Question 1

Which word does NOT belong with the others: parsley, basil, dill, mayonnaise?

Accepted Answer

Given data Words: parsley, basil, dill, mayonnaise. Concept/Approach Classify by category: culinary herbs vs. a prepared condiment/emulsion. Step-by-step reasoning Parsley, basil, and dill are fresh herbs.Mayonnaise is a sauce/condiment (an oil-in-water emulsion), not an herb. Verification/Alternative Herb characteristics: leafy plant parts used for flavoring; mayonnaise is made primarily from oil and egg yolk. Common pitfalls Picking an herb due to unfamiliarity with culinary terms. Final Answer mayonnaise

Question 2

Which word does NOT belong with the others? inch, ounce, centimeter, yard

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: inch, ounce, centimeter, yard. Concept/Approach Group each term by the physical quantity it measures (length vs. mass/weight). Three measure distance; one measures weight. Step-by-Step reasoning Inch – unit of length (Imperial/US customary). Centimeter – unit of length (SI/metric). Yard – unit of length (Imperial/US customary). Ounce – unit of mass/weight (avoirdupois; also fluid ounce for volume, but not length). Verification/Alternative Convert examples to confirm: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 yard = 36 inches. No such length conversion exists for ounce because it is not a length unit. Common pitfalls Confusing fluid ounces (volume) or ounces (weight) with any length measure. Assuming all four are from the same system; they span Imperial and metric but three still measure the same quantity. Final Answer ounce

Question 3

Which word does NOT belong with the others? tyre, steering wheel, engine, car

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: tyre, steering wheel, engine, car. Concept/Approach Identify parts versus whole. Three items are components; one is the complete vehicle. Step-by-Step reasoning Tyre – component (part of the wheel assembly). Steering wheel – component for directional control. Engine – power unit (component). Car – the whole object that contains those components. Verification/Alternative Ask: Can the item exist as a subassembly inside a car? Tyre, steering wheel, and engine can; the car is the container. Common pitfalls Picking engine because it seems more complex—complexity is irrelevant; categorization (part vs. whole) is key. Final Answer car

Question 4

Which word does NOT belong with the others? tulip, rose, bud, daisy

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: tulip, rose, bud, daisy. Concept/Approach Classify by type vs. growth stage. Three are specific flower species; one is a developmental stage of any flower. Step-by-Step reasoning Tulip – a kind of flowering plant. Rose – a kind of flowering plant. Daisy – a kind of flowering plant. Bud – an undeveloped flower stage; not a species. Verification/Alternative Replace species with others (lily, orchid) and the odd-one-out remains 'bud', confirming the rule. Common pitfalls Thinking 'bud' is a type; it describes maturity, not taxonomy. Final Answer bud

Question 5

Which word does NOT belong with the others? rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, loaf

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, loaf. Concept/Approach Three are bread types; one is a shape/quantity of bread. Step-by-Step reasoning Rye – bread made with rye flour (type). Sourdough – bread using a fermented starter (type). Pumpernickel – dark rye bread (type). Loaf – a form/quantity (a whole unit of bread), not a specific recipe. Verification/Alternative One can bake a loaf of rye, a loaf of sourdough, etc.; 'loaf' describes format, not variety. Common pitfalls Assuming 'loaf' is a flavor; it is a shape/unit. Final Answer loaf

Question 6

Which word does NOT belong with the others? guitar, flute, violin, cello

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: guitar, flute, violin, cello. Concept/Approach Classify by instrument family and sound production. Three are string instruments; one is a woodwind. Step-by-Step reasoning Guitar – strings plucked/strummed. Violin – bowed string instrument. Cello – bowed string instrument. Flute – air column vibration (woodwind), no strings. Verification/Alternative Remove 'flute' and all remaining items fit the 'string' family; swapping in 'clarinet' would again be the odd one out. Common pitfalls Grouping by playing posture (standing/sitting) instead of sound mechanism. Final Answer flute

Question 7

Which word does NOT belong with the others? dodge, flee, duck, avoid

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: dodge, flee, duck, avoid. Concept/Approach Compare meanings: three mean to evade/avoid something (often momentarily); one means to run away entirely. Step-by-Step reasoning Dodge – to move aside to avoid. Duck – to lower quickly to avoid. Avoid – to keep away from. Flee – to run away/escape from a place or danger (stronger, implies leaving the scene). Verification/Alternative Use in sentences: you can dodge/duck/avoid a blow; you typically flee from a threat or location. Common pitfalls Equating 'flee' with a quick sidestep; it implies full withdrawal. Final Answer flee

Question 8

Which word does NOT belong with the others? branch, dirt, leaf, root

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: branch, dirt, leaf, root. Concept/Approach Identify plant parts versus non-plant items. Three are botanical parts; one is soil. Step-by-Step reasoning Branch – woody plant part. Leaf – photosynthetic organ. Root – subterranean plant organ. Dirt – soil/earth; not a plant part. Verification/Alternative 'Dirt' may contain plant parts, but it is external to the plant structure. Common pitfalls Choosing 'root' because it is underground—still a plant organ. Final Answer dirt

Question 9

Which word does NOT belong with the others? street, freeway, interstate, expressway

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: street, freeway, interstate, expressway. Concept/Approach Compare roadway classes. Three are high-speed, limited-access highways; one is typically a local road. Step-by-Step reasoning Freeway – controlled-access highway. Interstate – part of a national controlled-access system. Expressway – high-capacity, often limited-access road. Street – local urban road with intersections, pedestrians, driveways. Verification/Alternative Speed limits and access control distinguish the three highway terms from a typical street. Common pitfalls Confusing 'expressway' with any fast road; still limited access compared to a street. Final Answer street

Question 10

Which word does NOT belong with the others? heading, body, letter, closing

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: heading, body, letter, closing. Concept/Approach Three are sections/components of a letter; one is the whole document. Step-by-Step reasoning Heading – component (sender's address/date or title). Body – main message/content of a letter. Closing – complimentary close/sign-off. Letter – the complete composition that includes those sections. Verification/Alternative Analogy: wheel, engine, door vs. car—'letter' is to the others as 'car' is to its parts. Common pitfalls Overlooking that 'letter' is a container term, not a section. Final Answer letter

Question 11

Which word does NOT belong with the others? tape, twine, cord, yarn

Accepted Answer

Given data Word list: tape, twine, cord, yarn. Concept/Approach Compare form and typical use. Three are fibrous strands used for tying/weaving; one is a flat strip, often adhesive. Step-by-Step reasoning Twine – small-diameter strand (fibrous). Cord – thicker strand/rope (fibrous). Yarn – spun fibers used in knitting/weaving. Tape – flat strip (often adhesive or fabric), not a round strand. Verification/Alternative Cross-compare physical shape: circular cross-section (twine/cord/yarn) vs. flat (tape). Common pitfalls Choosing 'yarn' only because it is for knitting; it is still a strand like twine/cord. Final Answer tape

Question 12

Which word does NOT belong with the others? leopard, cougar, elephant, lion

Accepted Answer

Given data Options: leopard, cougar, elephant, lion. Concept/Approach Classify each item by biological family and common characteristics to find the outlier. Step-by-step reasoning Leopard, cougar, and lion are all large predatory cats in the Felidae family.Elephant belongs to a different order and family (Proboscidea; Elephantidae) and is a herbivore with very different anatomy and behavior. Verification/Alternative Diet check: big cats are carnivores; elephants are herbivores.Taxonomy check: felids vs. proboscideans confirms separation. Common pitfalls Choosing cougar because of name unfamiliarity; it is still a big cat like leopard and lion. Grouping by habitat rather than biological family. Final Answer elephant

Question 13

Which word does NOT belong with the others? couch, rug, table, chair

Accepted Answer

Given data Options: couch, rug, table, chair. Concept/Approach Identify which items are pieces of furniture designed for sitting or placing objects, versus items used as floor coverings. Step-by-step reasoning Couch, table, and chair are furniture.Rug is a textile floor covering, not a furniture piece. Verification/Alternative Functional test: furniture can be moved for seating or surface use; a rug primarily covers floor for comfort or decor. Common pitfalls Thinking table is different because it is not for sitting; it is still furniture. Final Answer rug

Question 14

Which word does NOT belong with the others? cornea, retina, pupil, vision

Accepted Answer

Given data Options: cornea, retina, pupil, vision. Concept/Approach Separate anatomical parts of the eye from a sensory process or ability. Step-by-step reasoning Cornea, retina, and pupil are physical structures of the eye.Vision is the function or process of seeing, not a structure. Verification/Alternative Anatomy vs. function test: only vision describes the ability rather than a body part. Common pitfalls Choosing pupil due to its changing size; it remains an anatomical part. Final Answer vision

Question 15

Which word does NOT belong with the others? noun, preposition, punctuation, adverb

Accepted Answer

Given data Options: noun, preposition, punctuation, adverb. Concept/Approach Distinguish parts of speech from writing symbols. Step-by-step reasoning Noun, preposition, and adverb are parts of speech.Punctuation refers to marks such as commas and periods, not a part of speech. Verification/Alternative Grammar classification confirms that only punctuation is not a lexical category. Common pitfalls Associating punctuation with grammar terms and overlooking the category difference. Final Answer punctuation

Question 16

Which word does NOT belong with the others? book, index, glossary, chapter

Accepted Answer

Given data Options: book, index, glossary, chapter. Concept/Approach Differentiate a whole entity from its components. Step-by-step reasoning Index, glossary, and chapter are parts or sections contained within a book.Book is the entire work that contains those sections. Verification/Alternative Containment test: you can have an index of a book, a glossary of a book, a chapter of a book, but not a book of an index. Common pitfalls Choosing chapter because it is the most numerous; quantity does not affect category. Final Answer book

Question 17

Which word does NOT belong with the others? unimportant, trivial, insignificant, familiar

Accepted Answer

Given data Options: unimportant, trivial, insignificant, familiar. Concept/Approach Check for synonym groups and isolate the semantic outlier. Step-by-step reasoning Unimportant, trivial, and insignificant are near-synonyms meaning of little importance.Familiar means well known or well acquainted, which is unrelated to importance. Verification/Alternative Substitute test: a trivial matter equals an unimportant or insignificant matter; a familiar matter does not imply low importance. Common pitfalls Confusing commonness with lack of importance; something familiar can still be very important. Final Answer familiar

Question 18

Which word does NOT belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

The wing, fin, and rudder are all parts of an airplane.

Question 19

Which word does NOT belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

The core, seeds, and pulp are all parts of an apple. A slice would be a piece taken out of an apple.

Question 20

Which word does NOT belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

A peninsula, island, and cape are all landforms; a bay is a body of water.

Verbal Classification Questions