Difficult GRE analogies

English as a Second Language Preparation forum for the GRE® Test
1

Hi I would really appreciate if someone could tell me the answers and the bridges to the following analogies which i’m finding difficult. In some questions, i’ve been able to eliminate some choices while in others i havent. Please help…

1> curiosity:know::
starvation:eat
wanderlust:travel

i think its wanderlust:travel because curiosity is desire to know and wanderlust is desire to travel. starvation occurs due to not eating - starvation does not mean desire to eat

2> stygian:dark::
abysmal:low
cogent:contentious
fortuitous:accidental
reckless:threatening
cataclysmic:doomed

i guess it should be fortuitous:accidental coz they r near synonyms, just as stygian and dark r near synonyms

3> voting:roll call::
termination:cloture
amendment:constitution
majority:concession
quorum:filibuster
investigation:legislation

4> prohibitive:purchase::
preventive:heal
laudatory:praise
admonitory:fear
premptory:dispute
imperative:comply

5> volatile:temper::
prominent:notoriety
ready:wit
catastrophic:disaster
gentle:heart
expressive:song

6> credulous:dupe::
wealthy:monarch
insensitive:boor

boorish means rude. So is a boor a rude person or an insensitive person? If its a rude person, then wealthy:monarch might be the answer, otherwise insensitive:boor would be the answer

7> curtain:stage::
lid:jar
upholstery:sofa
veil:face

i think it should be lid:jar. A curtain is drawn on a stage, when the stage is not in active use. a lid is put on a jar, when the jar is not in active use (i.e. u r not taking out something)

8> talon:eagle::
hoof:horse
claw:panther

9> nuance:distinction::
trace:existance
hint:suggestion

i think its hint:suggestion because a very fine, subtle suggestion is a hint just as a fine, subtle distinction is a nuance. It shouldnt be trace:existance because u cant say a fine or subtle existance is a trace. Rather, existance in a very limited quantity is a trace.

10> worship:sacrifice::
generation:pyre
burial:mortuary
weapon:centurion
massacre:invasion
prediction:augury

11> pluck:quit::
verve:flinch
gall:skimp
pride:grovel
charm:smile
poise:waver

12> inevitable:chance::
absolute:variability
relaxed:diligence

13> dart:missile::
skiff:boat
page:volume
finger:thumb
car:truck

it could be car:truck. A missile is more massive than a dart, but is functionally similar to a dart. Silimarly, a truck is is more massive than a car, but is functionally similar to a car.

2

hello!
I am new to this forum and I will give my opinion regarding ur querry. I may not be right but atleast in some way we can dicuss out these tricky ones.

Here I have tried to answer ur queries, plz do tell me the right answers for these, if u already know them. As its just like a practise for me. Thanx.
and alll the best for ur exam.
God bless u.

3

Thanks for replying. No I gave these analogies as part of a test and dont have the answers yet, but i’ll be getting them by next week…

2> abysmal means bottomless or very deep - but does it mean low?
fortuitous definitely means accidental…

8> why not claw:panther?

Can u think of a bridge for 3, 4, 5 and 10?

options for 6 and 12:

6> credulous:dupe::
wealthy:monarch
insensitive:boor
argumentative:lawer
spontaneous:extrovert
extravagant:miser

12> inevitable:chance::
absolute:variability
relaxed:diligence
candid:openness
certain:regularity
sincere:hesitancy

4

sorry!
yesterday for few question I answerd just casually. today checking the word meaning of each I can tell u the realtion b/w the two
3 voting:roll call::
termination:cloture
amendment:constitution
majority:concession
quorum:filibuster
investigation:legislation

  • during voting u have a roll call, i.e ur name will be anounced and u have to vote. It’s answer seems to be quorum:filibuster. Meaning of quorum is group of representative getherd together for discussing something. Here in quorum they will have filibuster(an exceptionally long speech made by members of a quorum). so quram will have fillibuster. I am damn sure about this answer.

4> prohibitive:purchase::
preventive:heal
laudatory:praise
admonitory:fear
premptory:dispute
imperative:comply

  • for this one i was wrong. one which is phrohibitive should not be/ cannot be purchased. same way one which is preemptory( leaving no choice) cannot be disputed.

5.volatile:temper::
prominent:notoriety
ready:wit
catastrophic:disaster
gentle:heart
expressive:song

Here I chose ready :wit. reason? volatile : temper. TThis one defines a type of temperament. like one having a volatile temper can be angered easily. so ready wit again define a type of wit.

*worship:sacrifice::
generation:pyre
burial:mortuary
weapon:centurion
massacre:invasion
prediction:augury
In this worship:sacrifice are realated in terms of degree of intensity. one normally worship but somebody may go beyond this and will perform other rituals and sacrifices. In prediction u can just predict on the basis of experience. but augury is one step further that is telling the future etc.

*credulous:dupe::
wealthy:monarch
insensitive:boor
argumentative:lawer
spontaneous:extrovert
extravagant:miser
Here right one is the last one, creduluos will likely be duped, similarly one who is extravagant will likely become miser. This is the only option I find it right here

*CLAW : PANTHER
Sorry this one is quite unconvincing, so I wont be able to say about this.

12> inevitable:chance::
absolute:variability
relaxed:diligence
candid:openness
certain:regularity
sincere:hesitancy
It seems to be antonym, Inevitable( can not be avoided) and chance( by matter of luck). So right answer might be relaxed:diligence.

2> stygian:dark::
abysmal:low
cogent:contentious
fortuitous:accidental
reckless:threatening
cataclysmic:doomed

for this one u may be right.
That’s all.
Once u get the right answers do write them here. fine!