Analogy — Dearth : Surplus\nChoose the option that preserves the same clear antonym relationship.

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:

  • Dearth and surplus are opposites in quantity.
  • The correct option must present clear, nonambiguous lexical opposites, not loose contraries or associations.
  • Part-of-speech and semantic domains should align to avoid category errors.


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:

Evaluate “Simple : Complicated” — accepted antonyms (easy vs complex).“True : Unbelievable” — not antonyms; “unbelievable” signals surprising, not necessarily false.“Touch : Repulsion” — verb vs noun; repulsion is an aversion, not the antonym of touch.“Dream : Fantasy” — near synonyms, not opposites.


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:

  • True : Unbelievable — category and logic mismatch; false is the direct antonym of true.
  • Touch : Repulsion — not antonyms; mixing action and disposition.
  • Dream : Fantasy — both denote imagined states; they align semantically rather than oppose.


Common Pitfalls:
Choosing contraries that are not strict opposites or mixing categories (noun vs verb) that muddy the analogy.


Final Answer:
Simple : Complicated

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