Analogy and Classification — Word, Number, Letter Analogy and Odd One Out with 20 Solved PSC Problems

Analogy and Classification (Odd One Out) are core reasoning topics in Kerala PSC exams. This note focuses on systematic approaches with 20 fully solved PSC-pattern problems.

Types of Analogy

Type	Format	Example
Word Analogy	A : B :: C : ?	Doctor : Patient :: Teacher : Student
Number Analogy	A : B :: C : ?	4 : 16 :: 5 : 25
Letter Analogy	AB : CD :: EF : ?	AB : YZ :: CD : WX
Mixed Analogy	Combines words and numbers	—

Common Analogy Relationships

Relationship	Example
Synonym	Big : Large :: Small : Tiny
Antonym	Hot : Cold :: Up : Down
Part : Whole	Wheel : Car :: Petal : Flower
Worker : Tool	Carpenter : Saw :: Painter : Brush
Product : Raw Material	Bread : Flour :: Paper : Pulp
Animal : Young	Cow : Calf :: Horse : Foal
Animal : Sound	Dog : Bark :: Cat : Mew
Country : Capital	India : New Delhi :: Japan : Tokyo
Country : Currency	India : Rupee :: Japan : Yen
Person : Profession	Surgeon : Operation :: Judge : Verdict
Male : Female	Bull : Cow :: Stallion : Mare
Object : Function	Knife : Cut :: Pen : Write
Cause : Effect	Fire : Smoke :: Rain : Flood
Symbol : Represents	Dove : Peace :: Red Cross : Aid
Study : Subject	Ornithology : Birds :: Entomology : Insects

Solved Problems (PSC Pattern)

Word Analogy Problems (1-8)

Problem 1: Cobbler : Leather :: Carpenter : ? (A) Wood (B) Furniture (C) Hammer (D) Nails

Answer: (A) Wood Logic: Worker : Raw Material. Cobbler works with leather; Carpenter works with wood.

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Problem 2: Telescope : Stars :: Microscope : ? (A) Laboratory (B) Lens (C) Microorganisms (D) Doctor

Answer: (C) Microorganisms Logic: Instrument : What it observes. Telescope observes stars; Microscope observes microorganisms.

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Problem 3: Ornithology : Birds :: Ichthyology : ? (A) Insects (B) Reptiles (C) Fish (D) Mammals

Answer: (C) Fish Logic: Study : Subject. Ornithology is study of birds; Ichthyology is study of fish.

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Problem 4: Marathon : Race :: Tsunami : ? (A) Earthquake (B) Wave (C) Sea (D) Japan

Answer: (B) Wave Logic: Specific type : General category. Marathon is a type of race; Tsunami is a type of wave.

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Problem 5: Pen : Writer :: Needle : ? (A) Thread (B) Cloth (C) Tailor (D) Sewing

Answer: (C) Tailor Logic: Tool : User. Pen is used by a writer; Needle is used by a tailor.

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Problem 6: India : Tiger :: Australia : ? (A) Koala (B) Kangaroo (C) Emu (D) Platypus

Answer: (B) Kangaroo Logic: Country : National Animal. India’s national animal is tiger; Australia’s is kangaroo.

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Problem 7: Eye : Ophthalmology :: Skin : ? (A) Cardiology (B) Neurology (C) Dermatology (D) Orthopaedics

Answer: (C) Dermatology Logic: Body part : Branch of medicine. Eyes studied under ophthalmology; Skin under dermatology.

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Problem 8: Flock : Birds :: Pack : ? (A) Lions (B) Wolves (C) Fish (D) Ants

Answer: (B) Wolves Logic: Collective noun : Animal. A flock of birds; A pack of wolves.

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Number Analogy Problems (9-13)

Problem 9: 8 : 64 :: 11 : ? (A) 121 (B) 111 (C) 132 (D) 144

Answer: (A) 121 Logic: Number : Its square. 8 squared = 64; 11 squared = 121.

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Problem 10: 3 : 27 :: 5 : ? (A) 25 (B) 75 (C) 125 (D) 150

Answer: (C) 125 Logic: Number : Its cube. 3 cubed = 27; 5 cubed = 125.

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Problem 11: 6 : 42 :: 8 : ? (A) 64 (B) 72 (C) 56 (D) 48

Answer: (B) 72 Logic: n : n x (n+1). 6 x 7 = 42; 8 x 9 = 72.

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Problem 12: 2 : 6 :: 5 : ? (A) 25 (B) 30 (C) 26 (D) 35

Answer: (B) 30 Logic: n : n x (n+1). But also check: 2 : 6 could be n : n(n+1) = 2x3=6, so 5 : 5x6 = 30.

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Problem 13: 16 : 56 :: 32 : ? (A) 96 (B) 112 (C) 120 (D) 128

Answer: (B) 112 Logic: n : n x 3.5? Let us check: 16 x 3.5 = 56. Then 32 x 3.5 = 112. Alternatively: 16 : (16+40) and 32 : (32+80) follows doubling of difference. Or simpler: n : (n squared/n + n x 2.5). Best pattern: multiply by 3.5.

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Letter Analogy Problems (14-16)

Problem 14: ABCD : WXYZ :: EFGH : ? (A) STUV (B) RSTU (C) TUVW (D) QRST

Answer: (A) STUV Logic: Reverse position pattern. A(1) maps to W(23) = 26-1-2=23. Actually: A=1, W=23; B=2, X=24; C=3, Y=25; D=4, Z=26. Sum of positions = 24. So E(5)+?=24, meaning ?=19=S. F(6)+?=24, ?=18=… Wait, let us re-examine: A+W = 1+23 = 24. B+X = 2+24 = 26. That does not work. Direct mapping: ABCD reversed in alphabet = ZYXW, not WXYZ. The pattern is: shift each letter forward by 22 (or back by 4). A+22=W, B+22=X, C+22=Y, D+22=Z. So E+22=W? No, E(5)+22=27, which wraps to A. Let me reconsider. ABCD to WXYZ: each letter becomes (26-position+22)? Actually the simplest: A goes to W (position 23 = 26-4+1), which is the mirror. A(1) maps to Z(26), but here A maps to W. The gap: W-A = 22. So E+22 = 27, wrap around: 27-26 = 1 = A? That gives ABCD again. Alternative: ABCD to WXYZ is simply going to the end of alphabet in reverse distance from Z. Z-A=25, Z-W=3. Hmm. Simplest explanation for PSC: ABCD:WXYZ — the set of last 4 letters in order. EFGH : STUV — going 18 positions forward. E(5)+18=23=W? No. Let me just verify: If we take the complement (letter + its pair = 27), A(1)+Z(26)=27, but A maps to W, not Z. Perhaps the intended pattern is simply a fixed shift of +22 mod 26. Then E+22 = 27 mod 26 = 1 = A? That gives ABCD. Not matching any option. The answer (A) STUV: S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22. E=5, diff=14. Whereas A=1, W=23, diff=22. Different diffs. Most likely PSC answer is (A) STUV with pattern: each group of 4 is separated by 4 groups of 4 from the end. WXYZ = last 4; STUV = 4 before that. ABCD = first 4; EFGH = next 4. So first group maps to last group, second group maps to second-last group.

Answer: (A) STUV

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Problem 15: ACE : BDF :: GIK : ? (A) HJL (B) HIJ (C) FHJ (D) JLN

Answer: (A) HJL Logic: Each letter in the first set is shifted forward by 1 to get the second set. A+1=B, C+1=D, E+1=F. So G+1=H, I+1=J, K+1=L.

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Problem 16: MOUSE : PRXVH :: TABLE : ? (A) WDEOH (B) WDCOH (C) WDEOF (D) VDCOH

Answer: (A) WDEOH Logic: Each letter shifted forward by 3. M+3=P, O+3=R, U+3=X, S+3=V, E+3=H. So T+3=W, A+3=D, B+3=E, L+3=O, E+3=H. Answer: WDEOH.

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Classification / Odd One Out Problems (17-20)

Problem 17: Find the odd one out: (A) Apple (B) Mango (C) Potato (D) Orange

Answer: (C) Potato Logic: Apple, Mango, Orange are fruits. Potato is a vegetable (tuber).

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Problem 18: Find the odd one out: (A) 27 (B) 64 (C) 125 (D) __(let us use) 144

Answer: (D) 144 Logic: 27 = 3 cubed, 64 = 4 cubed, 125 = 5 cubed. 144 = 12 squared (not a perfect cube).

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Problem 19: Find the odd one out: (A) Mercury (B) Venus (C) Moon (D) Mars

Answer: (C) Moon Logic: Mercury, Venus, Mars are planets. Moon is a natural satellite.

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Problem 20: Find the odd one out: (A) BCDE (B) JKLM (C) PQRS (D) STUV

Answer: (D) STUV Logic: BCDE starts at B(2), JKLM starts at J(10), PQRS starts at P(16). Differences: 10-2=8, 16-10=6. Pattern breaks. Alternative: BCDE, JKLM, PQRS — gap of 8, 6, 4? Then next should start at P+4=T. But STUV starts at S(19), not T(20). So STUV is the odd one out.

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Quick Tips for PSC Analogy Questions

Tip	Detail
Identify the relationship first	Before looking at options, figure out how A relates to B
Check all options	Sometimes two options seem correct; pick the most precise one
Number analogies	Check square, cube, n(n+1), n(n-1), prime patterns
Letter analogies	Count position values (A=1, B=2…) and find the shift
Odd one out	Find the common property of 3 items; the 4th lacks it
Common traps	Confusing part-whole with type relationships

Common Classification Categories (Odd One Out)

Category	Common Groups
Fruits vs Vegetables	Mango, Apple, Grape vs Potato, Onion
Planets vs Others	Mercury, Mars vs Moon, Sun
Odd vs Even numbers	—
Primes vs Composites	2, 3, 5, 7 vs 4, 9, 15
Squares vs Cubes	4, 9, 16 vs 8, 27
Mammals vs Others	Whale, Bat vs Shark, Eagle
States vs Cities	Kerala, Tamil Nadu vs Chennai, Kochi
Rivers vs Lakes	Ganga, Yamuna vs Chilika, Wular