“Retina” is to “eye” as “letter” is to “__________”.
Answer(s): B
The retina is the lining of cells at the back of the eye that are sensitive to light. Even if you did not know the exact function of the retina, you likely knew it was part of the eye; therefore, you could form the bridge sentence, “Just as the retina is part of the eye, so is a letter part of a X.” Among the options, you might be very tempted by “mail,” as to say, “A letter is part of the delivered mail”; however, do not be so tempted, for the better example is a letter (e.g. X, Y, Z) being part of a word. It is a necessary part of the word and is thus closer to the case that holds for the retina of the eye. The other wrong options are related to “letter” taken in the sense of something written and mailed.
“Pup” is to “litter” as “chick” is to “__________”.
Answer(s): D
Among the many meanings that the word “litter” can have, one is a group of animals all born together. This meaning clearly is implied, given that the first word in the analogy is “pup,” as in young dog. The bridge sentence for the analogy could be written, “As a pup is a member of a litter, so is a chick a member of X.” The only name for a group of animals is “brood,” meaning a group of young animals, particularly birds born together. The option “poultry” is a mere descriptive term for fowl that have been domesticated. It is not the name of the group itself, and doesn't include the aspect of meaning related to a group of young animals born together.
“Family” is to “clan” as “state” is to “__________”.
Answer(s): A
A clan is a group of related families gathered into a single group. Thus, the analogy could be reformulated, “As families are the parts making up a clan, so are states the parts making up X.” While the word “state” can merely mean sovereign nation or jurisdiction, in a number of countries the word indicates subsidiary levels of governance, as in the United States and the German Republic. Among the options provided, only “combined” should be the tempting wrong answer, but it is insufficient in that it does not name a larger “thing” into which states are combined. The only option that works in that capacity – for all of its limitations – is “country.”
Complete this analogy.“Sector” is to “circle” as “segment” is to “__________”.
A sector is a portion of a circle – think of a “pie piece” or something of the like. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as a sector is part of a circle, so is a segment part of X.” In general, a segment is any potential divided part of an object – in segmented worms, segments of cars, etc. Among the options provided, only “line” provides a suitable “whole,” to which the “part” that is a segment can be compared. All of the other options are broadly related but insufficient.
Complete this analogy.“Icing” is to “cake” as “froth” is to “__________”.
Answer(s): C
Sometimes an analogy can be so simple that you will overanalyze it. Do not do so with this question. Icing is merely meant here as the top layer on the cake – nothing further. Thus, the bridge sentence for this analogy could be written, “Just as icing is the top layer on a cake, so froth is the top layer of X.” Froth is the top layer of liquid caused by it being disturbed or sometimes by something like the fermentation of yeast in the liquid.
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