Common Entrance Verbal Reasoning
Past Questions

AI Explanation

**The reasoning** This is an **analogy question** — it tests relationships between pairs of words. The pattern is: **Person : Place of work** A doctor's primary workplace is a hospital. So we need to find where a teacher primarily works. That's a **school** — where teachers teach students, prepare lessons, and carry out their core duties. The relationship must be **direct and primary**. Just like "Doctor : Hospital," the second word should be the main professional environment for the first word. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Library** — Teachers sometimes use libraries, but librarians work there primarily, not teachers. - **Office** — Too generic. Many professionals work in offices (accountants, managers, etc.), so it's not specific to teachers. - **Lab** — Scientists and lab technicians work in labs. Teachers might visit labs occasionally, but it's not their primary workspace. **Quick takeaway** In analogy questions, match the **exact relationship type** between the first pair, then find the option that mirrors it most directly — here, profession to main workplace.

AI Explanation

**The reasoning** This is an **analogy question** — it tests your ability to see relationships between pairs of words. The pattern is: *Tool : Function* A pen's PRIMARY FUNCTION is to write. So we need to find what a knife's primary function is. - A pen **writes** (what it does) - A knife **cuts** (what it does) The relationship must be the same on both sides. Just like "write" is a verb describing what a pen does, we need a verb describing what a knife does — and that's "cut." **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **A) Sharp** — This describes a *quality* of a knife, not its function. It's like saying "Pen : Write :: Knife : Shiny" — wrong relationship. - **C) Long** — Another descriptive quality, not what the knife *does*. - **D) Metal** — What a knife is *made of*, not what it does. It's like saying "Pen : Write :: Knife : Steel" — breaks the pattern. **Quick takeaway** In analogies, match the *type* of relationship: if the first pair shows **object → action**, the second pair must too. Always ask: "What does this thing **do**?" not "What is it like?"

AI Explanation

**The reasoning** This is an **analogy question** — you're looking for the relationship between the first pair, then applying that same relationship to the second pair. The pattern is: **Bird : Fly** What does a bird do naturally? It flies. That's its primary mode of movement. So the question becomes: **Fish : ?** What does a fish do naturally? It swims. That's its primary mode of movement in water. The relationship is: **Animal : Its natural method of movement** Therefore, Fish : **Swim** completes the analogy perfectly. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Run** — Some animals run, but fish don't have legs. This might trap you if you're thinking of general movement without considering what fish actually do. - **Climb** — Fish don't climb; they lack limbs for this. - **Crawl** — Some fish can wiggle on land briefly, but this isn't their natural, primary movement. **Quick takeaway** In analogy questions, identify the *specific relationship* in the first pair (here: animal → its main way of moving), then find the option that mirrors that exact relationship in the second pair.

AI Explanation

**The reasoning** This is an **analogy question** — it tests whether you understand the relationship between two things, then apply that same relationship to another pair. The relationship here is: **adult animal → young offspring** A *cat* is the adult, and a *kitten* is its baby. So we need to find what a baby *dog* is called. That's a **puppy**. Simple! **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Cub** — This is the young of big cats (lions, tigers) or bears. It sounds "animal-like" so it seems plausible, but it's not specific to dogs. - **Foal** — This is a baby horse. Wrong animal entirely. - **Calf** — This is a baby cow (or elephant, whale). Again, wrong animal. The trick is that all these options are legitimate baby animal names, so if you're rushing or unsure, you might pick any "baby animal word." But analogies demand **precision** — you must match the exact relationship. **Quick takeaway** In analogy questions, always identify the *exact* relationship first (parent → offspring, part → whole, tool → function, etc.), then find the option that mirrors it perfectly.