Analogies — “thing : diminished/modified quality” Prompt: Sound : Muffled ⇒ ? Choose the pair that mirrors a base phenomenon described by a reduced-intensity quality.
Correct Answer: Colour : Faded
Introduction / Context:“Sound : Muffled” shows a phenomenon (sound) described by a quality indicating reduced intensity or clarity (muffled). We must find a base entity described by a similarly diminished attribute, not merely any adjective descriptor.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Muffled implies softened, less clear, or damped sound.
- The best analogue is a sensory quality showing reduction from normal vividness.
Concept / Approach:Scan for a noun–adjective relation where the adjective expresses weakening or loss of vividness compared to the norm, paralleling how “muffled” weakens sound.
Step-by-Step Solution:
“Colour : Faded” — Faded denotes reduced intensity/saturation of colour, directly parallel to muffled sound.“Moisture : Humid” — Humid describes air with high moisture, not moisture itself; also indicates increase, not reduction.“Despair : Anger” — Different emotions; not a quality descriptor.“Odour : Pungent” — Pungent indicates strong, sharp smell (increased intensity), opposite of a reduction theme.Verification / Alternative check:Compare degrees: normal sound → muffled sound (less distinct); normal colour → faded colour (less vivid). The structure and direction (reduction) match.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Moisture : Humid — category mismatch; adjective applies to air, not to moisture, and indicates abundance.
- Despair : Anger — unrelated emotions; no base–quality relation.
- Odour : Pungent — intensity increases, not decreases.
Common Pitfalls:Picking any noun–adjective pair without checking whether the adjective denotes a weakening of the base attribute, which is the core of the analogy.
Final Answer:Colour : Faded