A “crisis” is an unstable or crucial time, a time in which an event reaches a critical phase, or a disaster. A “disaster” is an unstable event, so "disaster" is the correct answer. We could say a “crisis” can lead to a “disaster.” “Hope” is similar to “optimism” in that they are both positive ways of thinking; we could also say that “hope” can lead to “optimism.” “Pessimism” is the opposite of “optimism” and means a negative outlook. “Despair” is the opposite of "hope" as it means the state of being hopeless, or when used as a verb no longer have any hope. “Defeatism” is similar to “despair” as it is the mentality in which one is accepting of defeat. “Longing” is like "hope" in that it is a deep desire for something. To provide a little extra help, when two words have opposite meanings to one another, we call them “antonyms.”

A noise might startle someone, as “startle” means “to cause a feeling of sudden alarm.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a noun and the second word is a verb that describes what that noun might do to someone. While “please is to gift” and “lullaby is to soothe” might each look like a potentially correct answer, a please does not gift someone, so “please is to gift” cannot be the correct answer. A lullaby might soothe someone, however, as “lullaby” means “a quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep” and “soothe” means “gently to calm someone.” So, because a noise might startle someone just as a lullaby might soothe someone, “lullaby is to soothe” is the correct answer.

When you “punch” someone, you are likely to cause “pain,” so to solve this analogy, you need to determine what would likely be caused by “embracing” someone. To “embrace” means to hug, so you could reasonably infer that an “embrace” would be likely generate “comfort” for someone. To provide further help, “shame” means embarrassment.

Someone who is tired may yawn, so we're looking for an answer where the first word describes an action someone might do if they currently feel the emotion the second word describes. If someone is happy, they might smile, just as if they are tired, they might yawn, so "smile is to happy" is the correct answer.

When it rains, it causes things to become wet, so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out what the cold causes things to become. Well, the cold can cause liquids to freeze, so "frozen" is the correct answer, so this is the correct answer.

If you go swimming you are likely to find yourself wet afterward, since swimming most often involves being in water. To solve this analogy, then, you have to determine which of these answer choices is an effect of going running; the correct answer is therefore "tired."

Someone who is clumsy is someone who falls over and drops things often, and therefore someone who might cause something to break. To solve this analogy, you have to determine what someone who is forgetful might cause to happen to something. Being forgetful means you often forget things or lose them, so the correct answer is "lost." To provide further help, "repaired" means fixed, and "destroyed" means broken.

When one has an "engagement," one becomes a "fiancé." Likewise, when one has "a wedding," one becomes "a spouse."

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "writer" writes a novel; a writer completes a novel. There is a sense of cause and effect. You should therefore look for that type of relationship in the possible answers. A runner runs a race; a runner completes a race. No other answers fulfill the relationship in this way.

A "decoy" is something used to mislead, distract, or trap someone. So, the purpose of a "decoy" is to "distract." What is the purpose of a "circus?" The correct answer is to "entertain" (provide fun, laughter, and amusement). Additionally, "deplore" means hate; "pity" means feel sorry for; "refrain" means stop oneself from doing, not allow oneself to do; "relent" means give up.