'Bald' is to 'Blond' (contrasting hair conditions) as 'Barren' is to which contrasting land condition? Choose the best antonymic match.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Fertile

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Some analogies rely on contrasts within the same attribute domain. “Bald” (no hair) contrasts with “blond” (a specific hair attribute), indicating a shift from absence to a defined positive state. Similarly, “barren” (unproductive land) should contrast with a land condition denoting productivity and capacity to support growth.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Barren describes land that does not support vegetation or crops.
  • The expected counterpart is a standard antonym used in agriculture or ecology.
  • We should avoid switching from property to object (e.g., farm, vegetation).


Concept / Approach:
Maintain the property-to-property relation. The correct antonym for barren in land capability is fertile—land with nutrients and conditions that support plant growth. Terms like farm or vegetation do not mirror the same grammatical relation (they name objects or outcomes, not the contrasting property).


Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify barren as a land quality.2) Select the opposite quality: fertile.3) Eliminate nouns that are not qualitative antonyms.


Verification / Alternative check:
Standard thesaurus and agronomy usage pairs barren ↔ fertile as direct antonyms.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Vegetation: A result or presence, not the opposite property itself.
  • Farm: A place for agriculture; not a land-quality antonym.
  • Inhabited: Refers to human occupation, not soil productivity.


Common Pitfalls:
Choosing an associated noun instead of the precise opposite adjective that mirrors the relation.


Final Answer:
Fertile

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