Genuine is related to Authentic in the same way as Mirage is related to which concept?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy question relies on vocabulary and conceptual understanding. Genuine and authentic both describe something that is real or true. Mirage, however, is a natural optical phenomenon that looks real but is not. Your task is to select the word that stands to mirage as authentic stands to genuine, preserving the pattern of meaning between the pairs.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• First pair: Genuine : Authentic.
• Second pair pattern: Mirage : ?
• Options: Transpiration, Illusion, Reflection, Image.
• Genuine and authentic are near synonyms, both indicating that something is real and not fake.
• A mirage is an apparent visual phenomenon often seen in deserts or on hot roads, where distant objects or water seem to appear but are not actually there.

Concept / Approach:
Genuine and authentic share almost identical meanings; they are synonyms. Thus, the second pair must also contain a synonym relationship. A mirage is commonly defined as an optical illusion, something that looks real but is not. Therefore, illusion is the word that shares the same meaning relation with mirage. The other options are related to natural processes or visual phenomena but do not capture the essential idea that a mirage is something illusory.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm the first relationship. Genuine refers to something real, true, and not counterfeit. Authentic similarly means real, original, or verified as true. Step 2: Recognise that Genuine : Authentic is a pair of synonyms. Step 3: Focus on the word mirage. A mirage is a phenomenon where you see something, like water in a desert, that appears real but has no physical substance. Step 4: Check the options. Illusion is something that deceives the senses or mind, making something seem real when it is not. Step 5: Note that illusion precisely describes the nature of a mirage, thus mirage and illusion share a synonym relationship similar to genuine and authentic.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the analogy: Genuine (real) : Authentic (real) :: Mirage (unreal appearance) : Illusion (unreal appearance). In both cases, the words in each pair share very closely related meanings. Mirage is a type of illusion, just as authentic is a type of genuine realness. This structure confirms that illusion is the correct completion of the analogy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Transpiration: This refers to the process of water movement and evaporation in plants, especially through leaves. It is unrelated to the optical nature of mirages. Reflection: A reflection is a real optical effect where light bounces off a surface like a mirror and can be verified physically. A mirage is not simply a reflection. Image: An image is any visual representation and may be real or unreal. It is too broad and does not specifically capture the deceptive or unreal aspect that illusion emphasises.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be drawn to reflection or image because they are visual terms. However, analogy questions demand the closest conceptual match, not just any related idea. Mirage is important not because it is an image, but because it is a deceptive one. That key idea is best expressed by the word illusion, which you must recognise as the true parallel.

Final Answer:
Mirage is best described as an Illusion, so Illusion correctly completes the analogy.