Analogy — Dearth : Surplus Choose the option that preserves the same clear antonym relationship.
Correct Answer: Simple : Complicated
Introduction / Context:Analogies often test antonyms. “Dearth : Surplus” is a textbook opposite pair: dearth means scarcity or shortage, while surplus means excess or abundance. To match this, we need another pair in which the two words stand in a direct, widely accepted opposite relationship.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Dearth and surplus are opposites in quantity.
- The correct option must present clear, nonambiguous lexical opposites, not loose contraries or associations.
- Part-of-speech and semantic domains should align to avoid category errors.
Concept / Approach:Filter options by strict antonymy. Reject pairs where the relation is cause–effect, degree, synonymy, or metaphor. Prefer crisp dictionary-level opposites comparable to dearth vs surplus.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Evaluate “Simple : Complicated” — accepted antonyms (easy vs complex).“True : Unbelievable” — not antonyms; “unbelievable” signals surprising, not necessarily false.“Touch : Repulsion” — verb vs noun; repulsion is an aversion, not the antonym of touch.“Dream : Fantasy” — near synonyms, not opposites.Verification / Alternative check:“Simple” and “complicated” are presented in learner dictionaries as antonyms across domains (problems, explanations, designs), paralleling dearth vs surplus as clean contraries.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- True : Unbelievable — category and logic mismatch; false is the direct antonym of true.
- Touch : Repulsion — not antonyms; mixing action and disposition.
- Dream : Fantasy — both denote imagined states; they align semantically rather than oppose.
Common Pitfalls:Choosing contraries that are not strict opposites or mixing categories (noun vs verb) that muddy the analogy.
Final Answer:Simple : Complicated