Word analogy

 Verbal Section:Analogies

Terms you’ll need to know:

✓ Analogy

✓ Antonym

✓ Homonym

✓ Synonym

Concepts you’ll need to master:

✓ Establishing a clear relationship between words

✓ Setting up a general relationship sentence

✓ Identifying and using relationship types

✓ Eliminating obviously incorrect answers

An analogy is a comparison of two things that seem unrelated, but are actually related or similar to each other in some respect. The  Analogies section is designed to test your ability to recognize these relationships between words and successfully identify parallel relationships.

Answering  Analogies

Questions

Questions in this section will include a pair of words in all capital letters, followed  by five lettered pairs of words. You will be required to identify the answer choice that expresses a relationship most similar to that expressed in the original pair. Following is an example of an analogy question similar to those found on the GRE General Test, along with a detailed explanation:

APPRENTICE : PLUMBER ::

(A) player : coach

(B) child : parent

(C) student : teacher

(D) author : publisher

(E) intern : doctor

The first step is to establish the relationship between the words in the original pair. An “apprentice” is typically someone who studies or trains to become a “plumber” or some other tradesperson or professional. Likewise, an “intern” trains to become a “doctor,” so answer choice E is correct.

Although a “player” could train to become a “coach” and a “student” could train to become a “teacher,” other, more plausible relationships exist between those words. Therefore, answer choices A and C are not correct. A “child” could eventually become a “parent,” but would not likely study or train to

become a “parent,” so answer choice B is incorrect. Likewise, an “author” could become a “publisher,” but there is no direct, logical connection between first being an author, and then becoming a publisher.

The colons in each pair represent placeholders in an analogy phrase. For example:

“AREA : ACRE ::” can be stated as “Area is to Acre as _____ is to _____.”

Several strategies can help you to correctly answer  analogy questions. Following is a description of those strategies we have found most helpful:

➤ Establish the relationship

➤ Create a general sentence

➤ Use the correct part of speech

➤ Beware of homonyms

➤ Recognize common relationship types

➤ Use the process of elimination

➤ Select the best answer

Establish the Relationship

Before you look at any of the answer choices, attempt to express the relationship between the original pair in your own words. If you can establish a precise connection between the words, you will most likely select the best answer choice.

Create a General Sentence

One successful technique is to create a sentence that expresses a specific relationship between the stem words, and then replace the original words from your sentence with the words in the answer choices. You should look for the most simple relationship first. If more than one answer choice expresses the same relationship, you might have to revise your original sentence to indicate a more explicit connection between the words. For example:

MUSICIAN : ORCHESTRA ::

(A) mechanic : car

(B) songwriter : lyrics

(C) desk : office

(D) player : team

(E) actor : screen

Ask yourself what a musician has to do with an orchestra. A musician plays in an orchestra. Or more specifically, a musician plays an instrument as one part of an orchestra as a whole.

Your general sentence becomes “A ____ does the ANALOGY uses only logically strong relationships. If you find yourself saying things like “this could be true” or “sometimes this happens,” the relationship, and thus your answer, is probably incorrect. Try for a relationship that must be true or is true all of the time. Something as one part of a ___ as a whole.”

 The correct answer is D: A player participates as one part of a team as a whole. Although answer choice B includes words related to music, the exact relationship is not the same as the relationship in the question stem; a “songwriter” does not participate as one part of “lyrics” as a whole. Likewise, the remaining answer choices do not fit logically into the general sentence that you created. A “mechanic” does not do something as one part of a “car” as a whole. Although a “desk” might be considered one part of an “office,” a “desk” is an inanimate object, so it does not do something as one part of an “office” as a whole. An “actor” is portrayed on the “screen,” but an “actor” does not do something as one part of a “screen” as a whole.

Use the Correct Part of Speech

Don’t forget about other possible, secondary meanings of words. If you are having trouble creating a sentence, you might be thinking of the wrong definition or part of speech. The questions will always ask you to compare the same parts of speech. For example, if one of the words in the original pair can be used as either a noun or a verb, all of the corresponding words in the answer choices will be either nouns or verbs, but not both. You can let the answer choices guide you in this way. Consider the following example:

CORRAL : LIVESTOCK ::

(A) fence : posts

(B) capture : thieves

(C) nest : birds

(D) devise : plans

(E) fire : employees

At first glance, you might have created a general sentence such as “A corral is an enclosure for livestock.” However, none of the answer choices fits logically into that sentence. Because “corral” is also a verb that means “to take control or possession of,” you must now consider this secondary meaning. A closer look at the answer choices shows you that the first word in the pair is either a verb, or a word that can be used as a verb or a noun. Create another sentence using “corral” as a verb: “The rancher was unable to corral his livestock after they escaped.” Manipulate the sentence slightly, as follows:

“The police officer was unable to capture the thieves after they escaped.”

The remaining answer choices do not fit logically into this general sentence.

Beware of Homonyms

Be aware of homonyms, which are words that sound alike but have different meanings. For example, “mettle” is a noun meaning “courage or fortitude,” whereas “meddle” is a verb meaning “to interfere.” As in the earlier discussion regarding parts of speech, let the answer choices help you to determine the meaning of the words in the original pair. It is likely that you will know the meaning of some of the words in the answer choices and be able to establish a relationship between some of the word pairs listed. Use this knowledge to eliminate answer choices in which the word pairs do not have a clear connection, as well as to identify the correct meaning of the words in the original pair. It might help to study a list of common homonyms; a search on the Internet will yield many websites devoted to this topic.

In analogy questions, relationships are paramount. In other words, remember that the relationship between words is more important than the definition of each word. For example, a question stem could contain words about music, and the correct answer could contain words about athletics; in this case, the meaning of each word is irrelevant.

Recognize Common Relationship Types

 Analogies questions require you to consider many different possible relationships. After you are able to determine a specific relationship for the original pair, select the answer choice that expresses a relationship in the same way. Most GRE questions tend to fall into one of several common categories of relationships. The following list includes many of the common analogy relationships tested are:

➤ Definition/Evidence—One word in a pair helps to define the other word; or, one word in a pair is a defining characteristic of the other word.

Example: PARAGON: EXCELLENCE ::

A “paragon,” by definition, is a “model or example of excellence.”

CRATER: CONCAVE::

A “crater” is “concave”; therefore, being “concave”  is a defining characteristic of a “crater.”

➤ Synonym/Antonym—One word in a pair is a synonym or antonym of the other word.

Example: FASCINATION: INTEREST::

The nouns “fascination” and “interest” have a similar meaning. They are synonyms.

STINGY: GENEROUS::

The adjective “stingy” is the opposite of the adjective “generous.” They are antonyms.

Note that synonyms and antonyms do not have to come from the same parts of speech.

Example: CONTRARY: OPPOSE::

To be “contrary,” which is an adjective, is to “oppose,” which is a verb. These words have similar meanings, even though the parts of speech are not the same.

SKEPTICAL: BELIEVE::

“Skeptical,” an adjective, means that you “do not believe,” which is the opposite of the verb “believe.” These words are opposite in meaning, even though the parts of speech are not the same.

➤ Type/Kind—One word in a pair is a type or example of the other word.

Example: FRENCH : LANGUAGE ::

“French” is a type of “language.”

➤ Degree/Intensity—Both words in a pair are similar in concept, but vary in intensity. In other words, one word in the pair is stronger, harsher, or more intense. Words can also vary spatially, by size, weight, and so on.

Example: PHOBIA: FEAR::

A “phobia” is a “disabling, exaggerated fear,” which  is far more extreme than a typical “fear.”

➤ Purpose/Function—One word in a pair describes the purpose or function of the other word.

Example: NEEDLE : STITCH ::

The purpose or function of a “needle” is to “stitch.”  Note that “stitch” can be used as either a noun or a verb. You could also say that a “needle” is used to create a “stitch.”

➤ Component/Part—One word in a pair represents one part of the other word, which represents a whole; or, one word is simply a component of the other.

Example: ACTOR : CAST ::

An “actor” is one member of an entire “cast” of actors.

Example: FLOUR : BREAD ::

“Flour” is a component of “bread.”

➤ Cause and Effect—One word leads to or results in the other word.

Example: PREPARATION : SUCCESS ::

“Preparation” will most likely lead to “success.”

 Example: ANTIBODIES : PROTECTION ::

The presence of “antibodies” results in “protection against infection. A correct answer will never contain a relationship that has been reversed.

 For example, if the analogy given is TOUCH:TACTILE, the answer cannot be AUDIBLE : HEARING. Even though the relationship is the same, the order of the relationship is reversed.

Use the Process of Elimination

This strategy is useful if you are unable to find the correct answer using any of the previously mentioned strategies. Look at each answer choice and determine whether you know something about each word in the pair, and use that information to eliminate answer choices that are clearly incorrect. The process of elimination can be time-consuming, so it should generally be saved for “last-ditch” efforts in selecting the correct answer. You will probably employ this strategy in conjunction with the others mentioned, eliminating answer choices that do not fit logically into the sentence that you created, for instance.

Select the Best Answer

Remember that the test experts create incorrect answers to distract you; if you establish a relationship beforehand, you will be less likely to get caught up in any confusing, incorrect answers the test writers have set up. If your relationship matches a relationship expressed in ONE of the answer choices, it is most likely correct.  It might be difficult to determine an answer choice without eliminating a few incorrect answers first. Beware of obvious answer choices. At first glance, several choices might appear to express a similar relationship to the original pair. The correct relationship will be paralleled in only one of the answer choices; you might have to dig a little deeper to discover the true relationship.

For example:

PASSENGERS: AIRPLANE ::

(A) audience : theater

(B) birds : nest

(C) sailors : submarine

(D) freight : warehouse

(E) students : classroom

One possible relationship between “passengers” and “airplane” is that passengers are in an airplane. At first glance, several answer choices appear to have the same relationship as the words in the question stem: A “theater” holds an “audience;” “freight” is in a “warehouse,” and so on. There cannot be more than one correct answer, so you should look for a more specific relationship. Create a sentence using the words in the question stem: An “airplane” transports “passengers” from one place to another. Only the words in answer choice C can be logically inserted into this sentence. Be sure to consider all of the answer choices before you select a final answer, even if you think you have already found the correct one. If you are struggling to find just one correct answer, make your relationship statement more

specific or, if you must, adjust the relationship entirely.

Putting It to Practice

Now that you’ve got a good feel for how to approach the analogies questions try the questions

Questions

Directions: Each question below contains a pair of words in capital letters and five answer choices. Each answer choice contains a pair of words. Select the pair that best expresses the relationship expressed by the pair in all capital letters.

1. PRIZE: CONTESTANT::

(A) trophy: presenter

(B) diploma: principal

(C) medal: runner

(D) book: author

(E) mortgage: lender

2. CLASSROOM : STUDENTS ::

(A) podium : lecturers

(B) stadium: athletes

(C) cafeteria : trays

(D) garage : vehicles

(E) auditorium: ushers

3. ENDORSE: CANDIDATE::

(A) sign : affidavit

(B) endure: trial

(C) idolize: celebrity

(D) espouse: idea

(E) devise: plan

4. STUDY: TEST::

(A) script: composition

(B) rehearse: performance

(C) interpret: decision

(D) operate: cure

(E) record: parody

5. CHRONICLE: JOURNEY::

(A) assume : debt

(B) enumerate: demands

(C) banish : doubts

(D) juxtapose: positions

(E) clarify: intentions

6. ANNOTATE: ESSAY::

(A) elevate : level

(B) research : theory

(C) abridge : chapter

(D) elaborate: plan

(E) mitigate: damage

7. CAPRICIOUS: IMPULSIVE::

(A) magnanimous: generous

(B) articulate : critical

(C) petty : deceptive

(D) diligent : precise

(E) provocative: appealing

8. NOTES : SONG ::

(A) conductors : orchestra

(B) pictures : frame

(C) keys : door

(D) lawyers : courtroom

(E) ingredients : recipe

9. MARATHON : RACE ::

(A) victory : competition

(B) sprint : finish

(C) filibuster : speech

(D) novel : author

(E) deposition : question

10. CASTLE : MOAT ::

(A) island : ocean

(B) king : soldier

(C) school : playground

(D) embryo : placenta

(E) bacteria : germ

11. BLIZZARD : SNOW ::

(A) harvest : garden

(B) flood : lake

(C) water : ice

(D) exhibits : zoo

(E) deluge : rain

12. APATHETIC : EMOTION ::

(A) eloquent : precision

(B) lenient : permanence

(C) perceptive : awareness

(D) zealous : passion

(E) glib : sincerity

13. EXULTANT : KUDOS ::

(A) focused : support

(B) joyful : praise

(C) honorable : criticism

(D) enigmatic : puzzles

(E) exceptional : qualities

14. NOXIOUS : POISON ::

(A) egregious : crime

(B) benign : leader

(C) dubious : concoction

(D) judicious : statement

(E) pragmatic : decision

15. UTILITARIAN : QUIXOTIC ::

(A) disconcerting : unsettling

(B) ephemeral : fleeting

(C) malevolent : kind

(D) loquacious : talkative

(E) obdurate : stubborn

16. PLAGIARIZE : STEAL ::

(A) hoard : dispel

(B) placate : provoke

(C) concentrate : refine

(D) ostracize : exclude

(E) perjure : testify

17. CHISEL : CARVE ::

(A) athlete : compete

(B) courtroom : judge

(C) artist : sculpt

(D) rake : forage

(E) scalpel : operate

18. PHILANTHROPIST : MUNIFICENCE ::

(A) skeptic : disbelief

(B) symptom : treatment

(C) cynic : melancholy

(D) aristocrat : gratitude

(E) anomaly : plausibility

19. ARTICULATE : MURKY ::

(A) credulous : amiable

(B) desiccated : moist

(C) formidable : dark

(D) derelict : neglectful

(E) opaque : milky

20. PHLEGMATIC : EXCITEMENT ::

(A) insolent : respect

(B) penurious : frugality

(C) fractious : sarcasm

(D) timorous : trepidation

(E) sagacious : wisdom

Answers to Exam Prep Questions

1. The best answer is C.  A “prize” is usually awarded to the winning “contestant.” Therefore, a general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A“____” is awarded to the winning “____.” Answer choice C is correct because a “medal” is often awarded to the winning “runner” in a race. Answer choices A, B, D, and E include logical relationships, but none are the same as the relationship between “prize” and “contestant.” For instance, a “presenter” is not awarded a “trophy,” and a “principal” is not awarded a “diploma”; “presenters” and “principals” are generally on the giving end of that transaction.

2. The best answer is B. A “classroom” is where “students” gather to learn. A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” is the place where a group of “____” gather to perform an activity. Therefore, answer choice B is correct because a “stadium” is the place where a group of “athletes” gather to compete. “Lecturers” may perform a speech behind a “podium,” but a “podium” is not a place, so answer choice A is incorrect. Answer choices C and D are incorrect because “trays” and “vehicles” are inanimate objects and do not perform activities in a “cafeteria” or a “garage.” “Ushers” could perform an activity in an “auditorium,” but not in the same way that a group such as “students” or “athletes” perform an activity.

3. The best answer is D. People often “endorse,” or “give support to,”a “candidate” who is being “considered for” something. A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: People “____” a “____” that is being considered for something if they support it. “Espouse” is a synonym of “endorse”; therefore, answer choice D is correct because people will “espouse” an “idea” that they support. To “endorse” can also mean “to sign,” but people “sign” an “affidavit” to “swear” that something is true, so answer choice A is incorrect. To “endure” means “to put up with” or “suffer through,” not “support,” so answer choice B is incorrect. Although people may “idolize” a “celebrity,” a “celebrity” is not a person or cause that is being “considered for” something, so answer choice C is incorrect. People may “devise” a “plan,” but to “devise” does not mean to “support,” so answer choice E is incorrect.

4. The best answer is B. In the same way that you would “study” for a “test,” you would “rehearse” for a “performance.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A person would “____” in preparation of a “____.” To “script” is to “prepare a text,” and a “composition” can be the general “structure or makeup” of a certain text, but these words do not have the same relationship as that expressed in the question stem; therefore, answer choice A is incorrect. Likewise, a person would not “interpret” in preparation of a “decision,” or “operate” in preparation of a “cure,” so answer choices C and D are incorrect. A “parody” is an “imitation of something for comic effect,” so it does not make sense that a person would “record” in preparation of a “parody”; answer choice E is incorrect.

5. The best answer is B. To “chronicle” is to “record the details of an event,” such as a “journey.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: To “____” is to provide details describing a/an “____.” To “enumerate” is to “specifically identify each detail.” Therefore, to “enumerate” “demands” is to provide a list of each demand, much like someone would provide a record listing each detail of a journey. Answer choices A, C, D, and E are logical on their own, but none of the answer choices present the same relationship. For example, to “assume” a “debt” means to “take on” the “debt,” not provide details of the “debt.” “Banish” means to “get rid of,” and “juxtapose” means to “place side by side for comparison,” so answer choices C and D are incorrect. You might “clarify” your “intentions” by providing details of them, but there is a stronger, more direct relationship between “enumerate” and “demands,” so answer choice E is incorrect.

6. The best answer is D. The verb “annotate” means to “provide extra information.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A person will “____” in order to add something extra and enhance a/an “____.” Answer choice D is correct because a person might “elaborate” on a “plan” in order to provide more detail or add something extra. To “elevate” is to “make higher,” but to “elevate” is not a way to enhance a “level,” so answer choice A is incorrect.“Research” is typically conducted to support or study a “theory,” but is not something that is directly added to a “theory,” so answer choice B  is incorrect. “Abridge” means to “shorten,” so answer choice C is incorrect. To “mitigate” is to “reduce the intensity” of something, so answer choice E is also incorrect.

7. The best answer is A. The adjective “capricious” can be used to describe someone who is “impulsive.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” person is very “____.” To find the answer to this question, look for an answer choice that contains two words that are synonyms. A “magnanimous” person is, by definition, “generous” (for example, with money, gifts, and so on). Although someone who is “articulate” could also be “critical,” the words are not synonyms, so answer choice B is incorrect. Likewise, even though someone who is “petty” could also be “deceptive,” a “petty” person is not always “deceptive,” so answer choice C is incorrect. A “diligent” person is characterized by “carefulness” and “determination,” but not necessarily “precision,” so answer choice D is incorrect. A “provocative” person could be “appealing,” but “provocative” means “tending to provoke or excite,” and is not a synonym of “appealing,” so answer choice E is incorrect.

8. The best answer is E. The “notes” are the primary components of a “song.” Likewise, the “ingredients” are the primary components of a “recipe.” Answer choices A, B, C, and D include logical relationships, but none are the same as the relationship between “notes” and “song.”  For example, “conductors” are not the primary components of an “orchestra,” “pictures” are not the primary components of “frames,” and so on.

9. The best answer is C. A “marathon” is a “long-distance race.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” is a longer version of a “____.” A “filibuster” is a “lengthy speech,” or a longer version of a “speech.” A “victory” is a possible outcome of a “competition,” but not a longer version of a “competition,” so answer choice A is incorrect. Someone may “sprint” to “finish,” but “sprint” is not a type of “finish,” so answer choice B is incorrect. A “novel” is a “lengthy narrative,” but not a type of “author,” so answer choice D is incorrect. A “deposition” includes several questions (plural), but is not a lengthy “question,” so answer choice E is incorrect.

10. The best answer is D. A “moat” is a “water-filled ditch” that surrounds and protects a “castle.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: The function of a “____” is to surround and form a barrier to protect a “____.” The function of the “placenta” is to surround and form a barrier to protect a developing “embryo.” The “ocean” surrounds an “island,” but does not function to protect the

“island,” so answer choice A is incorrect. A “soldier” might protect a “king,” but does not surround and form a protective barrier, so answer choice B is incorrect. A “playground” might surround a “school,” but does not function to protect the “school,” so answer choice C is incorrect. A “germ” does not surround and protect “bacteria,” so answer choice E is incorrect.

11. The best answer is E. A “blizzard” is a noun that is characterized by a lot of “snow.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” is characterized by an overabundance of “____.” A “deluge” is a noun that is characterized by an overabundance of “rain.” A “harvest” does not involve an overabundance of “gardens,” so answer choice A is incorrect. Although a “lake” could “flood,” these words do not have the same relationship as the words in the question stem, so answer choice B is incorrect. “Water” is not characterized by an overabundance of “ice,” so answer choice C is incorrect. A “zoo” could be characterized by its “exhibits,” but the relationship is reversed, so answer choice D is incorrect.

12. The best answer is E. An “apathetic” person is “unresponsive” and “tends to show little emotion.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” person is characterized by a lack of “____.” Answer choice E is correct because a person who is “glib” is often characterized by a lack of “sincerity.” An “eloquent” person is often described as having “precision,” not a lack of it, so answer choice A is incorrect. A “lenient” person might be overly tolerant, but does not necessarily display a lack of “permanence,” so answer choice B is incorrect. Being “perceptive” means having “awareness,” so answer choice C is incorrect. A “zealous” person often displays “passion,” so answer choice D is incorrect.

13. The best answer is B. “Exultant” is a “feeling of triumph,” and“kudos” is an “expression of praise.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: Someone who receives “____” often feels very “____.” Someone who receives “praise” often feels “joyful,” so answer choice B is correct. Although someone who has received “support” may also feel “focused,” one does not necessarily cause the other, so answer choice A is incorrect. It is unlikely that someone would feel “honorable” after receiving “criticism,” so answer choice C is incorrect. “Puzzles” themselves are “enigmatic,” or “perplexing,” but receiving “puzzles” does not make someone feel “enigmatic.” “Exceptional” could be used to describe “qualities,” which is not the same relationship as that in the question stem, so answer choice E is incorrect.

14. The best answer is A. “Noxious” means “very harmful” and “poison” is a substance that “causes damage or injury.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” is something that is  always considered very “____.” A “crime” is something that is considered very “egregious,” or “noticeably wrong,” so answer choice A is correct. Not all “leaders” are considered “benign,” so answer choice B is incorrect. Likewise, not all “concoctions” are “dubious,” not all “statements” are “judicious,” and not all “decisions” are “pragmatic,” so answer choices C, D, and E are incorrect.

15. The best answer is C. “Utilitarian” is an adjective that is used to describe something that is “useful” and “practical.” Conversely, the adjective “quixotic” means “idealistic” or “impractical.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: Something that is appropriately described as “____” cannot be “____.” To answer this question, determine which of the answer choices contains two words that are antonyms. Something that is “malevolent” would never be described as “kind” because the two words are opposite in meaning; therefore, answer choice C is correct. Answer choices A, B, D, and E contain words that are synonyms and share the same meaning.

16. The best answer is D. To “plagiarize” is to “steal someone else’s work and take all of the credit.” Therefore, the verb “steal” helps to define the verb “plagiarize,” and “plagiarism” is a form of “stealing.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: To “____” is to “____” something. To “ostracize” is to “exclude” someone from a group, so answer choice D is correct. “Hoard,” or “keep,” is the opposite of “dispel,” or “get rid of,” so answer choice A is incorrect. To “placate” is to “calm” something, not “provoke,” or “intensify,” so answer choice B is incorrect. You can “concentrate” or “refine” something

(usually a liquid), but the words do not help to define each other, so answer choice C is incorrect. To “perjure” is “to knowingly lie under oath” and to “testify” is to “tell the truth under oath,” so answer choice D is incorrect.

17. The best answer is E. A “chisel” is a tool that is used to “carve” or shape materials. A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” is a tool that makes it possible to “____” something.  Answer choice E is correct because a “scalpel” is a tool that is used to “operate” on a patient. An “athlete” “competes,” but an athlete is not a tool. Likewise, a “courtroom” is not a tool that makes it possible to “judge,” and an “artist” is not a tool that makes it possible to “sculpt,” so answer choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Answer choice E is incorrect because a “rake” is not necessary to “forage.”

18. The best answer is A. A “philanthropist” is a person who is “concerned with the well-being of people.” The noun “munificence” describes someone who is “very generous.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” is a type of person who characteristically displays “____.” A “skeptic” is a type of person who characteristically displays “disbelief.” A “symptom” is not characterized by a “treatment,” so answer choice B is incorrect. A “cynic” is characterized by “pessimism” and could very well display “melancholy.” “Melancholy,” however, is not necessarily a characteristic of a “cynic,” so answer choice C is incorrect. Answer choice D is incorrect because an “aristocrat,” or someone of the “upper class,” does not generally display “gratitude.” An “anomaly” is an “abnormal event,” which is not characterized by “plausibility,” so answer choice E is incorrect.

19. The best answer is B. Something that is “articulate” is “clear” and “distinct,” whereas something that is “murky” is “unclear” or “vague.” To answer this question, look for an answer choice that contains two words that are antonyms. A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: Something that is described as “____” cannot be “____.” The adjective “desiccated” is used to describe something that has “dried up from a lack of moisture,” which is the opposite of “moist,” so answer choice B is correct. Someone who is “credulous,” or “naive” and “easy to deceive,” may or may not be “amiable,” or “friendly,” so answer choice A is incorrect. Answer choices C, D, and E are incorrect because they each contain two words that are similar in meaning.

20. The best answer is A. By definition, a “phlegmatic” person acts without “excitement.” A general sentence that can be used to describe the analogy is: A “____” person is characterized by actions that lack any “____.” An “insolent” person is characterized by actions that lack any “respect.” A “penurious” person is characterized by “frugality,” so answer choice B is incorrect. A “fractious” person is “irritable” and “difficult,” but does not necessarily lack “sarcasm,” so answer choice C is incorrect. A “timorous” person is characterized by “trepidation,” not a lack of it, so answer choice D is incorrect. Likewise, a “sagacious” person is characterized by “wisdom,” so answer choice E is incorrect.