Understanding Word Analogies: Bull, Cow, Gander Pair

Word analogy questions test your ability to recognize the relationship between a pair of words and apply that same relationship to a different word to find its corresponding pair. In this question, we are given the analogy: Bull : Cow :: Gander : ?

Let's analyze the relationship between the first pair of words: Bull and Cow.

• A Bull is a male bovine animal (cattle).
• A Cow is a female bovine animal (cattle).
• The relationship between Bull and Cow is that of a male animal to its female counterpart within the same species.

Now, we need to find a word that has the same relationship with Gander. A Gander is a male goose. Following the pattern, we need to find the female counterpart of a Gander.

• A Gander is a male goose.
• We need to find the female goose.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Option 1: Doe. A Doe is a female deer, rabbit, hare, or antelope. This is not the female of a gander.
• Option 2: Goose. A Goose is the common name for a large water bird; specifically, it refers to the female bird, while the male is called a gander. This matches the required relationship.
• Option 3: Mare. A Mare is a female horse. This is not the female of a gander.
• Option 4: Hen. A Hen is a female chicken or other fowl. This is not the female of a gander.

Therefore, the word that is related to Gander in the same way that Cow is related to Bull is Goose.

Step-by-Step Solution for the Analogy

1. Identify the first pair: Bull : Cow.
2. Determine the relationship between Bull and Cow: Male (Bull) to Female (Cow) of the same species (Cattle).
3. Identify the third word: Gander.
4. Apply the same relationship (Male to Female) to Gander. Gander is a male goose.
5. Find the female counterpart of a Gander. The female is a Goose.
6. Match the female counterpart (Goose) with the given options.

Common Animal Male and Female Terms

Understanding the terms for male and female animals is often key to solving these types of analogies. Here is a table of some common animal pairs:

Revision Table: Key Analogy Concepts

Additional Information on Verbal Analogies

Verbal analogies are a common type of question in reasoning and aptitude tests. They assess vocabulary, understanding of relationships between concepts, and logical thinking. To improve your ability to solve analogies, it's helpful to:

• Expand your vocabulary.
• Learn common types of relationships used in analogies (like male/female, part/whole, synonym/antonym).
• Practice identifying the precise relationship in the first pair before looking at the options for the second pair.
• Consider all options carefully and eliminate those that do not fit the relationship or are unrelated.

In this specific analogy, recognizing that Bull and Cow are male and female cattle, respectively, immediately directs you to look for the female equivalent of a Gander, which is a male goose.