MEPX
Chapter 7 of 10All chapters
  1. 1The method
  2. 2Common relationships
  3. 3Traps
  4. 4When you do not know a word
  5. 5Why analogies matter
  6. 6Worked examples
  7. 7Degree and intensity
  8. 8Function and use
  9. 9Question formats
  10. 10Criticism of analogy tests

Chapter 7 of 10

Degree and intensity

Same idea, different strength.

Scales

Warm and hot, damp and soaked, annoyed and furious, fond and devoted. The relationship is a step up in intensity, and the step size should match.

  • Check the direction: mild to extreme, or extreme to mild.
  • Some pairs are extremes of one scale rather than a step along it.

Near synonyms

Two words meaning almost the same thing are a weak relationship. If the test pair are near synonyms, prefer an option pair that mirrors that closeness.