Select the related word from the given alternatives: Dark : Light :: Noise : ?

Introduction / Context:
This is a simple verbal analogy based on opposite relationships. The pair Dark : Light shows a clear antonym relationship. You are asked to extend this same idea to Noise and choose the word that stands in the same contrasting relation to it. Questions like this check your vocabulary and ability to identify pairs of opposites in everyday language.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Dark and Light are opposite conditions related to visibility and presence of illumination.
- Noise refers to unwanted or loud sound.
- The missing word should express a contrasting or opposite state relative to Noise, in a similar way that Light contrasts with Dark.
- All answer choices are related to sound or its absence, but only one will capture the direct opposite relationship.

Concept / Approach:
In this problem, we interpret Dark : Light as "one condition and its opposite." Therefore, we search for a word that represents the opposite of Noise. Noise indicates a loud, disruptive sound level, so its opposite is calmness or absence of noise. Among the common English words, quiet and silence are used to describe the lack of noise. We must pick the option that directly expresses this opposite relationship.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the first pair. Dark and Light are antonyms; one represents absence of light and the other the presence of light. Step 2: Formulate the pattern as: "first word is opposite of second word". Step 3: Examine the meaning of Noise. Noise is loud, unpleasant, or disturbing sound. Step 4: Look at the options. Music and Melody are organized and usually pleasant forms of sound, not necessarily opposite to Noise. Vacuum refers to absence of matter rather than directly describing the absence of sound in daily language. Step 5: Quiet directly indicates low or no sound. It is the standard everyday opposite word to Noise. Step 6: Therefore, Noise : Quiet mirrors Dark : Light as a pair of opposite conditions.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try substituting each option into the analogy. Dark : Light :: Noise : Music does not express an opposite relation, because music can be loud and is still sound. Noise : Melody also fails because melody is a structured sound, not lack of sound. Noise : Vacuum is too technical and does not represent the common language opposite. Noise : Quiet fits naturally as an everyday contrast: when there is no noise, we say the place is quiet.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A "Music" is a type of sound, not the opposite of Noise, even though some music may be soothing.
Option C "Melody" describes an organized sequence of tones and is again a form of sound rather than its absence.
Option D "Vacuum" describes absence of matter or air in physics. While a perfect vacuum would also lack sound, this is not the usual linguistic opposite of Noise in verbal reasoning questions.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overthink and choose highly technical words like Vacuum because they imagine no sound travels in a vacuum. However, standard reasoning questions expect common language pairs. Focusing on ordinary antonyms such as Noise and Quiet is the safest and most exam relevant approach.

Final Answer:
The correct related word is Quiet.