Verbal & Number Analogy
Verbal & Number Analogy is a frequently tested area in CUET General Test. Work through these free NTA-style sample questions with full answers and explanations, then attempt all 40 in a timed practice test to build exam-day speed.
Snapshot
- Analogy asks you to complete "A is to B as C is to ?" The skill is to name the exact relationship between the first pair, then apply the same relationship to the second.
- Analogies come in three flavours: verbal (word relationships), number (arithmetic relationships) and letter (position relationships).
- This guide gives you the common relationship types, the "make a sentence" method, and the number/letter patterns — with worked examples.
- Exam reality: +5 / −1. Pin the relationship precisely; a vague link picks the wrong option.
Part 1 — Verbal analogies: name the link
Make a short sentence linking the first pair, then test it on the options. Common relationship types:
- Synonym / Antonym (happy : glad, hot : cold)
- Part : Whole (petal : flower, wheel : car)
- Worker : Tool (carpenter : saw, surgeon : scalpel)
- Cause : Effect (rain : flood)
- Object : Function (pen : write)
- Category : Member (fruit : mango)
- Degree / Intensity (warm : hot, like : love)
Part 2 — Number & letter analogies
Number analogy: find the arithmetic link — square (2 : 4), cube (2 : 8), ×, +, or "n : n²+1". Letter analogy: convert to positions and look for a shift or mirror — "AB : CD" is +2 to each; "AZ : BY" is the mirror rule (positions add to 27).
Part 3 — The method
- State the relationship as a precise sentence ("a saw is the tool a carpenter uses").
- Apply the same sentence to the options — the correct one fits identically.
- Match the direction — "carpenter : saw" is worker : tool, so the answer must also be worker : tool, not tool : worker.
Part 4 — Speed techniques
- Be specific — "both animals" is too loose; "predator : prey" is precise.
- Keep the order/direction of the relationship.
- For numbers, test square/cube/×/+ quickly.
- For letters, convert to positions and check the shift or mirror.
- **Eliminate options that fit a different relationship**, however tempting.
Part 5 — Worked examples
1. Hand : Glove :: Foot : ? Glove covers the hand → Sock.
2. 2 : 8 :: 3 : ? Cube (2³=8) → 3³ = 27.
3. Carpenter : Wood :: Blacksmith : ? Material worked → Iron.
4. AB : CD :: PQ : ? Each pair is consecutive letters shifted +2 as a block → RS.
5. Doctor : Patient :: Lawyer : ? Professional : person served → Client.
6. 7 : 50 :: 9 : ? n² + 1 (49+1) → 81 + 1 = 82.
7. Hunger : Food :: Thirst : ? Need : thing that satisfies it → Water.
8. AZ : BY :: CX : ? Mirror pairs (positions add to 27) shifting inward → DW.
Part 6 — Common traps
- Too-broad a link — narrow it until only one option fits.
- Reversing the direction of the relationship.
- Mixing number rules — confirm square vs cube vs +.
- Forcing a verbal link onto a number/letter pair.
Part 7 — How to use this page
Practise naming the relationship in a sentence, re-solve the eight examples, then attempt the practice set and the timed test.
One-line revision: state the relationship as a precise sentence, keep its direction, and for numbers/letters test square/cube/shift/mirror before guessing.
Practice questions
Now test yourself. 8 free sample questions with explanations. 32 more in the timed practice test.
Q1. Oasis is to Desert as Island is to ?
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
An oasis is a patch of contrasting land surrounded by desert; an island is land surrounded by ocean. Beach and sand are features and bridge is a connector, so the surrounded-by match is ocean.
Q2. Lion is to Den as Bee is to ?
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A den is the dwelling place of a lion; a hive is the dwelling place of bees. Honey is the product, flower is the food source and sting is a feature, so the dwelling match is hive.
Q3. Bird is to Wing as Fish is to ?
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
A wing is the organ of locomotion for a bird; the corresponding organ of locomotion for a fish is its fin. A gill is for breathing and a scale is body covering, so the locomotion match is fin.
Q4. In the analogy $3:27::5:?$, find the missing number.
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
The rule is cube the number: $3^3=27$ and $5^3=125$. Hence the missing number is 125.
Q5. Spider is to Web as Silkworm is to ?
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A spider spins a web around itself; a silkworm spins a cocoon around itself. Silk and thread are the material, and leaf is its food, so the self-built structure match is cocoon.
Q6. Ignorance is to Knowledge as Poverty is to ?
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
Ignorance is the absence of knowledge; poverty is the absence of wealth (antonym pairing). Money is a narrower term, beggar is a person and hunger is a consequence, so the antonym match is wealth.
Q7. Carpenter is to Chisel as Sculptor is to ?
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A carpenter uses a chisel as a working tool; likewise a sculptor uses a mallet as a working tool. Clay and statue are material/product, and studio is a place, so the tool relationship gives mallet.
Q8. In the analogy $12:144::15:?$, find the missing number.
▸ Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
The rule is square the number: $12^2=144$ and $15^2=225$. Hence the missing number is 225.
🔒 32 more questions
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