Verbal reasoning sits between English and reasoning, and it is easy to neglect for exactly that reason. Questions cover analogies, classification, series completion, statement and conclusion, statement and assumption, cause and effect, and course of action. Each explanation states the rule that decides between two options that both look reasonable, which is where most marks are dropped in this section.
Calendar measures and displays dates. Clock measures and displays time. Both follow the instrument-to-measurement relationship.
Q.2Hard
Quake is to Earthquake as Tsunami is to ___?
Answer: B
Quake is an abbreviated form of earthquake. Tsunami is a type of ocean phenomenon similar to tidal wave in water context. Both are natural disasters.
Q.3Hard
Paradox is to Logic as Mirage is to ___?
Answer: A
A paradox contradicts logic. A mirage contradicts reality. Both follow the illusion-to-truth relationship.
Q.4Hard
Vaccine is to Disease as Treaty is to ___?
Answer: C
Vaccine prevents disease. Treaty prevents conflict/war. Both follow the preventive-to-harm relationship.
Q.5Hard
Eulogy is to Praise as Satire is to ___?
Answer: A
Eulogy is a form of praise. Satire is a form of criticism through humor. Both follow the literary form-to-intention relationship.
Q.6Hard
Catalyst is to Reaction as Stimulus is to ___?
Answer: A
Catalyst triggers a chemical reaction. Stimulus triggers a response. Both follow the trigger-to-result relationship.
Q.7Hard
Taxonomy is to Classification as Genealogy is to ___?
Answer: B
Taxonomy is the science of classification; genealogy is the study of ancestry. Both are systematic disciplines of organization/documentation.
Q.8Hard
Incandescent is to Edison as Vulcanization is to ___?
Answer: B
Edison is associated with incandescent bulb invention; Goodyear is associated with vulcanization process. Both are inventor-invention pairs.
Q.9Hard
Semantics is to Meaning as Phonetics is to ___?
Answer: A
Semantics studies meaning of words; phonetics studies sound of words. Both are linguistic sub-disciplines with different focuses.
Q.10Hard
Gestation is to Mammal as Incubation is to ___?
Answer: A
Gestation is the reproductive process in mammals; incubation is the reproductive process in birds. Both are species-specific biological processes.
Q.11Hard
Larceny is to Petty as Treason is to ___?
Answer: C
Petty larceny is minor theft; high treason is major betrayal of state. Both pair a crime type with its severity level.
Q.12Hard
Prism is to Light as Prion is to ___?
Answer: A
A prism is composed of glass that refracts light; a prion is composed of misfolded protein that causes disease. Both are physical entities with specific compositions.
Q.13Hard
Pulchritude is to Beauty as Turpitude is to ___?
Answer: C
Pulchritude means beauty; Turpitude means moral depravity or baseness. Both are abstract qualities describing opposite moral/aesthetic values.
Q.14Hard
Obsequious is to Fawning as Intrepid is to ___?
Answer: C
Obsequious means fawning/servile; Intrepid means fearless/brave. Both pairs show a trait paired with its characteristic behavior or quality.
Q.15Hard
Gregarious is to Solitude as Loquacious is to ___?
Answer: B
Gregarious people avoid solitude (they seek company); Loquacious people avoid silence (they like to talk). Both show aversion to their paired opposites.
Q.16Hard
Perspicacious is to Understanding as Pellucid is to ___?
Answer: B
Perspicacious means having keen understanding; Pellucid means transparently clear. Both describe qualities of mental or physical transparency.
Q.17Hard
Cogent is to Argument as Vestigial is to ___?
Answer: B
Cogent describes a compelling argument; Vestigial describes a non-functional organ. Both describe their respective domains with specific qualities.
Q.18Hard
Sedulous is to Diligence as Insolent is to ___?
Answer: A
Sedulous means marked by diligence; Insolent means marked by disrespect or contempt. Both are adjectives describing characteristic behaviors or attitudes.
Q.19Hard
Venerate is to Respect as Vilify is to ___?
Answer: B
Venerate shows extreme respect; vilify shows extreme contempt. These represent polar opposite emotional attitudes toward a subject.
Q.20Hard
Insouciance is to Carelessness as Nonchalance is to ___?
Answer: B
Insouciance demonstrates indifference through carelessness; nonchalance demonstrates indifference through cool detachment. Both express lack of concern.
