XAT 2015: 3 Questions on Analogy to occupy 10 percent of Verbal Ability part

XAT 2015, being conducted by XLRI on behalf of XAMI for admission to XLRI 2015-17 PGDM batch and to other highly ranked B schools is the largest paper pencil pattern management entrance test in India. XAT 2015 is going to be conducted on January 4, 2015 in a single session across the country. The candidates who wish to appear in XAT 2015 and wish to explore admission opportunity in XLRI, SPJIMR, XIMB, IMT, LIBA and other good B schools can register and apply for XAT 2015 on line till November 22, 2014. XLRI will close the registration process for XAT 2015 after Nov 22, 2014. An important point that XAT 2015 aspirants have to remember is that they will have to separately apply to XLRI or any other B school where they wish to seek the admission in 2015.

XAT 2015 will be the criteria for short listing the aspirants on the basis of written exam for final admission round. Out of the 4 sections comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in XAT 2015, one section will have questions on Verbal & Logical Ability with 30 questions approximately. Out of these 30 questions 3 questions on Analogy that appear in XAT form one tenth part of Verbal Ability section. Moreover, an aspirant is only required to understand the similar or dissimilar relationship among the words and sentences to crack the questions and get full marks in analogy. Learn the concept and key tips to solve them from Prof. S.K. Agarwal, an expert in Verbal Ability.

How to approach the analogy question

Analogy question sets test your logical skills as well as the vocabulary. No quant like formulae, no Grammar based rules on Verbal Ability are required to understand and crack the analogy question. In fact you may not have to cram your head as you do for Quant, DI or Verbal. What you need is the simple and logical understanding relationship of likeness or similarity between two objects, concepts, statements that are otherwise not similar. It is a comparison made to show such a similarity e.g. to draw an analogy between a brick and building. They are the common types of questions.

However, while proceeding to solve the questions based on analogy, please be very close and precise in identifying the said relationship. Analogy questions have a logical relationship between a pair of words, sentences, concepts etc. Now you are required to pick out the most appropriate set out of the given options that define the same relationship as given in the question.

How to crack

You may confront the words not familiar to you. In that case if the word is breakable split it-try to understand the roots. Try to remember something related to the word and if possible frame a sentence using the word. Check if it is negative or positive word A-, an-, Un-, Im-, Dis-, anti-, Non-, Mal-, etc.

There are certain words that have more than one meaning, so watch for such words like dear, sweet, train, watch, book, kind, or idiomatic/phrasal use of the words

XAT 2015: Analogy sample questions
Go through the simple sample questions below. They will familiarize you with the analogy

1..stands to month as twelve stands to.. a.Calendar: Year b. Date: Number c. Quarter: Four d. Week: Three
2.....stands to metre as gram stands to a. Centimetre: Weight b. Gauge: Balance c. Volt: Watt d. Millimetre: Kilogram
3. .....stands to geometry as equation stands to.. a. Math: Symmetrical b.Square: Algebra c. Teaching: Equal d. School: Study 4........stands to horse as hyena stands to . a. Zebra: Dog b. Farm: Savannah c. Tiger: Safari d. Tame: Wild 5......stands to sorrow as laughing stands to. a.Love: Luck b. Tears: Teeth c. Crying: Happiness d. Disease: Comedy

Answers sample questions.

1. C 2.D 3.B 4. D 5. C

Analogy Topics in XAT 2015

We may have following types of analogy questions

1. Opposites Opposite meaning words are used to establish analogy between them like Water:fire, Laughing:crying, Sky:Earth, Bravery:timidity etc.
2. Verb in Tenses It is a simple analogy. Verbs in different tense forms are used and can well be recognized e.g. turn and turned, sleep and slept etc.
3. Classification analogies- Objects can be classified to a group of objects or to different groups. Flash and lightening, Flash and body, knife in kitchen to cut the vegetables, Knife as weapon to create violence.
4. Related objects This type of question is related to the analogy words related to one another e.g. driver and car, doctor and patient, writer and book.
5. Group analogies objects when taken together form particular group and so are called group analogies soldier-army, tree-forest
6. Cause and effect This analogy explains the natural effect of certain action i.e. cause fight and hurt, fire and burn. Result is spontaneous to the cause.
7. Efforts to result When you put efforts for something, you hope to achieve the result e.g. read and newspaper, write and book, paint and painting.
8. Problem and solution solutions are given with the problems and they are obvious e.g. dirty-cleaning, tired-rest etc.
9. Rhyming words Words which rhyme in one or other way are used to establish analogy e.g. knight and right, rough and tough, girls and guys etc.
10. Analogy related to function The words are related on the basis of function they do e.g. Cap:Head::gloves:hands

There are hundreds of analogy types. The relationship is to be understood and identified. Analogy can be based on manner, characteristic, work, action, time, gender, age etc. any combination to establish similarity out of the dissimilarity can be formed.

How to prepare and attempt

Following is required to prepare and attempt the questions on Analogy in XAT 2015

Improve the vocabulary to understand the meaning of the words.

Identify the exact relationship between the words/sentences. Check the pattern used.

Form small and precise sentences to identify this relationship

You may find very close answer choices so be on your guard before opting for an anwer.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more preparation tips on XAT 2015