In the analogy “Doctor : nurse :: ____ : follower”, which word best completes the leader–supporter relationship?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: leader

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This analogy problem is based on the relationship between a primary role and a supporting or subordinate role. In hospitals and clinics, doctors and nurses work together, where the doctor usually holds the main decision making role regarding treatment and the nurse supports by carrying out many of the orders and caring tasks. In the second pair, we must find which word naturally pairs with follower in the same way that doctor pairs with nurse.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • First pair: doctor and nurse.
  • Second pair: unknown term and follower.
  • Options: leader, manager, employer, worker, teacher.
  • We assume standard workplace and social role meanings.


Concept / Approach:
The doctor is the chief professional who leads medical decisions, and the nurse assists and follows those directions. So the relation is “one who leads or directs” to “one who supports or follows.” In social or organisational contexts, the most natural counterpart to follower is leader. Therefore, the correct analogy is doctor : nurse :: leader : follower, where both pairs show a guiding role linked with a role that follows instructions.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Analyse the first pair. A doctor typically writes prescriptions and treatment plans, and the nurse helps implement them. Step 2: Recognise the pattern as “main decision maker or leader” to “supporting assistant or follower.” Step 3: For the second pair, think of the word that naturally stands opposite follower in leadership contexts. Step 4: Leader is the person who guides, influences, or directs followers in a group or organisation. Step 5: Verify that leader : follower mirrors doctor : nurse in terms of lead–assist or lead–follow roles.


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider each option. Manager manages employees but the word employee or subordinate is not given. Employer hires workers, so the natural pair is employer : employee rather than employer : follower. Worker simply describes someone performing tasks and does not imply followers. Teacher relates to student, not follower in general. Leader, however, is almost always described as having followers, which makes leader : follower a very strong, standard pairing like doctor : nurse.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Manager and employer are both roles above others but do not form fixed word pairs with follower. Worker is subordinate but does not stand in a guiding relationship with follower. Teacher suggests a teaching learning connection, not directly the followership idea. Only leader fits directly into the phrase leader and follower, and so it correctly captures the intended relationship.


Common Pitfalls:
Test takers sometimes pick manager because they think of office hierarchies or pick employer because of employment relationships. However, analogy questions require matching the exact relationship present in the first pair. When you see follower, you should immediately think of leader as the complementary concept, just as nurse naturally complements doctor in most work settings.


Final Answer:
The word that correctly completes the analogy is leader, giving “Doctor : nurse :: leader : follower”.

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