Answers Gre Analogies Mini-test

Question 1—Analysis (Return to Question 1)

The correct response to Question 1 is (A). An abrasion is a scraped area which can be caused by persistent rubbing. In other words, excessive stroking can result in an abrasion. Similarly, persistent heating can result in boiling. Also, in both relationships, something is removed as a result (skin and liquid, respectively). So on two levels, (A) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (B) Is rubble the result of persistent demolition? No. It makes no sense to speak of demolition as persistent. Also, nothing is removed as a result of demolition. So (B) is a weak analogy. (C) Is flattery the result of persistent complimenting? No. Flattery is an undue or excessive compliment, but not necessarily a persistent one. (D) Is a remnant the result of persistent cutting? Not necessarily. Remnants are remains or leftovers. Cutting need not result in a remnant. (E) Is a nut the result of excessive shelling? No. When you shell a nut, you expose the nut (the meat at the center). But the nut itself is not the result of shelling. Question 2—Analysis (Return to Question 2)

The correct response to Question 2 is (B). An effective, or ideal, judge is impartial (not biased toward or against either side). Similarly, an ideal acrobat is limber (flexible). So (B) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) An ideal animal is not necessarily a tame one, depending on the animal and one's subjective notions about what makes for an ideal animal. (C) An ideal dignitary (notable person or "star") is not necessarily proud. (D) An ideal prisoner is not necessarily repentant, depending on one's viewpoint about the purpose of imprisonment in the first place. (E) An ideal politician may or may not be liberal, depending on one's own point of view. Question 3—Analysis (Return to Question 3)

The correct response to Question 3 is (C). A bureau is a chest of drawers—a collection of multiple drawers in a single unit. Similarly, a magazine is a collection of articles in unified whole. So (C) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Is a river a collection of multiple tributaries in a unified whole. Yes. But multiple tributaries blend together to form one river, whereas drawers remain separate and distinguishable, even when assembled as a bureau. (B) Is a tree a collection of multiple trunks in a unified whole? No. A tree has only one trunk.

(D) Is a husk a collection of multiple kernels in a unified whole? No. A husk is only the outer shell, another component of the ear of corn, which is the single unit. (E) Is a dictionary a collection of multiple languages in a unified whole? No. A dictionary contains many words, which together constitute a language. Question 4—Analysis (Return to Question 4)

The correct response to Question 4 is (A). One of many common uses for water is to bathe (wash). Similarly, one of many common uses for a knife is to spread. For example, you can use a butter knife to spread butter. So (A) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (B) Is one of many common uses of an airplane to fly? No. It is the only common use. In other words, flying is part of the definition of airplane. (C) Is one of many common uses of a plug to obstruct? No. It is the only common use. In other words, obstruct is part of the definition of plug. (D) Is one of many common uses of a finger to point? Yes. So we need to refine the relationship between the original pair. Water is a tool used for bathing, the purpose of which is to physically disperse something else (dirt, for example). Similarly, a knife can be used to physically disperse, or spread, something else (such as butter). But does pointing a finger physically disperse something else? No. So (A) is a better analogy than (D). (E) Is one of many common uses of a coat to cover? No. It is the only common use. In other words, cover is part of the definition of coat. Question 5—Analysis (Return to Question 5)

The correct response to Question 5 is (E). To ratify is to approve or make legitimate or legal. Something illicit is by definition illegitimate or illegal. Thus, ratifying something makes it the opposite of illicit. Similarly, to appease is to pacify or make content, which is the opposite of belligerent (hostile or antagonistic). So (E) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Does preserving something make it the opposite of obsolete? Not necessarily. Preserving keeps a thing in its present condition, but the thing might be obsolete (outdated) nonetheless. (B) Does obscuring something make it understandable (the opposite of confusing)? No. To obscure is to conceal or cloud. So obscuring something would actually tend to confuse (just the opposite of what you're looking for in the best answer choice). (C) Does criticizing something make it unpopular (the opposite of popular)? Not necessarily. Although in some instances it might, the definition of criticize has nothing to do with popularity.

(D) Does highlighting something make it significant (the opposite of insignificant)? Not necessarily. Just as likely, a thing is highlighted because it is already significant. Question 6—Analysis (Return to Question 6)

The correct response to Question 6 is (A). A protagonist is one type of character in a story. A brush is one type of applicator. (A brush can be used to apply paint, for example.) So (C) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Is a lawmaker a type of government? No. (C) Is a costume a type of gala? No. Gala (used as a noun here) means festivity. A costume ball would be a type of gala, but a costume itself is not. (D) Is a conductor a type of orchestra? No. (E) Is a novice a type of competitor? No. A novice is someone new to an endeavor. A competitor might be a novice, but a novice is not usually considered one of several types of competitors. So (E) is a weaker analogy than (A). Question 7—Analysis (Return to Question 7)

The correct response to Question 7 is (E).Cultivating is a process—something you "do to" a garden in order to make it respond in the way you want. Similarly, steering is a process—something you "do to" an automobile in order to make it respond in the direction you want. So (E) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Do you play a game in order to make it respond the way you want? Possibly. But the word play is too general. You can play a game without trying to make the game respond in a certain way. So (A) is not as close an analogy as (E). (B) Do you worship a church in order to make it respond in the way you want? No. (C) Do you explore a cave in order to make it respond in the way you want? No. Caves do not respond to exploration, do they? (D) Do you relax a vacation in order to make it respond in the way you want? No. Question 8—Analysis (Return to Question 8)

The correct response to Question 8 is (D).Indigence means poverty. Employing an indigent person (providing a paying job) can serve to correct or reverse poverty. To season food is to make more flavorful by adding spices and herbs; seasoning corrects or reverses blandness (flavorlessness). So (D) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Does exposing reverse dormancy? No. Dormancy means inactivity, but it not necessarily require concealment or hiding. Exposing something that is dormant does not necessarily cause the dormant thing to become active.

(B) Does arriving reverse presence? No. Departing, not arriving, reverses presence. (C) Does submerging reverse or correct buoyancy? No. Buoyancy is the ability to float. Submerging something buoyant only serves to hide the thing's buoyancy; but it would not necessarily correct the quality of buoyancy. (E) Does knowing correct or reverse ignorance? Yes. But knowing is not an act done to someone else in order to correct ignorance. Instead, knowledge is simply the opposite of ignorance. So (E) is not as close an analogy as (D). Question 9—Analysis (Return to Question 9)

The correct response to Question 9 is (D).Sieve is used as a noun here (because all other words appearing first are nouns). A sieve is an instrument with a perforated bottom designed to separate coarse from fine material. Thus, the function of a sieve is to divide. A panacea is a cure for many ills or ailments (a cure-all). Thus, the function of a panacea is to cure—or remedy—an ailment. (D) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Is the function of a staple to collate? No. To collate is to arrange in proper order; but a staple serves to bind together after papers, for example, have already been collated. (B) Is the function of a funeral to mourn? No. It is the people at the funeral, not the funeral itself, who mourn. (C) Is the function of a siphon to squeeze? No. A siphon is a tube used for transferring liquid by mean of suction, not by squeezing. (E) Is the function of a monarch to serve? No. The inherent function of a monarch is to rule his or her subjects. It is the subjects who serve the monarch. Question 10—Analysis (Return to Question 10)

The correct response to Question 10 is (B).Mediation is the peaceful settlement of a dispute with the aid of a third-party intermediary. To meddle is to interfere in the affairs of others. So meddling is a negative slant on mediation. Similarly, to hoard is to stash away or stock-pile resources (to the possible detriment of others)—a somewhat negative slant on accumulating. So (B) is a good analogy. Let's examine the other answer choices: (A) Is thinking a negative form of reasoning? No. Although reasoning might aptly be defined as a high form of thinking, the latter word does not have a negative connotation. (C) Is abandoning a negative form of neglecting? No. To abandon is to neglect to an extreme, and both words are negative. (D) Is cheating a negative form of surpassing? No. To surpass is to exceed or transcend. So the two words are unrelated.

(E) Is burdening a negative form of discouraging? No. The two words bear no clear relationship to each other.