In the part–whole analogy "Room : house :: needle : ____", which option forms a similar relationship?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Needle : clock

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This analogy focuses on the relationship between a part and the whole object to which that part belongs. In the pair "Room : house", a room is one component or section inside a larger structure, the house. You are asked to select from the options another pair that follows the same part to whole relationship. Recognising such structural associations is a key element of verbal reasoning.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A room is a part of a house.
  • We are looking for a smaller component and the larger object that contains it.
  • Options include pairs relating to actions, roles and mechanical relations.
  • Exactly one option must mirror the part–whole structure of the original pair.


Concept / Approach:
First, clarify the type of relationship in the example. Room is not a user of the house, nor an action; it is a physical subunit. The whole building is made up of several rooms. Therefore, for the correct option we need an item that is physically contained in or fixed to the second item, which acts as its larger environment. A clock often has a needle or hand, which points to the time. The needle is a visible part of the clock mechanism. Thus, "needle : clock" matches the part–whole relationship that "room : house" expresses.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Identify that room is a small component inside a house, representing a part–whole relationship. Reject pairs that express different types of relations, such as action or usage. Examine "Pedal : rotate" and notice that rotate is an action, not a container for the pedal. Observe that "Student : study" is a doer and an activity, again not part–whole. See that "Car : steering" reverses roles and places the whole before a part, while "needle : clock" keeps the part before the whole, matching the original order.


Verification / Alternative check:
Check "Car : steering". Steering is indeed a part of a car, but the order is whole to part, which is opposite to "room : house". The analogy requires part first, whole second. "Driver : vehicle" is a person operating a machine, which is a different relationship. Only "needle : clock" shows a part first and the whole device second, preserving both the structure and direction of the original pair.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Pedal : rotate" combines a mechanical component with an action, not a container. "Student : study" links a person to an activity. "Car : steering" is whole to part instead of part to whole. "Driver : vehicle" describes a user and the object used. None of these parallels the structural part–whole pattern of "room : house". Therefore they must be rejected.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes focus only on the presence of any part and whole words, ignoring order. Others may pick a pair that feels intuitively related without checking that it is the same type of relationship. When solving analogies, always confirm both the nature and direction of the relation before choosing an answer.


Final Answer:
The part–whole analogy is correctly continued by "Room : house :: needle : clock".

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