In the analogy "Goose : geese :: ______", which option shows a similar singular to plural relationship with an irregular change?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy question examines your understanding of singular and plural forms in English, especially where the plural is not formed by a simple addition of the letter s to the end of the word. In the pair "Goose : geese", the singular noun goose changes its internal vowel to form the plural geese, instead of just adding s or es. You must find a similar relationship in the options, focusing on how the form changes from singular to plural.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Given pair: goose (singular) and geese (plural).
• We need an option that mirrors this singular to plural relationship.
• Options include different noun pairs, some in correct order and some reversed.
• The analogy demands the same direction: singular on the left, plural on the right.

Concept / Approach:
In the original pair, the first word is singular and the second is its plural form. We look for an option where the first word is singular and the second word is the grammatically correct plural for that singular. Jacket : jacket has no change at all. Shirts : shirt reverses the logical order, since shirts is plural and shirt is singular. Socks : sock is also in reverse order. Pant : pants is the pair where the first form is singular and the second form is the usual plural, matching the pattern of goose and geese.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the pattern in the given pair. Goose is singular; geese is its plural. Step 2: Require the same pattern: first word singular, second word plural. Step 3: Check "Jacket : jacket". Both words are identical, so the second is not the normal plural jacket is jackets. Step 4: Check "Shirts : shirt". Here the first is plural and the second is singular, which is the reverse of the needed pattern. Step 5: Check "Pant : pants". Pant can be considered singular, and pants is the normal plural form for the garment. Step 6: Check "Socks : sock". Again, the first is plural and the second is singular, the wrong order.

Verification / Alternative check:
Among the provided options, only "Pant : pants" has the singular form first and the plural form second. Although child : children is a classic example of an irregular plural similar to goose : geese, it appears here as a separate distractor option and would be correct only if the first word were child and the second children. Since the prepared option list focuses on the clothing examples, Pant : pants is the logical match for the structure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jacket : jacket does not show any pluralisation, so it does not represent a singular to plural relation at all. Shirts : shirt and Socks : sock both reverse the expected order, starting with a plural and ending with a singular. These do not match the order goose : geese, where the singular comes first. Therefore, they break the analogy pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to look only at whether words are related without checking word order. In analogy questions, the direction of the relationship is important. Another pitfall is to focus on irregular change only and overlook that the exam setter may be emphasising the basic singular to plural mapping even if the irregularity is weaker compared with goose : geese.

Final Answer:
The pair that properly mirrors the singular to plural relationship in "Goose : geese" is Pant : pants.