Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Simple : Complicated
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Analogies often test antonyms. “Dearth : Surplus” is a textbook opposite pair: dearth means scarcity or shortage, while surplus means excess or abundance. To match this, we need another pair in which the two words stand in a direct, widely accepted opposite relationship.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Filter options by strict antonymy. Reject pairs where the relation is cause–effect, degree, synonymy, or metaphor. Prefer crisp dictionary-level opposites comparable to dearth vs surplus.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
“Simple” and “complicated” are presented in learner dictionaries as antonyms across domains (problems, explanations, designs), paralleling dearth vs surplus as clean contraries.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Choosing contraries that are not strict opposites or mixing categories (noun vs verb) that muddy the analogy.
Final Answer:
Simple : Complicated
Discussion & Comments