Analogies – Choose the pair that best completes the relationship. PASTORAL : RURAL :: ?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: metropolitan : urban

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
PASTORAL and RURAL are close synonyms, both describing the countryside. We need another pair of near-synonyms with the same register and domain, ideally in human geography.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Pastoral ≈ rural (countryside related).
  • We want synonymy of similar strength.


Concept / Approach:
Identify a pair where both words describe the same setting or concept. Eliminate pairs that are seasonal associations, antonyms, or unrelated attributes.


Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Pastoral : Rural → synonyms in setting.2) 'metropolitan : urban' are also synonyms (city-related).3) 'harvest : autumn' is association, not synonymy.4) 'agrarian : benevolent' do not share meaning; benevolent is about kindness.5) 'sleepy : nocturnal' are not synonyms; nocturnal means active at night.6) 'wild : agricultural' are contrasting concepts.


Verification / Alternative check:
Dictionary sense check confirms 'metropolitan' and 'urban' both describe a city environment, analogous to pastoral/rural describing the countryside.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • harvest : autumn – Association not equivalence.
  • agrarian : benevolent – Different semantic fields.
  • sleepy : nocturnal – Not equivalent attributes.
  • wild : agricultural – Broadly opposite domains.


Common Pitfalls:
Do not select words that frequently co-occur; synonym analogies require meaning equivalence, not mere association.


Final Answer:
metropolitan : urban

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