27  Analogies, Odd one out, Spellings

27.1 Introduction

This chapter focuses on verbal reasoning through vocabulary:
- Analogies test your ability to recognize logical relationships between pairs of words.
- Odd one out requires spotting the word that does not belong in a group.
- Spellings test accuracy and familiarity with commonly confused words.

Such questions measure both vocabulary depth and logical reasoning. They appear frequently in IPMAT and other entrance exams.

27.2 1) Analogies

27.2.1 1.1 What are analogies?

An analogy establishes a relationship between two words and asks you to find another pair with the same relation.
Common patterns:
- Synonym pair (happy : joyful)
- Antonym pair (hot : cold)
- Cause–effect (fire : smoke)
- Function (pen : write)
- Degree (warm : hot)
- Classification (rose : flower)

27.2.2 1.2 Solved Examples

Q1. Book : Reading :: Fork : ?
(a) Drawing (b) Writing (c) Eating (d) Painting
→ Answer: (c) Eating.

Q2. Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?
(a) School (b) Office (c) Market (d) Factory
→ Answer: (a) School.

Q3. Honest : Dishonest :: Kind : ?
(a) Rude (b) Harsh (c) Cruel (d) Unkind
→ Answer: (d) Unkind.

27.3 2) Odd One Out

27.3.1 2.1 Approach

To solve, find the common link among words and identify the misfit.
Possible categories: meaning, usage, category, tone, or spelling.

27.3.2 2.2 Solved Examples

Q1. (a) Apple (b) Mango (c) Banana (d) Potato
→ Answer: (d) Potato (not a fruit).

Q2. (a) Iron (b) Gold (c) Silver (d) Plastic
→ Answer: (d) Plastic (not a metal).

Q3. (a) Laugh (b) Smile (c) Cry (d) Giggle
→ Answer: (c) Cry (opposite emotion).

27.4 3) Spellings

27.4.1 3.1 Commonly Confused Words

  • Correct → Incorrect
    • Accommodation → Acomodation
    • Separate → Seperate
    • Occurrence → Occurence
    • Embarrassment → Embarasment
    • Definitely → Definately
    • Necessary → Neccessary
    • Government → Goverment

27.4.2 3.2 Exam Strategy

  • Pronounce the word slowly to recall phonetic clues.
  • Remember common rules:
    • “i before e except after c” (receive, deceive, but exceptions exist).
    • Double consonants in certain suffixes (running, occurred).
  • Practice with frequent revision lists.

27.5 4) Practice Questions

27.5.1 Part A — Analogies

  1. Lion : Den :: Bird : ?
  1. Sky (b) Nest (c) Forest (d) Cage
  1. Hand : Glove :: Foot : ?
  1. Shoe (b) Sock (c) Slipper (d) All of these
  1. Teacher : Student :: Doctor : ?
  1. Patient (b) Nurse (c) Hospital (d) Medicine
  1. Day : Night :: Success : ?
  1. Wealth (b) Failure (c) Joy (d) Hardship
  1. Eye : See :: Ear : ?
  1. Speak (b) Smell (c) Hear (d) Listen

27.5.2 Part B — Odd One Out

    1. Rose (b) Lily (c) Lotus (d) Apple
    1. Circle (b) Square (c) Triangle (d) Sphere
    1. Cow (b) Dog (c) Cat (d) Mango
    1. Run (b) Walk (c) Dance (d) Chair
    1. January (b) March (c) July (d) Sunday

27.5.3 Part C — Spellings

  1. Find the correctly spelled word:
  1. Seperate (b) Separate (c) Seperete (d) Seperat
  1. Find the correctly spelled word:
  1. Occurence (b) Ocurrence (c) Occurrence (d) Ocurance
  1. Find the correctly spelled word:
  1. Definately (b) Definitly (c) Definitely (d) Definatly
  1. Find the correctly spelled word:
  1. Embarrasment (b) Embarrassment (c) Embarasment (d) Embarassment
  1. Find the correctly spelled word:
  1. Neccessary (b) Necessary (c) Nessary (d) Neccassary

27.6 5) Answer Key

Part A – Analogies
1 → (b) Nest
2 → (d) All of these
3 → (a) Patient
4 → (b) Failure
5 → (c) Hear

Part B – Odd One Out
6 → (d) Apple
7 → (d) Sphere
8 → (d) Mango
9 → (d) Chair
10 → (d) Sunday

Part C – Spellings
11 → (b) Separate
12 → (c) Occurrence
13 → (c) Definitely
14 → (b) Embarrassment
15 → (b) Necessary

27.7 Summary

  • Analogies: Look for relationship type (synonym, antonym, function, etc.).
  • Odd one out: Identify commonality among most, eliminate the misfit.
  • Spellings: Practice tricky words and apply phonetic/mnemonic rules.
    These exercises build both vocabulary precision and logical reasoning.