Select the related word from the options to complete the analogy Owl hoots double colon Hen what sound?

Introduction / Context:
Analogy questions test a candidate's ability to recognise relationships between pairs of words or concepts. In verbal reasoning, sound based analogies are common, where the name of an animal is paired with the typical sound it makes. The given analogy is Owl hoots, and we are asked to complete the pair for Hen. To answer correctly, the candidate must recall the usual verb used in English to describe the sound produced by a hen. The most appropriate and commonly accepted verb is clucks, so the correct answer is Clucks.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The first pair in the analogy is Owl hoots. - The second pair involves Hen and an unknown sound. - The options include Chirps, Clucks, Coos, Cackles, and Croaks. - We assume standard English vocabulary for animal sounds.

Concept / Approach:
The relationship in the first pair is that of an animal and its characteristic sound. Owls are commonly said to hoot, especially in basic English vocabulary and children's books. For hens, the usual word used to describe their sound, especially when they are calling or talking softly, is cluck. While hens can be described as cackling when they are excited, the more standard verb that parallels the everyday nature of hoots for owl is clucks for hen. Therefore, we look for the option that best captures this primary association, which leads us to Clucks.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the pattern: Owl is linked with hoots, which is an animal sound relationship. 2. Recognise that the same relationship must hold between Hen and the missing word. 3. Consider common English verbs for bird sounds: chirp is often used for small songbirds, coo for pigeons and doves, croak for frogs or some large birds, and cluck for hens. 4. Recall that hens are frequently described as clucking, especially when they are feeding or communicating with chicks. 5. Choose Clucks as the sound that correctly parallels hoots in the given analogy.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, learners can think of simple English phrases or children's rhymes, where lines like the hen clucks or the hen is clucking are common. Dictionaries and vocabulary books also list cluck as the typical sound of a hen. While the word cackle can describe a loud and excited hen, especially after laying an egg, cluck is more neutral and is used as the basic sound verb. Since the analogy uses hoots, which is a standard sound word for owl, the most symmetrical and widely accepted sound word for hen in this context is clucks.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chirps is associated mainly with small birds like sparrows and robins, not with hens. Coos is typically used for doves and pigeons and does not match the common sound of a hen. Cackles can be used for hens in certain situations but suggests a harsher, more specific sound rather than the usual everyday sound. Croaks is mainly used for frogs and sometimes for certain large birds, not for hens.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be tempted by Cackles because it is indeed sometimes applied to hens, especially when they are excited. However, in standard vocabulary exercises and children's animal sound lists, cluck is the primary word associated with hens. Another pitfall is to pick Chirps because it is a very familiar sound verb for birds in general, but it does not specifically match the hen. Paying attention to the most typical and widely accepted pairing of animal and sound helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
To complete the analogy Owl hoots double colon Hen blank, the correct related word is Clucks.