Reasoning Ability – Analogy
For the Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu Police Constable Exam
An analogy shows how two pairs of words or ideas are related in the same way.
Think of it as a matching game between two pairs.
1. Why Analogy Matters
| What you learn | Why it helps you |
|---|---|
| Spot patterns quickly | You solve questions faster |
| Think in relationships | Good for many other reasoning tests |
| Practice mental agility | Builds confidence for the exam |
2. The Simple Analogy Format
Word‑1 : Word‑2 :: Word‑3 : ?
- The colon (
:) shows the relationship between the first two words. - The double colon (
::) separates the first pair from the second pair. - Your job: find the word that has the same relationship with Word‑3.
Example
Cat : Kitten :: Dog : ?
- Cat → Kitten (adult → young).
- Dog → Puppy.
Answer: Puppy
3. Common Relationship Types (Everyday Examples)
| Relationship | Everyday Example | Analogy Example |
|---|---|---|
| Part‑Whole | Car : Wheel | House : Door |
| Opposite | Hot : Cold | Light : Dark |
| Cause‑Effect | Rain : Flood | Fire : Smoke |
| Similarity | Lion : King of the Jungle | Eagle : King of the Sky |
| Function | Pen : Write | Brush : Paint |
| Size | Elephant : Small | Dog : Small |
| Time | Morning : Dawn | Night : Dusk |
Tip: Think of everyday relationships first; they’re easiest to spot.
4. How to Solve an Analogy Quickly
- Read the first pair – identify the relationship.
- Write it down (in your head or a quick note).
- Look at the second word – find the word that fits the same relationship.
- Cross‑check – make sure the relationship still works with the second pair.
Quick Rule of Thumb
- If the first pair is big : small, the answer will be big : small again.
- If the first pair is whole : part, the answer will be whole : part again.
5. Mini‑Practice Set
| # | Analogy | Answer | How I got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Book : Read :: Chair : ? | Sit | Read is what you do with a book. Sit is what you do with a chair. |
| 2 | Sun : Day :: Moon : ? | Night | Sun lights the day; Moon lights the night. |
| 3 | Teacher : Teach :: Driver : ? | Drive | Both are verbs that describe the job. |
| 4 | River : Water :: Desert : ? | Sand | River carries water; desert is made of sand. |
| 5 | Pen : Ink :: Brush : ? | Paint | Both are tools that use a substance to create art. |
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Pick a word that sounds similar | Focus on the relationship, not the sound. |
| Choose a random word | Check the relationship again with the first pair. |
| Skip the second pair | The answer must relate to the second word, not just the first pair. |
7. Quick Practice Routine
- Daily Drill – 5 analogies per day.
- Time Yourself – 1 minute per question.
- Review Mistakes – Write down why the wrong answer was wrong.
- Mix Topics – Use words from everyday life, nature, jobs, and objects.
8. Final Summary
- Analogy = matching relationship between two pairs.
- Steps: Identify relationship → apply to second pair → verify.
- Practice with everyday examples; the brain loves familiar patterns.
- Avoid jargon – keep it simple, short, and relatable.
With consistent practice, you’ll spot patterns faster and answer analogy questions confidently on exam day. Good luck!