Proverbs 3: 6

In all your ways acknowledge

Him, and He will make your
paths straight.

ENGLISH VOCABULARY
VERBAL ANALOGY
TIPS IN ANSWERING VERBAL ANALOGY
Verbal analogy - tests the examinees reasoning
ability. This type of questions would usually ask you to
identify the relationship existing between the given two
a. Read and understand the analogy as a
words and you must find a pair of words with a similar
sentence.
relationship. There are generally two formats for these
Narra: tree :: Bangus: __________
type of questions namely:
Read: Narra is to tree as Bangus is to?
SINGLE-WORD
b. Establish the relationship
In this format, you are given a pair of words
Narra: tree :: Bangus: __________
followed by another word. You are then
Analyze: Narra is a type of tree while Bangus is
presented with choices where you must pick the
a type of
best related to the third word parallel to the
Answer: FISH
relationship of the second word to the first
word.
3. Do not reverse the order
Make sure that the words in each pair are in the
In the single-word approach, express the
same order the order in which those words
relationship between the first two words;
appear in the question.
substitute the third word for the first, and think
of an appropriate substitute for the second
COMMON VERBAL RELATIONSHIPS
word.
Synonym-Antonym Rich: Poor
Classification/ Characteristic/ Hammer: Tool
Example: Dog: Bark::Pig:_________
Category Dirty: Garbage
a. Neigh b. purr c. grunt d. quack
Parts-Whole/ Fur: Bear
Specific-General Wheel: Car
Answer: C (animal: sound made)
Sequence Caterpillar: Butterfly
Wriggler: Mosquito
PAIRED
In this format, you are only given a pair of Cause-Effect Studying: Excelling
words and you must pick among the pair of Flood: Typhoon
words in the options that has a similar Complement Spoon: Fork
relationship with the given pair of words. Function, Purpose Shovel: Dig
Tool/ Instrument: Uses: Object Stethoscope: Doctor
Like in the single-word approach, you have to: of action Rolling pin: Dough
(1) look for the special relationship of the given Composition Wood: Table
pair; and then, (2) find a pair that exactly or Glass: Silica
most closely matches the original pair. This Degree of difference Car: Truck
principle of parallelism must be observed. Intensity, Quantity, Amount Pond: Ocean
Measure Meter: Length
Example: Cow: milk::_______:________ Shape, Color, Smell, etc. Ball: Round
a. Dog: Pup Position/ Location Quezon City: Metro
b. Chicken: Egg Manila
c. Stallion: Mare Worker: Product Engineer: Building
Worker: Action Nurse: Cares
Answer: B (animal: product) Worker: Tool Hammer: Carpenter
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Action: Significance Bow: Respect In the example, the word that can give
Symbolism Dove: Peace a clue to the meaning of the word
Grammatical/ Verbal She: hers :: he: his deference is superior. Note the words
Work: wrought :: that can be used in relation to ones
fight: fought superior and eliminate the other option.
Sex Mare: Horse The words that can be used with
superior are conformity, respect and
fairness. Dissimilarity and objection may
be outrightly eliminated since they are
SYNONYMS AND not usually used in relation to a
superior.

ANTONYMS
4 Substitute all possible options for the given
word. In the example above, the options may be
substituted as follows:
GENERAL TIPS:
1. Read, read and read! in conformity to his superior (with, not to)
2. Always have a thesaurus with you. It never in respect to his superior (for, not to)
hurts to look up any unfamiliar word. in fairness to his superior
3. Memorize at least 5-10 words from the list
above each day. Among the three choices, the word that
4. Practice using each word in a sentence. is most commonly associated with a
5. If there is a phrase or sentence given, look for superior is respect. Therefore, option 2
context clues. is the correct answer.
6. Eliminate any distracters on the options.

5 If the word to be defined is somewhat familiar,

use it in a sentence. Then substitute each option
for it as in step 4.
ANSWERING TEST ON SYNONYMS
COMMON SYNTONYMS

1 Determine whether the word is a noun, verb,

adverb or adjective. Once decided, for instance,
the word is a verb, eliminate from the choices
Abate Lessen
Arid dry
Blasphemous Profane
Surly Rude
Thermal Warm
Vagrant Tramp
those which are not verbs. That way, you will Caprice Fancy Vogue Fashion
lessen the number of your choices and increase Contemptuous Approving Accent Emphasize
your chances of guessing the right answer. Deplete Reduce Banal Boring
Emblem Symbol Bravado Boldness

2 Eliminate options that are based on words that

look or sound like the word to be defined. Most
likely, those words were included in
Falter Stumble
Gamut Range
Colloquial Informal
Debonair Groomed
Haven Refuge Distress Suffering
order to distract you. Jeopardize Endanger Ennui Boredom
Juxtapose Put next to Feign Pretend
Example: A heros talisman Maudlin Sentimental Genre Type
a. wise man d. foolish man
Mire Swamp Instigate Initiate
b. story teller e. lucky charm
Obfuscate Darken Jibe Agree
c. seller
Penurious Stingy Kudos Compliments
Although talisman sounds like wise man
Putrid Rotten Menial Fickle
and foolish man, and also a salesman
Quench Extinguish Nave Immature
(seller), the correct answer is option e.
Rapacious Greedy Odious Hateful

3 If the word to be defined is used in a phrase, Scald Injury Petty Small

understand the context in which it is used. The Stalwart Strong Qualm Bad feeling
context of a word is that part of a phrase or of a Quibble Bad feeling Saccharine Sweet
sentence which throws light on its meaning. Secluded Sheltered Stupefy Amaze
Taboo Banned Tyro Beginner
Example: in deference to his superior Vanguard Forefront Zenith Top
a. conformity d. dissimilarity Acme Pinnacle Befuddle Confuse
b. objection e. respect Burgeon Multiply Conflagration Fire
c. fairness Denizen Inhabitant Dumbfounded Shocked
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Fad Craze Fickle Changing Magnanimous Skinflinty
Ghoul Ghost Jaunt Trip Philanthropic Thrifty
Jovial Festive Lethargic Sluggish COURAGEOUS TIMID
Merger Combination Nefarious Wicked Valiant Timorous
Omniscient All knowing Profuse Abundant Dauntless Indisposed
Queer Odd Rampant Extensive Gallant Laconic
Salient Prominent Sentry Guard Audacious Diffident
Stupendous Surprising Tacky Shabby Stalwart Reticent
Ubiquitous Everywhere Verdant Green Intrepid Reserved
Scathing Severe Wrath rage PLEASANT UNPLEASANT
Omnipotent Almighty Glib Fluent Decorous Ireful
Daunt Frightened Cupidity Greed Engaging Obstinate
Knack Gift Paragon Model Unblemished Petulant
Valiant Heroic Whim Caprice Cordial Gruff
Affable Callous
Prowess Bravery Homage Tribute Agreeable Captious
Congenial Contentious
Obliging Peevish
ANTONYMS: words which mean the opposite of Sportive Perverse
another. LIVELY BLEAK
It is best to know the category under which the Brisk Dejected
words fall whether positive or negative, and Inspiring Muted
pleasant or unpleasant. Provocative Prostrate
Dynamic Forlorn
COMMON ANTONYMS Ebullient Lackluster
Abdicate Accept Ameliorate Worsen RICH POOR
Cowardice Bravery Disdain Respect Copious Destitute
Genial Unwelcoming Hail Chide Myriad Indigent
Acclaim Admonish Boon Disadvantage Plentiful Paucity
Cunning Simple Extol Deprecate Affluent Dearth
Genteel Vulgar Imbue Empty Multifarious Impecunious
Alleviate - Aggravate Castigate Praise Opulent Insolvent
Deluge Drought Flagrant Veiled Profuse Scanty
Grueling Easy Imperious Subservient Plethoric Penurious
Laud - Decry Magnanimous Stingy CAREFUL CARELESS
Nebulous Clear Pious Offensive Provident Reprehensible
Taciturn Loyal Wax Wane Circumspect Felonious
Liberty Captivity Mitigate Oppose Chary Culpable
Pandemonium Order Semblance Difference Discreet Insouciant
Tout Disparage Lugubrious Ebullient Exacting Lackadaisical
Muddle In order Panegyrize Denigrate Gingerly Negligent
Shackle Encourage Tranquil - Noisy Heedful Perfunctory
Pacify Repel Tout Disparage Conscientious Indifferent
Panegyrize Denigrate Mollify Rebuff
Allay Incense Decorous Irascible
Extol Censure Hail Chide

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
GENEROUS CHEAP
Munificent Spartan
Effusive Parsimonous
Charitable Paltry
Beneficent Miserly
Benevolent Niggardly
Altruistic Frugal
Hospitable Penurios
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