Analogy for the Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) Exam
Analogy is a reasoning topic of the SLPRB Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) examination in which a pair of words or numbers is given together with the relation between them, and the candidate must find a second pair that has the same relation. The questions need no general knowledge and no calculation, only the ability to name the relation in the first pair and then match it. An analogy test checks how well a candidate can see a likeness between two things, and it is one of the quickest topics once the common relations are known. This page explains the common relations, the worked examples, the method and the traps that cost marks. The material follows the standard reasoning reference books used for Assam recruitment examinations and is reviewed before it is published.
What the Topic Means
An analogy states that two things are alike in a certain way. In the examination a pair is given, such as "Doctor is to Hospital", and the candidate must choose the pair from among the choices that shows the same kind of relation, such as "Teacher is to School". The relation in the first pair must be read clearly, because the same two words can have more than one relation, and only the relation that is given in the question should be matched.
Common Relations in Word Analogy
- Worker and workplace: Doctor and Hospital, Teacher and School.
- Worker and tool: Carpenter and Saw, Farmer and Plough.
- Part and whole: Wheel and Car, Finger and Hand.
- Cause and effect: Rain and Flood, Fire and Smoke.
- Category and member: Fruit and Mango, Bird and Sparrow.
- Opposite: Hot and Cold, Day and Night.
- Synonym: Begin and Commence, Brave and Courageous.
- Young one and parent: Calf and Cow, Puppy and Dog.
- Product and raw material: Bread and Flour, Cloth and Cotton.
- Degree of intensity: Warm and Hot, Drizzle and Storm.
Number and Letter Analogy
In a number analogy the relation may be a square, a cube, a double, half, a prime or a consecutive number. In a letter analogy the relation is usually the position in the alphabet, a fixed shift or a reverse position. For example, if 4 is related to 16 as square is to its square, then 5 is related to 25. If B is related to D by a shift of two places, then F is related to H in the same way.
Worked Examples
Example one: Hand is to Glove as Foot is to what. A glove is worn on the hand, so the answer is a shoe, which is worn on the foot. Example two: Pen is to Write as Knife is to what. A pen is used to write, so a knife is used to cut. Example three: 8 is to 64 as 9 is to what. Here 8 squared is 64, so 9 squared is 81. Example four: AB is to DC as EF is to what. Each letter is shifted two places forward, so EF becomes GH.
How This Topic Appears in the Examination
The topic usually appears as two to four objective questions of one mark each. The common forms are word analogy, number analogy and letter analogy. All of them are answered by first naming the relation of the given pair in one short phrase and then checking which choice shows the same relation.
Shortcuts and Speed Methods
- Name the relation of the given pair in a short phrase before looking at the choices.
- Write the relation above the pair so that it is not forgotten.
- Test each choice against that one relation only.
- For number analogy, check square, cube, double, half and prime relations first.
- For letter analogy, write the alphabet positions below the letters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Finding a relation in a choice that is different from the relation in the given pair.
- Reading the pair in the wrong order, which reverses the relation.
- Confusing a synonym relation with an antonym relation.
- Choosing a pair that is true in itself but does not match the given relation.
- Ignoring the order of the two words in the pair.
Preparation Plan
- Learn the common word relations listed on this page.
- Practise naming the relation of a pair in one short phrase.
- Solve number and letter analogies separately.
- Read the pair in the given order and keep that order in the answer.
- Revise the common relations once a week.
More Practice Questions
- Bird is to Fly as Fish is to Swim.
- Author is to Book as Composer is to Symphony.
- Butterfly is to Caterpillar as Frog is to Tadpole.
- 5 is to 25 as 12 is to 144, since the relation is square.
- AZ is to BY as CX is to DW, since the first letter moves forward and the second backward.
Quick Revision Checklist
- Worker and workplace, worker and tool.
- Part and whole, cause and effect.
- Category and member, young one and parent.
- Opposite, synonym and degree of intensity.
- Number and letter analogies by shift, square and cube.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is analogy in reasoning?
Analogy is a reasoning topic in which a pair of words or numbers is given with a certain relation, and the candidate must find another pair having the same relation.
What is the first step in solving an analogy?
Name the relation of the given pair in one short phrase, and then test each choice against that same relation only.
Do I need general knowledge for analogy?
No. The answer is found from the relation between the two words of the given pair, not from outside knowledge, though familiarity with common words helps speed.
How are number analogies solved?
Find the arithmetic relation of the given pair, such as square, cube, double, half or prime, and apply the same relation to the new number.
Why is the order of the pair important?
Because the relation works in one direction. "Doctor is to Hospital" is not the same as "Hospital is to Doctor", so the answer must keep the same order.