Find the odd word among the following animal-related terms: Horse, Ewe, Hind, and Bitch.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Horse

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This verbal reasoning question asks you to find the odd word among a group of animal-related terms. Such questions test basic general knowledge about animals and also check whether you notice subtle categorical differences, for example between generic animal names and specific gender names for animals.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • We are given four words: Horse, Ewe, Hind, and Bitch.
  • All four are related to animals in some way.
  • Exactly one option should be categorised as different from the others on a clear logical basis.


Concept / Approach:
A standard approach for odd word out questions is to look for a category that three items clearly share but the fourth does not. Here the natural category is whether each word represents a specific female of a species, or whether it is a general animal name that does not specify gender.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Ewe refers to an adult female sheep. Step 2: Hind is a term used for a female deer, especially a female red deer. Step 3: Bitch is the common term for a female dog. Step 4: Horse, on the other hand, is a general term for the animal species. The male is called a stallion and the female is called a mare, so horse itself is not specifically female.


Verification / Alternative check:
If we group the words based on whether they are female specific, we get one group with Ewe, Hind, and Bitch which all unambiguously indicate female animals. Horse does not fit this pattern because it denotes the animal in general and can refer to either male or female unless further specified. Therefore, Horse is the unique odd member in the list.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ewe is clearly a female sheep, so it matches the category of female animals. Hind is the female of the deer species and therefore also fits the same group. Bitch is the standard word for a female dog, again matching the female category. None of these can be considered the odd one out when compared with the others.


Common Pitfalls:
Many learners mistakenly focus on the type of animal (farm animal, pet, wild animal) instead of the grammatical or biological category. Others may misremember that horse is a gender neutral term and think that it is male only. Always recall that stallion and mare are gendered terms, while horse is general. For odd word out questions, try multiple angles such as gender, usage, category, and meaning before deciding.


Final Answer:
Thus, the only word that does not denote a specifically female animal is Horse, so it is the odd word out.

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