Analogies are extremely useful in writing, conversation, and communication, but are nearly impossible in question format. If you have ever tried to solve some analogy puzzles, you will soon come to know their infuriating nature.
Let's try one for "fun":
BIRD : NEST ::
(A) dog : doghouse
(B) squirrel : tree
(C) beaver : dam
(D) cat : litter box
(E) book : library
Well, of course the answer is C. Although you may have found a correct logic statement such as "A dog lives in a doghouse like a bird lives in a nest," this is not the correct answer because the people who write these questions are evil it is not specific enough. A beaver also lives in a dam, so that cannot work. The correct relation that you are supposed to magically conjure is that a bird builds a nest like a beaver builds a dam. The truly unfortunate thing is that was an easy one. Let's try another, shall we?
RADIANCE : GLIMMER ::
(A) glow : shine
(B) sparkle : glitter
(C) dark : light
(D) heat waves : shimmer
(E) midday : dawn
What? The only thing I can deduct from this one is that it's probably A or B. Seriously, who needs to know this kind of garbage? (For those curious, the correct answer is A)
On a separate note, be extremely careful when people make analogical comparisons in conversation or writing. When the analogy is stated, it can easily be and often is confused for an accusation. For example, if I were to say that Obama is to policy like a monkey is to a dartboard, I'm not calling Obama a monkey; rather, I am stating that the relation between him and his policies is the same as a monkey throwing darts at a dartboard. Whether accurate or not, this analogy compares relationships, not each individual part of the statement.
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