Mastic is a kind of gum or resin. In the same material analogy, suet is a particular kind of what?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy question deals with specialised vocabulary related to materials and substances. The pair Mastic : Gum tells us that mastic is a specific type of gum or resin obtained from trees and used for chewing or varnishing. The second pair Suet : ? asks you to identify the general category to which suet belongs. These words are less common in everyday conversation, so the question mainly tests careful reading and knowledge of less familiar English terms.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Mastic is known as a resin or gum that can be chewed and also used in varnishes and adhesives.
• Gum in this context refers to a sticky plant resin or chewing gum like substance.
• Suet is a word associated with animal products, especially in cooking and bird feeding.
• The options are Fur, Hide, Fat, and Milk.
• We assume that suet is being referred to in its culinary sense as used in puddings and as bird feed.

Concept / Approach:
The relationship in the first pair is specific substance to its broader material category. Mastic is a particular type of gum or resin. For suet, we must identify its broader classification. Suet is the hard fat found around the kidneys and loins of cattle and sheep. It is used in cooking to make pastries, puddings, and dumplings, and also in suet cakes for birds. Therefore the correct category for suet is fat. Fur and hide refer to animal skin and hair, while milk is a liquid secretion. None of these match suet as well as fat does. Thus the parallel is Mastic : Gum :: Suet : Fat.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand that mastic is introduced as a specific example, while gum is the more general category. Step 2: Recognise that the analogy pattern is specific material to general type. Step 3: Recall or infer from context that suet is a word used in cooking and animal products. Step 4: Identify suet as the hard fat from around the internal organs of some animals. Step 5: Look at the options fur, hide, fat, and milk, and see which general category covers suet. Step 6: Choose Fat as the correct answer, as suet is a type of animal fat.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by thinking of how suet is used. Recipes for suet pudding, suet pastry, and suet dumplings all involve the use of solid fat that melts during cooking. Bird feeders also sell suet cakes that birds peck at as a high energy fat source. None of these uses relate to fur (which is hair), hide (which is skin), or milk (which is a liquid for drinking and making dairy products). The defining property of suet is its function as a hard fat that melts and provides energy. This confirms that fat is the correct general term for suet in the same way that gum is the general term for mastic.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fur: Fur is the thick hair covering on some animals and is used for clothing or insulation, not for cooking as suet is. Hide: Hide is the skin of an animal, often processed as leather. Suet is not skin but internal fatty tissue. Milk: Milk is a liquid produced by mammals to feed their young and is used in dairy products. Suet is solid fat from around organs, not a liquid secretion.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is unfamiliarity with the word suet, causing guesswork. Some candidates might choose milk because both suet and milk come from animals or choose fur or hide because they seem linked to animals. However, the question expects recognition of suet as a culinary fat. When dealing with unknown words, try to recall any context in which you might have heard them, such as cooking recipes or bird food descriptions. Focusing on that context helps you select fat as the only sensible category.

Final Answer:
Mastic is a type of gum, and in the same way suet is a type of animal fat, so Fat is the correct answer.