Understanding Word Problems

An analogy is a word problem made up of two different pairs of words

Analogies require you to identify a relationship between two words

An analogy contains two pairs of words happy : joyful :: sad : depressed (pair one) (pair two)

Both pairs of words must contain the same word relationship

The analogies we will study this year will contain the following word relationships: Synonyms

Words that have the same, or similar meaning Example: Obnoxious Annoying

Antonyms Words that have opposite meanings Example: Vicious Kind

Part to Whole One word represents a part, or portion of the

second word which represents a whole object or item

Example: Toe Foot, Engine Car, Page Book

Descriptive One word describes a characteristic, or

property of the other word Example: Blue Sky, Sour Lemon,

Immaculate Mary

Item to Category One word is an item, article, or piece that

resides within the category found in the other word

Example: Pants Clothing, Apple Fruit,

Yogurt Dairy

Analogies are written as: Graceful : Clumsy :: Late : Early

Analogies are read as: Graceful is to Clumsy as Late is to Early

When determining the relationship between words you must initially concentrate on the FIRST PAIR OF WORDS

When concentrating on the first pair of words ask yourself what the relationship is between those words. Are they:

Synonyms? Antonyms? Part to whole? Descriptive? Item to Category?

Example: GRACEFUL : CLUMSY :: Sunny : _____________ What is the relationship between graceful

and clumsy? They have opposite meanings therefore they are

ANTONYMS Since the first pair of words are antonyms, the

second pair of words also have to be antonyms To solve the analogy you would ask yourself

what the antonym, or opposite of sunny is ANSWER : Graceful : Clumsy :: Sunny : Cloudy

1) Analyze the first set of words only. 2) Ask yourself what the relationship is

between the first two words.3) Once you’ve identified a relationship,

look at the word given in the second pair.

4) Ask yourself what word you could place in the blank to create the same relationship you identified in the first pair of words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbXR43hMSV8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBGcET2AIwM&playnext=1&list=PLBFE0FF9458C62E30&feature=results_main

Permanent : Temporary :: Success : __________ The relationship between the first set of words

is: They are antonyms, or opposites

What is the antonym of success? Failure

Solve the analogy Permanent : Temporary :: Success : Failure

Smart : Intelligent :: Honest : ______________ Relationship:

Synonyms Solve:

Smart : Intelligent :: Honest : Truthful

Venus : Solar System :: Leaf : _____________ Relationship:

Part to Whole Solve:

Venus : Solar System :: Leaf : Tree

Desert : Hot :: Arctic : __________________ Relationship:

Descriptive Solve:

Desert : Hot :: Arctic : Cold

Monopoly : Board Game :: Basketball : _______ Relationship:

Item to Category Solve:

Monopoly : Board Game :: Basketball : Sport