How to Solve Verbal Analogy Problems

Which Strategy Should be followed to solve Verbal Analogy Problems ?

1. The first step in analysing original analogous pair of words (the head pair) is to describe the connection between the words of the pair. The best way to do this is to formulate a sentence  that express the connection between the words. Since the purpose of this sentence is to analyse or diagnose the nature of the connection between the words. Since the purpose of this sentence is to analyse or diagnose the nature of the connection between the words of the head pair, we may call it Diagnostic Sentence or DXS for short. 
2. After formulating the DXS, test each answer choice to find the pair of words that best fit the sentence.  

Consider the following example

ECSTASY : PLEASURE ::

1. hatred : affection
2. condemnation : approval
3. rage : anger
4. difficult : understanding
5. privacy : invasion

Now, the first step is to formulate a DXS. ECSTASY means "great or overwhelming PLEASURE," so the DXS might be "ECSTASY is extreme PLEASURE"

The second step is to test each of the answer choices with the DXS.

....................is extreme....................

1. Hatred is extreme affection
2. Condemnation is extreme approval
3. Rage  is extreme anger
4. Difficulty is extreme understanding
5. Privacy  is extreme invasion

Here, option 3 is the best answer. Because for only Option 3, the pair of words correctly fit the DXS.

Now lets have a look at another example.

ACCIDENTAL : INTENTION ::

1. Voluntary : Requirement
2. Anticipated : Performance
3. Interesting : Feeling
4. Practical : Knowledge
5. Insane : Connection

DXS : Somethign that is ACCIDENTAL is done without INTENTION. 

Now, test each of the answer choices with the diagnostic sentence. 

Something that is ............ is done without .........................

1. Something that is  voluntary is done without requirement
2. Something that is anticipated  is done without performance
3. Something that is  interesting is done without feeling
4. Something that is practical  is done without knowledge
5. Something that is  insane is done without connection

here option 1 is the answer, and it is the only logical substitution that makes scene in this DXS. 

More Solved Examples
Each question consist of two words which have a certain relationship to each other followed by four pairs of related words, Select the pair which has the same relationship.


1.  DIVA:OPERA
A. producer:theatre B. director:drama
C. conductor:bus D. thespian:play

Answer: Option D

2.  GRAIN:SALT
A. shard:pottery B. shred:wood
C. blades:grass D. chip:glass
Answer: Option D

3. THRUST:SPEAR
A. mangle:iron B. scabbard:sword
C. bow:arrow D. fence:epee
Answer: Option D

4.   PAIN:SEDATIVE
A. comfort:stimulant B. grief:consolation
C. trance:narcotic D. ache:extraction
Answer: Option B

5.   LIGHT:BLIND
A. speech:dumb B. language:deaf
C. tongue:sound D. voice:vibration
Answer: Option A

6.   WAN:COLOUR
A. corpulent:weight B. insipid:flavour
C. pallid:complexion D. enigmatic:puzzle
Answer: Option B

7.   PORK:PIG
A. rooster:chicken B. mutton:sheep
C. steer:beef D. lobster:crustacean
Answer: Option B

8.   AFTER:BEFORE
A. first:second B. present:past
C. contemporary:historic D. successor:predecessor
Answer: Option D

9.   INDIGENT:WEALTHY
A. angry:rich B. native:affluent
C. gauche:graceful D. scholarly:erudite
Answer: Option C

10.   DISTANCE:MILE
A. liquid:litre B. bushel:corn
C. weight:scale D. fame:television
Answer: Option A

11.   TEN:DECIMAL
A. seven:septet B. four:quartet
C. two:binary D. five:quince
Answer: Option C

12.   MUNDANE:SPIRITUAL
A. common:ghostly B. worldly:unworldly
C. routine:novel D. secular:clerical
Answer: Option B

13.   ARMY:LOGISTICS
A. business:strategy B. soldier:students
C. war:logic D. team:individual
Answer: Option A

14.   GRAVITY:PULL
A. iron:metal B. north pole:directions
C. magnetism:attraction D. dust:desert
Answer: Option C

15.   FILTER:WATER
A. curtail:activity B. expunge:book
C. edit:text D. censor:play
Answer: Option D

16.   HOPE:ASPIRES
A. love:elevates B. film:flam
C. fib:lie D. fake:ordinary
Answer: Option C

17.   CORPOREAL:SPIRITUAL
A. mesa:plateau B. moron:savant
C. foreigner:immigrant D. pedagogue:teacher
Answer: Option B

18.   SYMPHONY:COMPOSER
A. Leonardo:music B. Fresco:painter
C. colours:pallet D. art:appreciation
Answer: Option B