Pluto : Mercury : Saturn — Choose the most accurate astronomical category that correctly includes all three bodies and select the best label.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Planets

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Astronomy themed analogy questions check familiarity with major Solar System bodies. Mercury and Saturn are classical planets. Pluto was historically classified as a planet and is now categorized as a dwarf planet. In general knowledge reasoning contexts, groupings often still treat Pluto within the broad idea of planets for simple categorization, especially when the alternative options are single planet names or unrelated terms.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Mercury is a planet.
  • Saturn is a planet with rings prominent in observation.
  • Pluto is currently classified as a dwarf planet but is commonly grouped with planets in elementary categorization contexts.
  • Only one option provides a category level label for all three.


Concept / Approach:
Prefer a broad but correct astronomical category that accommodates the typical reasoning test convention. The distractors Earth and Jupiter are individual planet names, not categories. Marsh is irrelevant. Planets is the only category option and, in common reasoning practice, serves as the intended unifying label for these Solar System bodies, recognizing that Pluto sits near the planet concept in lay usage.


Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify Mercury and Saturn unambiguously as planets.2) Acknowledge Pluto’s dwarf planet status while noting reasoning conventions.3) Select Planets as the expected category among the given options.


Verification / Alternative check:
Substituting Solar System bodies would be precise, but it is not offered. Planets remains the only valid categorical label among choices, aligning with typical general knowledge framing used in reasoning tests.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Marsh: A terrestrial wetland feature, unrelated to astronomy.
  • Earth: A single planet, not a category.
  • Jupiter: Another single planet, not a category.


Common Pitfalls:
Overcorrecting for Pluto’s reclassification and missing the test’s intent. While scientific precision matters, analogy questions typically prioritize familiar categorical groupings over technical edge cases when options make the intention obvious.


Final Answer:
Planets

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