AFCAT Exam is the Air Force Common Entrance test, which is conducted by the Indian Air Force twice every year. Through this exam men and women can apply for different branches of the Indian Air Force. These branches include the Flying Branch, Technical Branch and Ground Duty Branch. The minimum educational qualification is Graduation however for different branches the educational criteria is branch specific. Lets have a look at the syllabus of the AFCAT Exam,

Best Coaching for AFCAT Entrance

Verbal Ability in English:

Comprehension, Error Detection, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Testing of Vocabulary, Sentence Completion etc.

All You Need To Know About AFCAT Exam Verbal Analogies Section

What are Analogies?

An analogy compares the relationship between two things or ideas to highlight some point of similarity. It is a way to clarify an idea or an unfamiliar concept by comparing it to something familiar. To be precise, analogy is treated as the identification of relationship between two terms/conditions.

Types of Analogies and Example

• Analogies based on Antonyms: Some analogies are based on antonyms-words that have opposite meanings. In this type of analogy, one word in each pair means the opposite of another.

Example: empty : full : : awkward : _____
a. graceful
b. clumsy
c. helpful
d. hollow

• Analogies based on Synonyms: Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. In this type of analogy, you will need to find words that are parallel in meaning.

Example: polite : courteous : : style : _____
a. nice
b. pretty
c. ugly
d. fashion

• Analogies based on whole :: Part : Some analogies compare PART of something to its WHOLE (or they might compare something WHOLE to its PART).

Example: foot : toe : : face : _____
a. finger
b. toenail
c. nose
d. arm

• Analogies based on tool : its action

Example: crayon : draw

• Analogies based on tool user : tool

Example: carpenter : hammer

• Analogies based on  Category/Type: In this type of analogy relationship, one word is the element/member of a group that the other word describes.

Example: FOLK : MUSIC :: BOLERO :

A. instrument
B. song
C. dance
D. painting

• Analogies based on Object to Function: This type of analogy tests whether you can determine the function of a specific thing or tool. The first word will be a part of the second word or vice versa. For example, the function of a shovel is to dig. Make sure the function word (certainly a verb) is the primary function of the object (noun) that makes up the other word of the pair.

Example: NEEDLE : SEW :: SHIELD :

A. carry
B. protect
C. hold
D. point

• Analogies based on Performer to Related Action: This kind of analogy usually links a person or object with the action they commonly perform. For example, consider the pair doctor: diagnose. Here the doctor’s job/profession is to diagnose a patient and give treatment.

Example: BURGLAR : STEAL :: ARBITRATOR :

A. direct
B. orient
C. paint
D. judge

• Analogies based on Cause and Effect: In this type of analogy, one word in the pair describes a condition or action, while the other word describes an outcome or effect to that action or condition.

Example: VIRUS : ILLNESS : : FLOOD :

A. rain
B. destruction
C. hurricane
D. drought

• Analogies based on Degree of Intensity: Another type of analogy relationship is ‘Degree of intensity.’ That is, the words in each pair have similar meanings, but one word is stronger, more intense, than the other. For example, being fanatic is an extreme range of being enthusiastic. Though both words are similar in meaning, one word is more intense than the other one. The relationship between these two words depends on the degree of intensity of their meaning.

Example: WELL : ROBUST : : THRIFTY :

A. frugal
B. careful
C. miserly
D. prudent

• Analogies based on Symbol and Representation: This type of relationship represents or symbolizes the other word.

Example: OLIVE BRANCH : PEACE :: LAMB :

A. meekness
B. evil
C. love
D. royalty

• Analogies based on  noun: closely related adjective

Example: elephant : enormous

Tips on Verbal Ability Analogies Exercise Solving in AFCAT

• The best way to become good at doing verbal analogies is to practice. Search questions from earlier years papers that you can work on and practice alot.
• Don’t assume you know what the best relationship for the question stem is until you’ve read all of the choices. Don’t “fall in love” with the first tempting choice; there could be a better and accurate one.
• Turn analogies into sentence, sometime you know the meaning of words but you can find the relation so try frame those word in different sentences so that you can get a relation.
• Make educated guess if using hit and trial also try to eliminate the unlikely answers.
• If you don’t know the meaning of a word, use elimination to cross out answers and take a good guess.