Verbal Reasoning: Word Relationships
The Verbal Reasoning domain tests how words relate to one another. Questions may ask for a synonym, an antonym, the word that does not belong in a group, or the pair that completes an analogy.
Core rules
- For synonyms, choose the word closest in meaning, not just a word from the same topic.
- For antonyms, look for the opposite meaning.
- For 'odd one out,' name the category that most words share, then find the word that does not fit.
- For analogies, state the relationship in a sentence: 'A kitten is a young cat.'
- Check the order of the analogy. 'Kitten is to cat' is young-to-adult, so the answer must follow the same order.
Worked example
Analogy: Kitten is to cat as puppy is to ___. A. bone B. dog C. bark D. pet Reasoning: A kitten is a young cat. The matching relationship is young dog to adult dog. 'Dog' completes the pair. Bone and bark are related to dogs but do not name the adult animal. The answer is B.
Odd one out: apple, banana, carrot, grape. Reasoning: Apple, banana, and grape are fruits. Carrot is a vegetable, so carrot does not belong.
Traps
- Picking a word that is related but has the wrong relationship.
- Confusing a synonym with an antonym.
- Ignoring the direction of an analogy.
- Choosing the most unusual word instead of the one that breaks the category.
- Assuming two words are opposites just because they appear together.