In the tool analogy "Farmer : plough :: painter : ____", which tool is used primarily by a painter?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy connects professionals with their primary tools. In the pair "Farmer : plough", the second word names the main tool that a farmer traditionally uses to prepare the soil for cultivation. You must apply the same type of relationship to a painter and identify the tool that best represents that profession in the same way. These analogy questions test your awareness of common occupations and their typical instruments.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• A farmer commonly uses a plough to turn and prepare the soil.
• A painter works with colours on surfaces such as canvas, walls or paper.
• We want the main tool associated with painting, not an occasional accessory.
• The pattern is "profession : primary working tool".

Concept / Approach:
The plough is not the only tool that a farmer may use, but it symbolises farming activity strongly. In the same way, while a painter may use palettes, easels and other items, the brush is the central tool used to apply paint onto the surface. Harrow and spade are agricultural tools more closely linked with farming. A hammer and a knife are general tools used in other trades. Therefore, brush is the closest and most natural parallel to plough in the context of painting.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Recognise the pattern: a farmer uses a plough as a core tool for field work. Identify that a painter needs a tool to apply paint onto surfaces. List the given options and group them by domain: brush for painting, harrow and spade for farming, hammer and knife for general physical tasks. Observe that brush is uniquely and directly associated with painting. Select brush as the only tool that plays the same symbolic role for a painter that plough plays for a farmer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Harrow is a farm implement used to break up clods and smooth the soil, so pairing it with a painter would not fit. Spade is used for digging, again an agricultural or construction tool. Hammer and knife are used in carpentry, metal work or cutting, but they are not standard painting tools. Only brush is strongly and specifically tied to the occupation of a painter in everyday language and exam contexts.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Choosing harrow or spade would accidentally repeat the farming context instead of creating a new profession tool pair. Hammer and knife are too general and do not capture the artistic activity of painting. The analogy must pair each profession with its most iconic tool, and only brush satisfies that requirement.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates get distracted by tools they have seen painters use occasionally, such as knives for special techniques. However, exam analogies usually rely on the simplest and most common association. Remember to think of the primary image that comes to mind for a profession, not rare or specialised equipment.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is "Farmer : plough :: Painter : brush".