with the
same meaning are made analogous.

For example: Prescient:
Prophetic
i.e. the words prescient and prophetic are adjectives that mean showing
knowledge of events before they take place. Psychic, sibylline, oracular,
second-sighted, etc. are some other synonyms that can be used to depict this
meaning.

3. Antonyms: Two words with
opposite meanings are made analogous.

For example: Beautiful:
Ugly, Easy: Difficult

4. Type of: One word of the original
pair is a type/category/ classification of the other.

For example:  Strawberry: Fruit
i.e. strawberry is a type of fruit.

5. Intensity: One word is less
intense or severe as compared to the other.

For example: Cackle:
Giggle
While cackle is loud and harsh laughter, giggle is to laugh lightly

6. ‘Part’ of the ‘whole’: The
first word of the pair is part of the second word or vice-versa.

For example: Chapter:
Book, Toe: Foot, Petal: Flower

7. Cause and effect: In this, one thing
leads to another or represents the cause.

For example: Treatment: Cure,
Pollution: Asthma, Envy: Hatred

8. Lack of: One word of the pair
indicates a ‘lack of’ the other word.

For example: Unemployed:
Job, Wealth: Underprivileged

9. Use: One word in the pair is
used to explain the utility or function of the other.

For Example: Lungs:
Breathing, Electrician: Repair

10. Gender/young ones: One word is
for the male and the other represents female. This can apply to animals and
birds. Words can also depict animals’ young/offspring.

For example: Boar: Sow,
Cow: Calf

While boar is a male swine,
sow is female. Similarly, in the second example, calf is cow’s young one.

Other relationship types include
effort and result, objects that go together (salt and pepper), tools and their
function/action, object and place, etc.

Important points to remember

1.
Identify parts of speech: If
the original pair represents adjective: noun or verb: noun or noun: noun, then
your answer pair should also have the same relationship.

For example: Sphere: Round:: Prism: Conical (noun: adjective)

2.
Place the third given word with
all the alternatives before zeroing in on an answer. For example: Leader: Follower ::
? :  Soldier

a) Unit

b) Captain

c) Army

d) Cavalry

As a follower is guided by his leader, soldier is guided
by his captain. Army and cavalry, though are in some way related to soldier, do
not bring out the original pair’s relationship.

3.
Order of the words in the
answer pair should be the same as that of the original pair.

4.
Sometime not one but two words
may seem suitable to complete the analogous series. However, you should choose
the word that closely or exactly expresses the relationship.

For example: Leash: Pet :: Handcuffs:  ?
a) Dacoit

b) Robber

c) Criminal

d) Accused

Handcuffs are aptly used for a criminal i.e. who is
proven to have committed the crime.

5.
You can also use the technique of
eliminating unrelated and unclear options to get the right answer.

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