11+ Verbal Reasoning  

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In this question type you are asked to fill the space in the third set of brackets by creating the missing word in the same way that the word has been created in the first and second set of brackets.

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Look at this first example and then we can work our way through the question until we get the answer: -

(For ease of learning we have marked the important parts of this explanation in RED.)
 
In the following question the second word in each pair is made from the first word in the same way on each occasion.
Find out what the rule is that makes the second word from the first word and then complete the third pair of words by writing the answer in the brackets.
A different rule is used for each question.

( acorn, corn )         ( alive, live )           ( aloft, ? )

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We need to start by looking carefully at the second word inside the first two sets of brackets.

( acorn, corn )         ( alive, live )            ( aloft, ? )

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We must ask ourselves how this second word is created from the first word.
Sometimes, as in this case, the answer is very easy to see. We can see that each time we are leaving out the first letter “a” to get the second word.

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So our answer will be

 
( acorn, corn )         ( alive, live )            ( aloft, loft )

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Look at this second example and then we can work our way through the question until we get the answer: -

(For ease of learning we have marked the important parts of this explanation in RED.)
 
In the following question the second word in each pair is made from the first word in the same way on each occasion.
Find out what the rule is that makes the second word from the first word and then complete the third pair of words by writing the answer in the brackets.
A different rule is used for each question.

( treads, tea )          ( coupon, cup )                  ( boards, ? )

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We must ask ourselves how this second word is created from the first word.

( treads, tea )          ( coupon, cup )                  ( boards, ? )

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Work systemically starting with the letter t from tea.
t is the first letter of treads (the first word in the first set of brackets).

Check that this is the same with the c from cup. Yes, we can see that c is the first letter of coupon (the first word in the second set of brackets).

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Now that we know that the same rule applies to the first letter of the second word in both sets of brackets we can work out the first letter of our answer.

So the first letter that we need for our answer must be the first letter of boards (the first word in the third set of brackets where the answer is written.)

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Our first letter is b.

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Now take the e from tea.
e is the third letter of treads (the first word in the first set of brackets).

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Check that this is the same with the u from cup. Yes, we can see that u is the third letter of coupon (the first word in the second set of brackets).

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Now that we know that the same rule applies to the second letter of the second word in both sets of brackets we can work out the second letter of our answer.

So the second letter that we need for our answer must be the third letter of boards (the first word in the third set of brackets where the answer is written.)

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Our second letter is a.

 

Now take the a from tea.
a is the fourth letter of treads (the first word in the first set of brackets).

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Check that this is the same with the p from cup. Yes, we can see that p is the fourth letter of coupon (the first word in the second set of brackets).

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Now that we know that the same rule applies to the third letter of the second word in both sets of brackets we can work out the third letter of our answer.

So the third letter that we need for our answer must be the fourth letter of boards (the first word in the third set of brackets where the answer is written.)

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Our third letter is r.

So the correct answer is:-

                   ( treads, tea )          ( coupon, cup )                  ( boards, bar )

 

The answer is bar because each time we use the first, third and fourth letters of the first word to get the new word.

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THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR!!!!

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Always start by counting how many letters are in the second word in each set of brackets as your answer in the third set of brackets must contain the same number of letters.
Make sure that you work systemically starting with the first letter of the second word in the first, then the second set of brackets.
Then move to the second letter and so on until you have completed the new word that goes in the third set of brackets.
Work systemically and create the new word that goes in the third set of brackets, in exactly the same way as the second word has been created in the first and second set of brackets.
If you do this you should be able to get this question type correct almost every time.
If you are still not sure about the method, take more time and look again at the examples above.

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NB When you are completing a Verbal Reasoning test in Multiple-Choice format the correct answer will always be one of the choices that you are given on your answer sheet. If your answer does not match one of the answers that you are given then your answer is wrong.