Question 1

Apparition : translucent ::
A)tumbler : transparent
B)clothing : dingy
C)child : emaciated
D)idea : grandiose

Accepted Answer

An apparition is a ghostly-appearing phantom that is translucent, meaning that light can pass through it, but objects on the other side of it are not clearly visible. Translucent describes an innate quality of an apparition. Therefore, look for a pair that has a similar relationship. Clothing that is dingy has been soiled, so eliminate that choice. A child that is emaciated is thin and wasting away, so eliminate that choice. An idea that is grandiose is high-flying and extravagant. That does not have the same relationship as the pair in choice (A). A tumbler is a drinking glass. Because glass can be seen through, it has the quality of being transparent. Therefore, choice (A) is the most appropriate answer.

Question 2

Apostate : religion ::
A)renegade : militia
B)traitor : country
C)loyal : faith
D)colonist : revolutionary

Accepted Answer

Consider the relationship between the words in the first half of the analogy. An apostate is one who forsakes his religion, so look for the pair that has the same relationship. In choice (A), a renegade does not forsake his militia, so eliminate that. In choice (C), loyal and faith are not related in the same way, so eliminate that. In choice (D), a colonist and a revolutionary might be somewhat synonymous, but do not have the same relationship. Choice (B) is correct. A traitor forsakes his country.

Question 3

Abysmal : dreadful ::
A)superb : splendid
B)outstanding : terrible
C)obtuse : intelligent
D)imperceptive : sensitive

Accepted Answer

If something is abysmal, it is dreadful or extremely bad. Abysmal and dreadful are synonyms, so you are looking for a pair of words that are synonyms. In this case, superb and splendid are synonyms. All of the other pairs (outstanding/terrible, obtuse/intelligent, imperceptive/sensitive) are antonyms, so eliminate those.

Question 4

Nomad : colonist
A)monarch : ruler
B)itinerant : resident
C)equestrian : rider
D)partisan : bias

Accepted Answer

A nomad is a person who wanders, and a colonist settles and puts down roots. Therefore, these are opposite concepts. So, look for a pair of words that suggest opposites. A monarch is the ruler of a country, so eliminate choice (A). An equestrian is a person who rides a horse, so eliminate that choice. A person who is partisan shows bias, or favor, to one side or another in an argument or debate. There is not an opposite relationship in this pair. Itinerant means traveling or journeying, and resident means staying in one place, not migratory. Therefore, choice (B) is correct.

Question 5

Child : wastrel
A)trinket : luminous
B)hero : adulated
C)animal : stray
D)maiden : winsome

Accepted Answer

A wastrel is a child that has been abandoned, so look for a word in the answer choices that has a similar meaning. A trinket that is luminous is bright or sparkling, so eliminate that choice. Adulated means worshiped or revered, so eliminate choice B. A maiden that is winsome is charming or attractive. The only pair that has a similar meaning is C; an animal that is stray has been abandoned or lost.

Question 6

Zenith : summit ::
A)apex : nadir
B)yen : yang
C)arboreal : tree
D)vale : gorge

Accepted Answer

Zenith and summit are both words that refer to the highest point of something, like a mountaintop. Therefore, look for the pair of words that are synonyms. Apex also means the highest point, but nadir means the lowest point, so eliminate that choice. Yen and yang is a Chinese term that refers to dualities (such as light and dark) that co-exist. Since these are antonyms, eliminate choice C. Vale and gorge both refer to low points, such as a valley, so choice D is the most appropriate choice.

Question 7

Carnivore : lion ::
A)herbivore : tiger
B)piscivore : penguin
C)granivore : reptile
D)omnivore : beetle

Accepted Answer

A lion is a carnivore, which means it is a meat-eater. Therefore, the relationship between the two words is categorical - lions are a type of carnivore. Eliminate choice (A), because tigers are not herbivores, or plant-eaters. Eliminate choice (C), because granivores are grain-eating animals, and reptiles do not eat grains. Eliminate choice (D), because an omnivore eats everything - plants and meat. Choice (B) is correct, because penguins are piscivores, or fish-eating.

Question 8

President : governor ::
A)pardon : clemency
B)Democrat : Republican
C)municipal : national

Accepted Answer

A president may offer a pardon to someone who has been convicted of a crime, and a governor may grant clemency to the same. Choice (B) is incorrect, because it does not have the same relationship as president-governor. Choice (C) is incorrect as well. A president has influence on national policy, and a governor might have influence on municipal policy, but the order is incorrect, when matching it with the first half of the analogy.

Question 9

Ameliorate : improve ::
A)insolent : courteous
B)impermeable : porous
C)gaffe : blunder
D)verbose : taciturn

Accepted Answer

Ameliorate means to make something better, or to improve. Therefore, the first half of the analogy is synonymous. So, look for the pair in the answer choices that are synonyms. Choice (A) is incorrect, because insolent means rude or impertinent, not courteous. Choice (B) is incorrect because impermeable means impassable, and something that is porous is permeable by water, air, etc. Choice (D) is incorrect because someone who is verbose is talkative, and someone who is taciturn is quiet and introverted. All of the choices except choice (C) are antonyms. Choice (C) is correct because a gaffe and a blunder are synonyms meaning 'mistake'.

Question 10

Millennium : millennia ::
A)alumna : alumnae
B)son-in-law : son-in-laws
C)antenna : antennas
D)dice : die

Accepted Answer

Millennia is the plural form of millennium, so look for a pair in which the second term is the plural form of the first. Choice B is incorrect, because the plural form should be sons-in-law. Choice C is incorrect, because the plural form should be antennae. Choice D is incorrect because the plural form - dice - is the first word in the pair. Alumnae is the plural form of alumna, so (A) is the best choice.

Question 11

Appease : placate ::
A)belabor : disregard
B)obfuscate : clarify
C)vacillate : decide
D)obviate : preclude

Accepted Answer

To appease means to calm, soothe, or pacify, as does placate. So, look for the answer choice that contains a pair of synonyms. Choice (A) is incorrect, because belabor means to insist repeatedly, and disregard means to overlook or ignore. Choice (B) is incorrect, because to obfuscate means to make things confusing or complicated, and to clarify means to make something clear. Choice (C) is incorrect, because to vacillate means to be indecisive or to waver, and that is the opposite of decide. The only answer choice that contains synonyms is choice (D). Obviate and preclude both mean to anticipate and prevent difficulties, so choice (D) is correct.

Question 12

Acerbic : bitter ::
A)anachronistic : archaic
B)affluent : indigent
C)impromptu : rehearsed
D)incendiary : conciliatory

Accepted Answer

Acerbic means bitter, harsh, or severe, so the first half of the analogy is synonymous. So, look for the answer choice that contains synonyms. Choice (B) is incorrect, because affluent means wealthy or prosperous, and indigent means poor or penniless. Choice (C) is incorrect, because impromptu means unplanned or improvised, not rehearsed. Choice (D) is incorrect, because incendiary means inflammatory, and conciliatory means to pacify or reconcile. All of the answer choices except (A) are antonyms. Choice (A) is correct because anachronistic and archaic are synonyms for outdated or obsolete.

Question 13

Crescendo : diminuendo ::
A)adagio : lento
B)largo : grave
C)piano : forte
D)bass : contralto

Accepted Answer

Crescendo means to gradually become louder, and diminuendo means to gradually become softer, so those words are antonyms. So, look for the answer choice pair that are opposites. Adagio and lento both mean a slow tempo, as do largo and grave, so answer choices (A) and (B) are incorrect. In choice (D), bass means the lowest male voice, and contralto means the lowest female voice. They do not have the same relationship as the first half of the analogy, so eliminate that choice.

Question 14

Caricature : portrait ::
A)mosaic : mixture
B)photograph : candid
C)lithograph : crayon
D)sonata : composition

Accepted Answer

A caricature is a type of portrait, so look for the answer choice that has the same relationship. A mosaic is made up of a mixture of pieces, but a mosaic is not a type of mixture. A photograph may be candid in nature, but this is not a close match to the first half of the analogy, and the order is incorrect. Choice (C) is incorrect. A lithograph is a kind of picture in which plates are pressed onto a crayon drawing, but it is not a type of portrait, necessarily. In choice (D), a sonata is a type of musical composition, usually for one instrument, such as a piano or violin. The words in choice (D) have a relationship that is most similar to the first half of the analogy.

Question 15

Auspicious : unfavorable ::
A)egregious : flagrant
B)fastidious : meticulous
C)maudlin : unemotional
D)exorbitant : excessive

Accepted Answer

Auspicious means encouraging or promising, the opposite of unfavorable. So, look for the answer choice that is made up of antonyms. Egregious and flagrant are synonyms that mean extraordinary in a negative way. Fastidious and meticulous both mean being very careful with details, to the point of being fussy or finicky. Exorbitant means excessive and inflated. The only choice that does not contain synonyms is choice (C). Maudlin means overemotional, sentimental, and sappy, not unemotional.

Question 16

Iconoclast : institutions ::
A)pariah : companionship
B)syncophant : adoration
C)valedictorian : attainment
D)anarchist : government

Accepted Answer

An iconoclast hates traditional institutions or conventions, so look for a choice where the first term shows dislike for the second term. Choice (A) is incorrect because a pariah is an outcast, and therefore would not hate companionship. Choice (B) is incorrect because a syncophant is a person who flatters others, particularly influential people. A syncophant, therefore, would not hate adoration. A valedictorian is a person who has achieved the highest grades in his or her class, and therefore would not hate attainment. An anarchist is a person who hates established rule or government, so choice (D) is the correct answer.

Question 17

Bellicose : confront
A)veracious : lie
B)mendacious : deceive
C)vivacious : languid
D)capricious : consistent

Accepted Answer

This analogy involves characteristics. Someone who is bellicose likes to confront, argue, or fight, so look for the answer choice that has the same type of descriptive relationship. Choice (A) is incorrect, because veracious has to do with the truth, not lying. Choice (C) is incorrect because someone who is vivacious is outgoing and full of life, and languid means unenergetic and lethargic. Choice (D) is incorrect because someone who is capricious tends to be impulsive and unpredictable, not consistent. Choice (B) is correct, since someone who is mendacious likes to deceive others.

Question 18

Anguish : emotion ::
A)frenetic : fascination
B)categorical : witticism
C)prickly : sensation
D)ubiquitous : parent

Accepted Answer

Anguish is a type of emotion, so look for an answer in which the first term is a type of the second term. Frenetic means frenzied or chaotic. That is not a type of fascination, so eliminate choice (A). Categorical means definite or clear-cut, and witticism refers to a funny remark. That pair does not have a clear relation, so eliminate choice (B). Ubiquitous refers to something that is always there, or ever-present. Although it may seem that parents are ever-present, this pair does not have the same relationship as anguish and emotion. Prickly is a type of sensation, so choice (C) is correct.

Question 19

Benign : compassionate ::
A)intangible : palpable
B)compliant : amenable
C)fickle : consistent
D)timorous : courageous

Accepted Answer

People who are benign and compassionate have a kind, gentle disposition, so those words are synonyms. Look for the answer pair that are synonyms. Intangible means unable to be touched, and palpable means capable of being touched, so eliminate choice (A). A fickle person is one who is unpredictable or erratic, not consistent. Timorous means nervous or apprehensive, not courageous. A person who is compliant and amenable are agreeable and accommodating, so choice (B) is correct.

Question 20

Thespian : script ::
A)cartographer : volume
B)painter : palette
C)architect : lyre
D)sentinel : protractor

Accepted Answer

A thespian is an actor, typically in the theater, so he/she would use a script in order to produce their art. A cartographer is one who draws maps, so that is not related to a volume. Therefore, eliminate choice (A). An architect who designs buildings would not likely use a lyre, which is a stringed instrument, similar to a harp. A sentinel is a guard, and would not use a protractor, which is an instrument used to measure angles. A painter uses a palette to hold paints while he produces his work of art.

Quiz 1: Analogies

Apparition : translucent ::

Apostate : religion ::

Abysmal : dreadful ::

Nomad : colonist

Child : wastrel

Zenith : summit ::

Carnivore : lion ::

President : governor ::

Ameliorate : improve ::

Millennium : millennia ::

Appease : placate ::

Acerbic : bitter ::

Crescendo : diminuendo ::

Caricature : portrait ::

Auspicious : unfavorable ::

Iconoclast : institutions ::

Bellicose : confront

Anguish : emotion ::

Benign : compassionate ::

Thespian : script ::