Analogy — Choose the pair that mirrors the adjective→person relationship: Impecunious : Mendicant :: ?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Compulsive : Liar

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a semantic analogy. “Impecunious” is an adjective meaning lacking money or very poor, and “mendicant” is a noun meaning beggar (a person who begs). The relationship is adjective describing a quality → noun for a person characterized by or engaging in conduct associated with that quality. We must choose the pair that best preserves this adjective→person mapping.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Impecunious (adjective) → very poor.
  • Mendicant (noun) → one who begs, commonly due to poverty.
  • We seek an adjective whose typical collocation identifies a person by role or habitual act.


Concept / Approach:
Check which option is a well-formed and widely accepted adjective–noun collocation that names a type of person by trait-driven behavior, paralleling impecunious→mendicant.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Prodigal : Philanthropist — “Prodigal” means wastefully extravagant; “philanthropist” is a benefactor. These are not linked by the same trait and are not a standard adjective→role pair.2) Petulant : Complainer — Petulant means irritable or peevish. A “complainer” is plausible but not a fixed collocation driven by petulance; people can complain for many reasons.3) Quizzical : Critic — Quizzical means mildly puzzled or teasing; “critic” is a profession, not defined by quizzicality.4) Compulsive : Liar — “Compulsive liar” is a common collocation: the adjective flags a habitual, trait-driven behavior in the person-noun.


Verification / Alternative check:
Language usage strongly favors the fixed phrase “compulsive liar” to denote a person habitually lying due to compulsion. This mirrors impecunious→mendicant, where the adjective describes a state that is tightly associated with the person-noun.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Prodigal : Philanthropist — mismatched domains (wastefulness vs charitable giving).
  • Petulant : Complainer — not a standard role noun uniquely determined by the adjective.
  • Quizzical : Critic — profession vs mood; not a defining trait relation.
  • None of these — incorrect because “Compulsive : Liar” fits precisely.


Common Pitfalls:
Equating mere co-occurrence with a defining, name-giving relation. The target noun should label a person type determined by the adjective-driven trait.


Final Answer:
Compulsive : Liar

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