SPECIFIC : GENERAL
Some analogies compare the GENERAL version of something to a SPECIFIC example of that thing. Here's an example of a GENERAL to SPECIFIC analogy:
I N S E C T : M O S Q U I T O : : C I T Y : N E W Y O R K
You would read this analogy "insect is to mosquito as city is to New York". In your mind, you should be thinking "There are lots of insects. A mosquito is a specific type of insect. There are also lots of cities. New York is a specific example of a city." There are also SPECIFIC to GENERAL analogies:
G R E E N : C O L O R : : F O R K : U T E N S I L
This analogy should be read "green is to color as fork is to utensil". In you mind, you should be thinking, "Green is a specific example of a color, just like a fork is a specific example of a utensil."
When you're ready, take a shot at the analogies below. The answers are at the bottom of the page. Solve all the analogies first, then check your answers.
I N S E C T : M O S Q U I T O : : C I T Y : N E W Y O R K
You would read this analogy "insect is to mosquito as city is to New York". In your mind, you should be thinking "There are lots of insects. A mosquito is a specific type of insect. There are also lots of cities. New York is a specific example of a city." There are also SPECIFIC to GENERAL analogies:
G R E E N : C O L O R : : F O R K : U T E N S I L
This analogy should be read "green is to color as fork is to utensil". In you mind, you should be thinking, "Green is a specific example of a color, just like a fork is a specific example of a utensil."
When you're ready, take a shot at the analogies below. The answers are at the bottom of the page. Solve all the analogies first, then check your answers.
1. pie : dessert : : maple : ______
a. tree b. eat c. sweet d. cut 2. duck : mallard : : flower : _____ a. smell b. bright c. sing d. poppy 3. fairy tale : Cinderella : : fruit : _____ a. story b. apple c. vegetable d. red 4. canine : wolf : : feline : _____ a. dog b. purr c. tiger d. whiskers |
5. state : Nevada : : evergreen : _____
a. pine b. needles c. Christmas d. cougar 6. fish : trout : : insect : _____ a. fox b. buzz c. katydid d. crawl 7. Elmo : Muppet : :baseball : _____ a. glove b. bat c. Yankees d. sport 8. skirt : clothing : : chair : _____ a. blouse b. furniture c. sofa d. cushion |
9. waltz : dance : : fox : ______
a. trot b. fur c. animal d. trap 10. Honda : car : : Japan : _____ a. Toyota b. Tokyo c. city d. country 11. ocean : Pacific : : metal : _____ a. zinc b. oxygen c. Atlantic d. shiny 12. home : cottage : : bird : ______ a. nest b. flamingo c. fly d. wings |
Answers1. (a) tree
2. (d) poppy 3. (b) apple 4. (c) tiger |
5. (a) pine 6. (c) katydid 7. (d) sport 8. (b) furniture |
9. (c) animal 10. (d) country 11. (a) zinc 12. (b) flamingo |