In the following vocabulary based analogy, Pernicious is related to Lethal as Indict is related to which of the following words?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy focuses on English vocabulary and synonym relationships. Pernicious is strongly related to the meaning of Lethal, both describing something that causes serious harm or death. The question now asks you to identify which word stands in a similar relationship to Indict. This type of problem checks your grasp of nuanced word meanings and your ability to match them correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- First pair: Pernicious and Lethal, which are closely related in meaning.
- Second base word: Indict, which is a verb used in legal contexts.
- Options: Insolent, Impudent, Spoil and Accuse.
- We assume the analogy is based on synonymy or very close meaning, not on opposite meanings.

Concept / Approach:
Pernicious describes something harmful, destructive or potentially deadly. Lethal similarly means deadly or fatal. So the first pair is built around synonymy. Indict is a legal term that means to formally charge someone with a crime. Therefore, the correct related word should be another verb that captures the idea of formally accusing or charging. Among the options, Accuse is closest in meaning to Indict.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm the first pair. Pernicious means harmful in a serious way, and Lethal means deadly. Both refer to severe harm, showing a synonym relationship. Step 2: Understand the word Indict. In legal usage, to indict someone is to formally charge that person with an offence, often via a grand jury in some legal systems. Step 3: Examine the options. Insolent means showing rude or disrespectful behaviour. Impudent is similar, referring to shamelessly bold or rude conduct. Spoil means to damage, ruin or overindulge. Step 4: Note that Accuse means to state or claim that somebody has committed a wrongdoing or crime, which is conceptually very close to Indict. Step 5: Therefore, Indict is to Accuse as Pernicious is to Lethal, and option D is correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check whether any option can stand as a true synonym of Indict in a sentence. Replacing Indict with Insolent or Impudent produces nonsense grammatically and semantically. Spoil also changes the core meaning entirely. Only Accuse fits naturally in contexts where Indict is used, reinforcing that the relationship is one of near synonymy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Insolent and Impudent refer to rudeness or shameless boldness, which are personality traits, not legal actions. Spoil refers to damaging or indulging, again unrelated to formally charging someone with an offence. Because the question is built on a synonym relationship, these words are not acceptable substitutes for Indict.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes get distracted by word sound rather than meaning. For example, they may pick Spoil because it also has a negative tone. A better strategy is always to briefly recall the dictionary style meaning of each word before deciding. In vocabulary analogies, meaning match is more important than emotional tone.

Final Answer:
Pernicious and Lethal are near synonyms, and in the same way Indict is most closely related to Accuse.