CAT4 Verbal Reasoning: Free Practice Test & Tips to Help You Master This Section
Welcome to your complete practice guide for the CAT4 Verbal Reasoning battery, one of the four batteries of the test.
On this page, you’ll find:
- Lifelike CAT4 Verbal Reasoning practice questions with full explanations
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Tips to help you answer questions quickly and accurately
Let’s dive right in!
This page was created by Roman, a CAT4 test prep specialist.
Have a question about the test or our practice materials? Email me at roman@prepopedia.com - I'm here to help your child succeed!
What Questions to Expect on the CAT4 Verbal Reasoning Battery?
The CAT4 Verbal Reasoning battery consists of two sub-sections:
Verbal Classification and Verbal Analogies.
Verbal Classification
Number of questions: 24, each with 5 answer choices
Time limit: 8 minutes
Instructions: In each question, there are three given words. These words are similar in some way. Decide how they are the same. Then, choose the word from the answer choices that goes with the three given words.
Verbal Analogies
Number of questions: 24, each with 5 answer choices
Time limit: 8 minutes
Instructions: In each question, you are given a pair of words that go together in a certain way. You need to choose the word that goes with the third word in a similar way.
As you can see, the time pressure on this battery is high – you have only 20 seconds per question.
So, it’s important to work quickly and not get stuck on questions.
If you’re not sure and see you’ve spent too much time on a question, eliminate 1-3 answers, make an educated guess, and move on to the next one.
CAT4 Verbal Reasoning Practice Test (Including PDF)
The following practice questions highly resemble actual exam questions. Each question is followed by a detailed explanation to help you learn and improve.
CAT4 Verbal Classification Practice Questions
Question 1
rain | snow | hail
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is B. sleet.
First, look at the three words given:
- rain
- snow
- hail
Ask yourself: What do all these have in common?
They are all types of precipitation, meaning they are forms of water that fall from the sky.
Now, let’s check each answer choice:
- sunshine: This is light from the sun, not something that falls like rain
- sleet: This is a mix of rain and snow, and it falls from the sky
- mist: This is tiny water droplets in the air, but it doesn’t really fall like rain
- cold: This is a temperature, not precipitation
- fog: This is a cloud close to the ground, not something falling
So the only option that belongs to the same group is B. sleet.
Quick Tip for Students 💡
When you see 3 words like this, always ask:
“What category do they belong to?”
If all three share the same category, your job is to find the answer that fits that exact same category, not just something related.
Here, the key idea was: “things that fall from the sky (precipitation)”.
Question 2
cliff | cave | volcano
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is A. canyon.
Look at the three words:
- cliff
- cave
- volcano
Ask yourself: What do these all have in common?
They are all natural landforms made of rock and part of the Earth’s surface.
Now check the options:
- canyon: A deep valley with steep rocky sides (same type of landform)
- river: Flowing water
- lake: Body of water
- glacier: Ice mass
- field: Flat land, usually used for farming
So the best match is canyon, because it belongs to the same group of rock-based landforms.
Quick Tip for Students 💡
When the words are about nature, look carefully at the type:
- Is it land?
- Is it water?
- Is it ice?
Here, all three were rock landforms, so you needed another rock landform.
Question 3
fury | happiness | depression
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is D. fear.
Look at the three words:
- fury
- happiness
- depression
Ask yourself: What are these words describing?
They are all emotions or feelings.
Now check each answer choice:
- amuse: this is a verb (an action), not a feeling
- emotional: this is an adjective (describes something), not a specific feeling
- annoy: also a verb
- fear: this is a feeling
- considerate: this describes a person’s behavior, not a feeling
So the correct answer is fear, because it fits the same category: emotions.
Quick Tip for Students 💡
Always check the type of word:
- Are they feelings (nouns)?
- Are they actions (verbs)?
- Are they describing words (adjectives)?
Here, all three were feelings (nouns), so the answer must also be a feeling (fear).
Question 4
party | assembly | congregation
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is C. rally.
Look at the three words:
- party = a social gathering
- assembly = a group gathered together
- congregation = a group of people, often in a religious setting
What do these words have in common?
They all describe a group of people gathered together or a meeting/group.
Now let’s test the answer choices:
- preach: This is an action, not a group or gathering
- hall: This is a place, not a group of people
- rally: This can mean a large public gathering of people
- occasion: This means an event or time, not specifically a gathering of people
- admission: this means entry, or being allowed in
So the best match is rally, because it is also a gathering or meeting of people, often for support, protest, or enthusiasm.
Quick Tip for Students 💡
When several words seem related, ask:
Are they people, places, actions, or events?
Here, the pattern was not just “things related to social life.” It was more specific:
groups or gatherings of people.
That is why rally is better than words like hall or occasion.
Question 5
race | sprint | rush
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is D. dash.
Look at the three words:
- race
- sprint
- rush
What do these words have in common?
They all describe moving very fast.
- race can mean to move quickly
- sprint means to run very fast
- rush means to move or do something quickly
Now look at the answer choices:
- roam: means to wander around without hurry
- jog: means to run slowly and steadily
- walk: slower movement
- dash: means to run or move quickly
- dodge: means to avoid something quickly, but the main idea is avoiding, not fast movement itself
So the best answer is dash.
This question is testing your ability to spot near-synonyms.
The first three words all share the idea of: speed + fast movement
Dash matches that exact idea very well.
Even though dodge can involve quick movement, its main meaning is to avoid something, so it does not fit the group as closely.
Quick Tip for Students 💡
In this type of question, do not choose a word just because it is somewhat related.
Choose the word that matches the main meaning of all three words.
Here, the main meaning was to move quickly, so dash is the strongest match.
Question 6
variety | species | strain
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is E. breed.
Look at the three words:
- variety
- species
- strain
What do these words have in common?
They all describe a type, kind, or subgroup within a larger group.
Let’s break them down:
- variety = a type or form of something
- species = a class or kind of living things
- strain = a particular type within a group, often used for plants, animals, or germs
Now look at the answer choices:
- germ: a living microorganism, not a word meaning “type”
- mixture: a combination of things, not a subgroup
- label: a tag or name, not a type itself
- population: a whole group of people or animals, not a subtype
- breed: a kind or type of animal within a larger group
So the best answer is breed.
This group is about words that mean:
a kind / type / category within something bigger
That is exactly what breed means. For example:
- a dog breed
- a horse breed
It fits the same idea as species and strain because it points to a specific subgroup.
Quick Tip for Students 💡
When the words seem scientific or formal, ask:
Do these words name actual things, or do they name types of things?
Here, the words were not objects. They were words for categories or kinds.
That is why breed is the strongest match.
CAT4 Verbal Analogies Practice Questions
Question 7
sharp → blunt : hideous → ?
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is C. beautiful.
Let’s look at the first pair:
sharp → blunt
These words are opposites.
Something sharp can cut easily. Something blunt is not sharp.
Now look at the second word:
hideous
Hideous means very ugly or very unpleasant to look at.
So we need to find the opposite of hideous.
Now check the answer choices:
- nice: positive, but too general. It does not directly mean the opposite of hideous
- awful: similar to hideous, not opposite
- beautiful: the clear opposite of hideous
- frightening: scary, but not the opposite of hideous
- horrible: similar to hideous, not opposite
So the correct answer is beautiful.
The pattern is:
sharp is the opposite of blunt
so
hideous is the opposite of beautiful
Quick Tip for Students 💡
Common relationships include:
- opposites (antonyms)
- synonyms
- part to whole
- cause and effect
- function
Here, the relationship was opposites, so you had to find the opposite of hideous.
Question 8
foot → hip : hand → ?
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is A. shoulder.
First, look at:
foot → hip
What is the connection?
Both are body parts, but more specifically:
- The foot is at the end of the leg
- The hip is at the top of the leg
So the relationship is:
One body part is connected to the lower end of a limb, and the other is connected to the upper end of that limb
Now apply the same idea:
hand → ?
- The hand is at the end of the arm
- What is at the top of the arm?
That is the shoulder.
So the correct answer is A. shoulder.
Let’s see all answer choices:
- wrist: The wrist is next to the hand, not the top of the arm.
- elbow: The elbow is in the middle of the arm.
- finger: A finger is part of the hand, not the matching body part at the other end.
- neck: The neck is not the top joint of the arm.
- shoulder: The shoulder is the upper connection point of the arm, just like the hip is the upper connection point of the leg.
The Analogy Pattern
foot (end of leg) is to hip (top of leg)
as
hand (end of arm) is to shoulder (top of arm)
Quick Tip for Students 💡
In body-part analogies, do not just choose a word from the same topic.
Look for the exact position or role.
Ask:
- Is this at the top?
- Is this at the bottom?
- Is this in the middle?
- Is this part of the same limb?
Here, the pattern was:
lower end of a limb → upper end of that limb
Question 9
shoe → sock : waistcoat → ?
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is D. shirt.
First, look at:
shoe → sock
What is the relationship?
A shoe is usually worn over a sock.
So the second item goes under the first item.
Now apply the same idea:
waistcoat → ?
A waistcoat (vest) is usually worn over a shirt.
So the matching answer is shirt.
Let’s see all answer choices:
- hat: A hat is not usually worn under a waistcoat.
- trousers: Trousers are worn on the lower body, so they do not match the relationship.
- jacket: A jacket is usually worn over a waistcoat, not under it.
- shirt: A shirt is worn under a waistcoat, just like a sock is worn under a shoe.
- buttons: Buttons are parts of clothing, not a separate clothing item worn underneath.
The Analogy Pattern
shoe is worn over a sock
as
waistcoat is worn over a shirt
Quick Tip for Students 💡
In clothing analogies, ask:
Which item goes on top, and which item goes underneath?
That usually helps you find the exact match.
Question 10
north → west : forward → ?
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is C. sideways.
First, look at:
north → west
What happens here?
If you are facing north and turn 90 degrees to the left, you will face west.
So the relationship is:
one direction changes to a side direction
or more exactly:
straight/front direction → left-side direction
Now look at the second pair:
forward → ?
If something is moving forward, the matching side direction would be sideways.
So the correct answer is C. sideways.
Let’s see all answer choices:
- ahead: This is almost the same as forward, not a matching change in direction.
- diagonal: Diagonal means slanting between directions, not directly to the side.
- sideways: This matches the shift from a straight direction to a side direction.
- reverse: Reverse means backward, which is the opposite of forward, not a side turn.
- up: Up is vertical, not a side direction.
The Analogy Pattern
north becomes west
as
forward becomes sideways
A simple way to see it:
- north = straight direction
- west = side direction
- forward = straight direction
- sideways = side direction
Quick Tip for Students 💡
When a direction analogy does not look like an opposite or synonym question, try to imagine it as movement or turning.
Ask:
- Did it turn left or right?
- Did it go from straight to side?
- Did it reverse?
Here, the pattern was:
straight direction → side direction
Question 11
modest → brag : friendly → ?
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is D. threaten.
We first need to understand the relationship between the first two words:
modest → brag
A modest person does not show off.
To brag means to talk proudly about yourself and show off.
So these two words are connected by opposite behavior:
- modest = humble, not showing off
- brag = showing off
Now apply the same idea to the second pair:
friendly → ?
A friendly person is kind, warm, and pleasant.
We need a word that shows the opposite kind of behavior.
Let’s check the answers:
- kindness: This is similar to friendly, not opposite.
- boast: This means talking with excessive pride, so it matches brag, but it does not relate to friendly.
- help: Helping is usually friendly behavior, not the opposite.
- threaten: Threatening someone is the opposite of being friendly.
- enemy: An enemy is a person, not a behavior or action. The pattern in the first pair is about qualities/actions, so this does not fit as well.
So the correct answer is D. threaten.
The first pair shows a contrast in behavior:
- modest describes quiet, humble behavior
- brag describes boastful behavior
The second pair should also show a contrast in behavior:
- friendly describes kind behavior
- threaten describes hostile behavior
That makes the relationship match best.
The Analogy Pattern
modest is opposed by bragging behavior
as
friendly is opposed by threatening behavior
Or more simply:
positive trait → opposite negative behavior
Quick Tip for Students 💡
When analogy answers include both nouns and verbs, check what kind of word the question is leading you toward.
Here:
- modest is a quality
- brag is an action that goes against that quality
So for friendly, you needed an action that goes against friendliness.
That is why threaten is better than enemy.
Question 12
leaf → wilt : photograph → ?
Show Correct Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is C. fade.
This question can feel tricky because you may not know the word wilt.
In verbal analogies, you do not always need to know every word perfectly. You can still solve the question by using logic.
Let’s go step by step.
Look at the first word pair:
leaf → wilt
Even if you are not fully sure what wilt means, ask:
- Is wilt likely to be a thing?
- Or is it something that happens to a leaf?
A leaf can:
- grow
- fall
- dry
- bend
- change color
So wilt probably describes something that happens to a leaf.
That means wilt is most likely being used as a verb here, an action or change.
Now, apply the same pattern:
photograph → ?
Now we want a word that is also something that can happen to a photograph.
Check the options:
- develop: this can happen to a photograph, but usually this means making the photo in the first place
- picture: this is another noun, not something that happens to a photograph
- fade: yes, a photograph can fade over time
- camera: a camera takes a photograph, but it does not happen to the photograph
- film: related to photography, but not something that happens to a photograph
So the best match is fade.
Lastly, confirm the pattern:
A leaf can wilt.
A photograph can fade.
That is the same relationship:
object → change that can happen to it
Quick Tip for Students – How to Handle an Unknown Word💡
When one word is unfamiliar, use these questions:
- What kind of word is it here?
Is it acting like a thing, an action, or a describing word? - What usually goes with the first word?
What can happen to it? What does it do? What is it used for? - Which answer choice creates the same kind of relationship?
Keep Improving Your Verbal Reasoning Skills With Tailored CAT4 Practice Tests
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