Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Man : Mob
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of collective nouns and classification. You are given several pairs linking a living being to a word that describes a group of that being. One pair, however, uses a different or less standard type of collective expression. Your task is to identify that differently related pair.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Most of the pairs link an animal to the correct, neutral collective noun for a group of that animal, such as a flock of sheep or a herd of cows. The odd pair will be the one where the collective noun either is not the standard neutral term, or is used in a different, more emotional or negative sense rather than as a simple classification word.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Sheep : Flock is a standard correct combination. A group of sheep is called a flock of sheep.Step 2: Bee : Swarm is correct. A group of bees is typically called a swarm, especially when they move together in the air.Step 3: Cow : Herd is also standard. Many cows together form a herd of cattle.Step 4: Wolf : Pack is a correct animal–collective noun pairing. A group of wolves is known as a pack.Step 5: Now consider Man : Mob. While the word mob can refer to a large, disorderly crowd of people, it is not the neutral or standard collective noun for humans as a species.Step 6: The neutral collective words for groups of humans are crowd, group, community or population. Mob has a negative connotation, suggesting rowdiness or violence.Step 7: Sheep : Flock, Bee : Swarm, Cow : Herd and Wolf : Pack are standard neutral animal collective pairings, whereas Man : Mob is not a standard neutral \"species : collective\" combination.Step 8: Therefore, Man : Mob is the pair that is differently related from the others.
Verification / Alternative check:
Try substituting the word \"group\" into each pair. \"A flock of sheep\" is correct; \"a swarm of bees\" is correct; \"a herd of cows\" is correct; \"a pack of wolves\" is correct. For humans, you would normally say \"a group of men\" or \"a crowd of people\". \"A mob of men\" is possible but carries a specific negative meaning instead of being the neutral standard, confirming that Man : Mob is not parallel to the other pairings.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sheep : Flock, Bee : Swarm, Cow : Herd and Wolf : Pack all align a particular animal with its recognised collective noun. They are standard phrases in English and are often taught in school. Because they share the same type of relationship, they form a consistent group and cannot be considered differently related in this question.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may think that because a mob is still a group of humans, the pair must be acceptable. However, logical reasoning questions usually aim for the most typical and neutral relationships. The negative emotional tone of mob signals that Man : Mob is not parallel to the neutral collective nouns used for animals in the other options.
Final Answer:
The pair in which the words are differently related is Man : Mob.
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