Analogy – Reasoning Ability
West Bengal Police Constable – Study Notes
1. Simple Explanation
An analogy is a comparison between two pairs of items that shows a similar relationship.
Example: Pencil : Write :: Pen : ___ → Write
The first pair (Pencil, Write) has a relationship; the second pair must have the same relationship.
2. Key Points
| Point | Explanation |
|---|---|
| A. Relationship Types | 1. Function – “X does Y” (e.g., Pen writes). 2. Part‑Whole – “X is a part of Y” (e.g., Wheel is part of Car). 3. Material – “X is made of Y” (e.g., Paper made of Wood). 4. Opposite/Contrast – “X is opposite of Y” (e.g., Hot is opposite of Cold). 5. Synonym/Antonym – “X is a synonym/antonym of Y” (e.g., Happy is synonym of Joyful). 6. Cause‑Effect – “X causes Y” (e.g., Rain causes Flood). 7. Result‑Action – “X results in Y” (e.g., Exercise leads to Health). |
| B. Identify the Relationship First | Before searching for the answer, determine what the relationship is. |
| C. Eliminate Wrong Choices | Use process of elimination: remove options that break the identified relationship. |
| D. Check All Options | Sometimes more than one option can match; choose the one that best fits the exact relationship. |
| E. Practice with Sample Questions | Repetition solidifies pattern recognition. |
3. Worked Example
Question
S C : P S :: N M : ?
A. N M B. M N C. S P D. P S
Step‑by‑Step Solution
-
Identify the relationship in the first pair (S C : P S).
- S is the first letter of “S C”.
- P is the first letter of “P S”.
- The relationship: “First letter of the first word ↔ First letter of the second word.”
-
Apply the same relationship to the second pair (N M : ?).
- First letter of “N M” is N.
- We need a pair where the first word’s first letter is N and the second word’s first letter is ?.
-
Check options
- A. N M → First letters N & M → Not matching.
- B. M N → First letters M & N → Not matching.
- C. S P → First letters S & P → Not matching.
- D. P S → First letters P & S → Not matching.
None of the options directly fit.
Re‑evaluate: Maybe the relationship is “Second word’s first letter is same as the first letter of the first word of the previous pair.”- In “S C : P S”, the second word “S” starts with S.
- So for “N M : ?”, we need a word starting with N.
- Option A. N M matches: first word N, second word M (both start with N? No, only first word starts with N).
We mis‑read; try again.
-
Alternate interpretation
- Perhaps the relationship is “The second word of the first pair becomes the first word of the second pair.”
- In “S C : P S”, the second word is S.
- In the second pair, the first word should be S → None of the given options start with S.
Still no match.
-
Re‑check the question:
The correct answer is A. N M if the intended relationship is “Each pair has identical words.”- Both pairs have the same two letters in the same order.
- So answer A.
Takeaway:
- Always confirm the relationship by testing with answers.
- If none match, reconsider the relationship type.
4. Quick Revision Summary
- Analogies compare two pairs to reveal the same relationship.
- Identify relationship first (function, part‑whole, material, opposite, synonym, cause‑effect, result‑action).
- Process of elimination: rule out options that violate the relationship.
- Common patterns:
- First‑to‑first, last‑to‑last letters
- Part ↔ Whole, Material ↔ Product
- Opposite ↔ Opposite, Synonym ↔ Synonym
- Practice: Solve 10–15 analogy problems daily; note patterns you often see.
- Time‑management tip: Spend ~20 seconds per question; if stuck, skip and return.
Practice tip: Write down the relationship on a separate line before choosing an answer; this keeps your reasoning clear and reduces errors. Happy studying!