Analogy question

Question

ATTACK: VANQUISHED::
A: smother: choked
B: woo: adored
C: spy: investigated
D: goad: provoked
E: guess: calculated

(Choose a pair that expresses a relationship most similar to that of capitalized one)

Now I was caught up with this one. It seems to me that all A, B, C, D word pairs express a same relationship.

Please help me clarify them with details. Thank you.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Jeff

This is how I see the relationship:

"If X attacks Y successfully, X has vanquished Y." (i.e. cause and effect)

Let's try the possibilities:

A. "If X smothers Y successfully, X has choked Y." - No; smother means something different from choke; and besides, there isn't a cause and effect.

B. "If X woos Y successfully, X has adored Y." - No; presumably the adoring preceded the wooing.

C. "If X spies Y successfully, X has investigated Y." - No; you would have to say 'spies on'.

D. "If X goads Y successfully, X has provoked Y." - Yes, possible.

E. "If X guesses Y successfully, X has calculated Y." - No; because a guess involves no calculation.

So only D seems to fit.

But others may see it differently!

MrP

Jeff_999 · Answer

Thank you so much, MrP. But I still don't get this one:

A. "If X smothers Y successfully, X has choked Y." - No; smother means something different from choke; and besides, there isn't a cause and effect.

Both "smother" and "choke" mean to have difficulty in breath.
And we may say "putting the cloth over someone's face" causes s/he to be choked; similarly, we can also say "smothering" someone causes s/he to be choked.

Maybe I got it wrong. Please do help me ease confusion.

CalifJim · Answer

One attacks another in the hope that the other will be vanquished.

One goads another in the hope that the other will be provoked.

Only D works.

"smother" would be like putting a pillow over someone's face to stop their breathing.
"choke" would be to surround their neck with your bare hands or a rope or similar device and squeeze until they stop breathing.
You can also choke on a large piece of food if the food is lodged so that you can't breathe. This would not be considered smothering. Nobody smothers by trying to swallow food.

CJ

Jeff_999 · Answer

So that's difference between "smother" and "choke". Thank you so much, CJ.

By the way, I haven't seen you for quite a while, except that day I accidentally saw you online, and having my questions answered. I've been wondering if you're 'retired', and ready to post a post to ask other teachers where ya been. hehe

Jeff_999 · Answer

A quick question here. I know you will check the thread again, 'cause an email will remind you.

IMPASSIVE:
(A) overwrought
(B) long-winded
(C) pompous
(D) energetic
(E) adept

Why A, not D?

CalifJim · Answer

Are you going to tell me the question?

This is not an analogy question!
I'm going to guess you had to choose the word opposite in meaning to "impassive".
"impassive" is incapable of or devoid of emotion; apathetic. "overwrought" is excited, nervous, agitated.
Nothing you do is going to affect an impassive person.
Almost anything you do is going to get a reaction from an overwrought person.

"impassive" doesn't mean "lazy". To me "lazy" and "energetic" would be more likely opposites.

CJ

(I've just been busy with other things lately.)

Jeff_999 · Answer

Oh yes, that's an antonym question: choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to the given one.

Thank you, CJ. I can fairly get it.

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