Select the correct professional counterpart to complete the analogy: “Patient : Doctor :: Litigant : ?” Pick the role that formally represents or advises a litigant in legal proceedings.
Correct Answer: Lawyer
Introduction / Context:This item tests functional role analogies. A “patient” seeks diagnosis/treatment from a “doctor.” A “litigant” is a party to a lawsuit and similarly seeks representation or counsel from a legal professional.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Patient → Doctor (service-seeker to service-provider in medicine).
- Litigant → needs representation/advice in court or legal matters.
- We need the standard legal professional’s title who represents litigants.
Concept / Approach:Maintain symmetry of “client/party : specialized professional.” In healthcare the counterpart is doctor; in law the counterpart is lawyer/advocate/attorney. The canonical vocabulary for such test items is “lawyer.”
Step-by-Step Solution:1) Identify the nature of the relation: client/party → professional expert.2) Map from litigation context: litigant → lawyer.3) Choose the precise, commonly accepted term.
Verification / Alternative check:In civil or criminal courts, litigants are represented by advocates/lawyers. This is a direct and widely recognized mapping, matching the medical analogy pattern.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Advisor: Generic; not necessarily a licensed legal representative.
- Help: Vague noun; not a profession.
- Legal aid: A service/program, not the professional person.
- Judge: Officer who presides over the court, not the litigant’s representative.
Common Pitfalls:Confusing the legal system’s roles (judge, legal aid) with the litigant’s representative (lawyer).
Final Answer:Lawyer