Find the odd pair from the following alternatives based on the type of relationship between the two words.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: History and Mathematics

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question assesses your understanding of conceptual relationships between word pairs. It invites you to analyze how the first item in each pair is related to the second, and then identify which pair has a different kind of relationship from the others.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The pairs given are: Teacher and Student, Chemistry and Science, History and Mathematics, Air and Oxygen.
  • You must choose the pair whose relationship does not match the pattern observed in the majority of pairs.
  • Assume common educational and scientific meanings of the terms.


Concept / Approach:
The analysis relies on seeing whether one term is a subset or part of the other or whether the pair forms a special type of association. In two of the pairs, one item is a broader category and the other is a specific example or component of that category. In another pair, the two items are in a direct relational role. The odd pair is the one in which both items are equal level categories without a subset or role based relationship.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Teacher and Student share a relational role. A teacher teaches, and a student learns. The relationship is that of a person who imparts knowledge and a person who receives it. Step 2: Chemistry and Science have a subset relationship. Science is the broad field, and chemistry is one of its branches. Thus, chemistry is a part of science. Step 3: Air and Oxygen also show a part whole relationship. Air is a mixture of gases, and oxygen is one of the major components of air. Step 4: History and Mathematics, however, are two separate academic subjects that are both branches of knowledge but not subsets of each other. One is not a specific type of the other, and they are not in a component relationship. Step 5: Therefore, History and Mathematics form a pair of co equal categories, unlike the other pairs, which show either component or role based relationships, making History and Mathematics the odd pair.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can reframe the relationships as a short sentence for each pair. A teacher teaches a student, chemistry is a branch of science, oxygen is a component of air. These can all be written as either X works with Y or X is part of Y. However, you cannot accurately say that history is part of mathematics or mathematics is part of history. Both subjects stand independently under the larger umbrella of education, so they do not match the other relationship patterns.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Teacher and Student: This is a clear role based relationship, where one directly interacts with and influences the other.
  • Chemistry and Science: This is a subset relationship, where chemistry is a part of the broader domain of science.
  • Air and Oxygen: This is a composition relationship, where oxygen is one of the components that make up air.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may focus only on whether the terms come from education or science and become confused by category differences. The key is to think about how the two words in each pair are connected rather than which subject they belong to. Ignoring the direction and nature of the relationship between items can easily lead to the wrong choice.


Final Answer:
History and Mathematics

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