CAT 2025 Lesson : Analogies - Common Relations II

Select the option that expresses a relationship most similar to that expressed in the capitalised pair.

NUANCE : GRADATION ::

(1) Acrimony : rancour           
(2) Antipathy : affinity           
(3) Repatriate : emigrate           
(4) Erudite : polyglot           

Solution

Nuance and gradation are synonyms, meaning fine distinction or degree. Therefore, we must look for synonymous word pairs from the options.

Acrimony and rancour are also synonymous, both meaning bitterness or resentfulness.

Antipathy means aversion, hostility, whereas affinity is the opposite, meaning liking or sympathy.
To repatriate means to send someone back to their country or returning back to one's own country. To emigrate is the opposite, to leave one's home country.

Erudite (meaning learned, scholarly) and polyglot (meaning knowing or using several languages) are similar in meaning, but not synonymous.
Polymath (meaning a person of wide knowledge or learning) would have been synonymous with erudite.

Therefore, we can eliminate the other options and select option (1) as the correct choice.

Answer: (1) Acrimony : rancour

Select the option that expresses a relationship most similar to that expressed in the capitalised pair.

MECHANIC : AUTOMOBILE ::

(1) Hepatologist : kidney          
(2) Nephrologist : liver          
(3) Ophthalmologist : eye          
(4) Epidemiologist : skin          

Solution

A mechanic works on an automobile (car). Therefore, we need to find a similar functional connection.

An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor, and therefore, this has the same relationship.

A hepatologist is a liver expert, whereas a nephrologist is a kidney expert. As these two pairs are swapped, options (1) and (2) can be eliminated.

An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies diseases within populations of people. A dermatologist is a skin doctor. Therefore, option (4) can also be eliminated.

Thus, option (3) is the correct choice.

Answer: (3) Ophthalmologist : eye

Select the option that expresses a relationship most similar to that expressed in the capitalised pair.

ARCANE : CLARIFY ::

(1) Clandestine : covert           
(2) Equanimity: ruffle           
(3) Spice : insipid           
(4) Crime : indict           

Solution

The word arcane means mysterious, secret or known to only a few. To clarify something means to explain or make it known to all. We should look for a similar functional pair. Of words.

Similarly, equanimity means calm or composure. To ruffle someone's composure is to irritate or upset it. This has a similar relationship, where the second word is disrupting the first one.

Clandestine and covert are synonymous, both meaning secret. This is not the same relationship, and hence, option (1) can be eliminated.

Insipid means lacking flavour, and adding spice would add flavour – however, as you can see, the order is reversed. Hence, option (3) can be eliminated.

To indict someone means to charge them for a crime, however, this does not prevent or cancel out the crime in any way – indictment is just an effect of committing a crime. Thus, option (4) can be eliminated.

Answer: (2) Equanimity: ruffle

Richter is to earthquakes as light-year is to

(1) Luminosity            (2) Speed            (3) Time            (4) Distance           

Solution

The Richter scale is used to measure the intensity of earthquakes. A light year is the distance travelled or covered by light in a year's time. It is a measure of distance. Therefore, option (4) is the correct choice.

Answer: (4) Distance

Choose the option which represents a relationship similar to that in the question:

School : fish :: _____________ : _______________

(1) Pack : wolves           
(2) Flock : owls           
(3) Gaggle : lions           
(4) Coterie : cats           

Solution

A school of fish is the appropriate term for a group of fish.

Among the options, the other correct group of animals is “a pack of wolves”. Therefore, the correct answer is option (1).

The other options are incorrect. It should be a parliament of owls, a pride of lions and a clowder of cats.

Answer: (1) Pack : wolves

If 'Asinine' is for 'Donkey', then
[FMS 2010]

(1) 'Vulpine' is for 'Fox'           
(2) 'Vulpine' is for 'Vulture'           
(3) 'Avian' is for 'Cow'           
(4) 'Avian' is for 'Dove'           

Solution

These are examples of animal characteristics. Asinine is derived from ass (an animal similar to a donkey) and means extremely stupid.

Similarly, vulpine means related to a fox or crafty, cunning. Therefore, we can select option (1) as the correct choice.

Avian means relating to birds, but it is not specific to doves. Therefore, we can eliminate option (4).

Options (2) and (3) are incorrect, and can also be eliminated. Note that the word for cow is bovine which means related to or affecting cattle.

Answer: (1) 'Vulpine' is for 'Fox'

If MALLARD is for DUCK, then

(1) Peacock is for peahen           
(2) Fawn is for deer           
(3) Foal is for horse           
(4) Chital is for deer           

Solution

A mallard is a type of duck. Similarly, a chital is a type of deer.

Peacock and peahen are the male and female versions, which is not the same relationship.

A fawn is a baby deer, and a foal is a baby horse. This is also not the same relationship. Note that this is a clue to eliminate, since the same relationship is given in two options. As we cannot choose one and eliminate the other, we must eliminate both.

Therefore, option (4) is the correct choice.

Answer: (4) Chital is for deer