Bird : Fly :: Snake : ? — Identify the movement/action that stands to “Snake” as “Fly” stands to “Bird.”

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Crawl

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Verbal analogies often test your ability to preserve a specific relationship from one pair to another. In the pair “Bird : Fly,” the relation is animal to its characteristic mode of locomotion. We must select the verb that captures a snake’s typical movement in the same functional way that “fly” captures a bird’s movement.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The base relation is animal → typical locomotion verb.
  • Birds are known to fly.
  • Snakes are limbless reptiles that move close to the ground.
  • Options include verbs, nouns, and unrelated words; only one should mirror the locomotion relation.


Concept / Approach:
To maintain a true analogy, we need to pair the second animal with a locomotion verb of the same grammatical form and level of generality. While snakes “slither” in common parlance, standardized analogy sets often accept “crawl” as the general verb for ground-based forward motion without limbs. Choosing a noun like “hole” (habitat) or unrelated verbs breaks the relational symmetry.



Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the functional mapping: animal → locomotion (bird → fly).2) Determine the parallel for snake: the animal moves along the ground with lateral undulation.3) Among choices, “Crawl” is the accepted locomotion verb at the same abstraction level as “Fly.”4) Therefore, Snake → Crawl fits the analogy.



Verification / Alternative check:
Everyday usage and basic zoology describe snakes as slithering; many exam keys accept “crawl” as the simple locomotion verb. The key is parallel grammar and role: action of moving, not place or attribute.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Timid: Personality trait, not motion.
  • Clatter: A sound, not a locomotion verb.
  • Hole: Noun (habitat), not movement.
  • Slither: Though apt, it was not provided as the keyed standard in many sets; “Crawl” is the conventional exam choice given this option set.


Common Pitfalls:
Picking nouns (like “hole”) or non-locomotion words. Always preserve part of speech and semantic role to keep the analogy precise.



Final Answer:
Crawl

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