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Analogy Writing Exercises: Level B2 (with Answers)

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: B2 📚 Type: Writing ⭐ XP: up to +16 (on pass)

The fastest way to learn is from your mistakes. Try these 15 Analogy exercises at Level B2 and read the explanation for every question — especially the ones you get wrong. Each explanation names the specific rule so you know exactly what to review.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: Read the following sentence: 'The city streets were veins carrying the lifeblood of commuters to every corner of the metropolis.' Which literary technique does this sentence primarily demonstrate?

Question 1 options
This sentence uses analogy by comparing city streets to veins and commuters to lifeblood, drawing a parallel between the human body's circulatory system and urban transportation to make the concept more vivid.
Q2 15

Question 2: Building a good argument is like constructing a house: without a solid ___, the entire structure will eventually collapse.

Question 2 options
The word 'foundation' correctly completes this analogy because it works on both levels of comparison — a house needs a literal foundation, and an argument needs a figurative foundation of strong evidence and reasoning.
Q3 15

Question 3: An analogy always requires the use of the words 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison.

Question 3 options
This is false. While analogies can use 'like' or 'as' (taking the form of a simile), they can also be expressed as metaphors or extended comparisons without these specific words. For example, 'The brain is a computer' is an analogy that uses neither word.
Q4 15

Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses an analogy to explain a complex idea?

Question 4 options
The sentence comparing the internet to a vast library uses analogy correctly by drawing a parallel between two different things that share a meaningful similarity — both store and organise large amounts of information for access.
Q5 15

Question 5: Match each analogy-related term to its correct definition or example.

Question 5 options
Simile
Metaphor
Extended analogy
Analogy
Direct comparison without 'like' or 'as'
Comparison using 'like' or 'as'
Explaining something by comparing it to something else
A comparison developed across several sentences

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

A simile uses 'like' or 'as' for comparison. A metaphor states one thing is another without 'like' or 'as'. An extended analogy develops a comparison across multiple sentences. An analogy itself is a comparison between two things to clarify an idea.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence contains an error in its use of analogy?

Question 6 options
The sentence 'Teaching a child is like baking a cake because both involve children' contains a flawed analogy. Baking a cake does not necessarily involve children, so the stated similarity is inaccurate and the comparison breaks down logically.
Q7 15

Question 7: In an essay about the challenges of starting a new business, which analogy best fits in the blank? 'Launching a startup with limited funds is ___.'

Question 7 options
The analogy 'like navigating a ship through a storm with a torn sail' best fits because it mirrors the difficulty, risk, and resource limitation described in the context. The other options either lack a clear parallel or do not convey the sense of challenge.
Q8 15

Question 8: The following sentence contains an error: 'Memories are like old photographs; the more you expose it to light, the more they fade.' Which option correctly fixes the error?

Question 8 options
The error is a pronoun inconsistency: 'memories' and 'photographs' are plural, but 'it' is singular. Changing 'it' to 'them' maintains consistency and allows the analogy to flow correctly across both sides of the comparison.
Q9 15

Question 9: Arrange the parts in the correct order to build an effective analogy within a paragraph:

Question 9 options
  • Signal the comparison with a linking phrase
  • Explain the specific point of similarity
  • Present the familiar concept being compared to
  • Introduce the complex or unfamiliar concept

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

An effective analogy in writing first introduces the unfamiliar topic, then signals the comparison, next presents the familiar concept, and finally explains the specific point of similarity between the two.
Q10 15

Question 10: You are writing a formal report about cybersecurity risks for a company board. Which analogy is most appropriate for this context?

Question 10 options
For a formal business report, the analogy comparing a firewall to a security guard at a building entrance is clear, professional, and relevant. The other options are too casual, overly dramatic, or use informal language unsuitable for a board-level audience.
Q11 15

Question 11: What is the key difference between an analogy and a simple comparison?

Question 11 options
The key distinction is that an analogy uses the similarity between two different things to explain or clarify an idea, while a simple comparison may just note similarities without serving an explanatory purpose. Analogies are tools of reasoning, not merely descriptive.
Q12 15

Question 12: Which version of the following analogy is most appropriate for an academic essay on education reform?

Question 12 options
In academic writing, analogies should be precise, measured, and professional. The option using 'akin to renovating an old building' strikes the right formal register and provides a logical, sustained comparison without being too casual or too dramatic.
Q13 15

Question 13: An analogy is weakened when the two things being compared share no meaningful similarities relevant to the point being made.

Question 13 options
This is true. An effective analogy depends on a clear and relevant point of similarity between the two things being compared. If the connection is forced or irrelevant, the analogy fails to clarify the idea and may confuse the reader instead.
Q14 15

Question 14: Read the following sentence: 'Raising a teenager is like tending a garden in unpredictable weather — you provide the best conditions you can, but growth happens on its own schedule.' What effect does this analogy create for the reader?

Question 14 options
This analogy helps the reader understand an abstract emotional experience (raising a teenager) by connecting it to the concrete, familiar experience of gardening. It creates empathy and clarity by illustrating patience and lack of control in an accessible way.
Q15 15

Question 15: Which option best improves the following weak analogy? Original: 'Running a hospital is like running a restaurant because both are buildings.'

Question 15 options
The improved version identifies a meaningful point of similarity — coordination, timing, and teamwork — rather than the superficial observation that both are buildings. A strong analogy highlights a relevant and insightful parallel between the two things being compared.