An analogy is a comparison between two things or systems of things that shows how they are similar. Any kind of thinking that uses an analogy is called “analogical reasoning.” An analogical argument is a clear example of analogical reasoning, which uses known similarities between two systems to show that there are more similarities than first thought. In general (but not always), these kinds of arguments are based on a type of reasoning called “ampliative reasoning,” because their conclusions are not obvious and are only supported in different ways. But there is some disagreement about how analogy arguments should be called.

Analogy in logical reasoning

In Analogy Logical Reasoning, Analogy shows “how one thing is like another in some ways.” The point of an analogy is to see if the candidate can figure out how the two questions are related and then find the two words that are most similar to that relationship.

Analogy is a part of Logical Reasoning that involves comparing two things and coming to a conclusion based on how similar or different they are. Words that make sense together will be given in a question, and candidates will have to find a word or words that are similar to those given in the question.

Analogy Reasoning Tricks

Tip #1: To answer questions in the Analogy reasoning section, candidates need to have a good grasp of the English language.

Tip #2: Carefully read the question, figure out what it means, and then choose the right answer.

Types of Questions

Type 1: Direct/Simple Analogy

In this type of analogy, two things are given that are related in a certain way, and then a third thing is given, along with four other options. Lastly, the candidate has to figure out how the first two things relate to each other. Then, the candidate has to choose from the options the element that has the same relationship to the third element as the first two.

Type 2: Completing or Choosing the Analogous Pair:

The candidate has to figure out what kind of relationship there is between the first two parts and then pick the part or pair that has the same kind of relationship as the first two.

Type 3: Choosing a similar word or number

The candidate has to pick the answer that is most like the given group of words or numbers.

Type 4: Multiple Word/Number Analogy

In this type of analogy, three words/numbers are given that are related to each other. The candidate has to figure out how these words and numbers are connected and then choose another group with a similar connection from the options given.

Choose From the Following Options

Example 1)  Pen : Pencil : Ink

(a) Orange : Banana : Juice

(b) Table : Chair : Wood

(c) Cow : Milk : Curd

(d) Fish : Shark : Water

Example 2)  Given set (6, 10, 16)

(a) 9, 12, 18

(b) 5, 10, 15

(c) 6,11,12

(d) 7,11,17

Example 3) Bhilai, Durgapur, Bokaro

(a) Baroda 

(b) Chennai

(c) Chandigarh

(d) Rourkela

Example 4) 9 : 50 : : ?

(a) 20 : 105 

(b) 22 : 100

(c) 18 : 190

(d) 15 : 225

Questions to do Yourself

Here are some analogy questions that candidates can use to prepare for their upcoming exams. These questions are easy and simple to answer, and it may not take long to figure out the pattern. 

Q 1: “Fire: Death” is a pair of words. Which of the given choices is correct?

Hunger: Starvation

Snow: Rain

Fire: Extinguisher

Board : Black.

Pen: Pencil 

Pen: Pencil  

Q 2: Find the one that is different from the rest.

Kathakali : Kerala

Mohiniyattam : Tamil Nadu

Sattriya : Assam 

Sattriya : Assam 

Bharatnatyam : Tamil Nadu

Q 3: Which of the following pairs should not be together?

Sardar Patel Stadium : Ahmedabad

Eden Garden : Kolkata

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium : New Delhi

Chennai : M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

D.Y.Patil Stadium : Mumbai 

Q 4: Find the odd one out of the pairs given below.

Australia : Kangaroo

Tiger: Bangladesh 

Tiger: Bangladesh 

Finland: Brown Bear

Finland: Brown Bear

Q 5: What will come after the question marks in the list?

ABD: FGI:: PQS:?

TUW

UVX

XYZ

TUV

UVW

Conclusion

Analogical arguments, also called “arguments by analogy,” are a type of induction in which a conclusion is drawn by comparing how two or more cases are alike. As a type of induction, an analogy can only lead to a likely conclusion, never a sure one.