Analogies — “thing : diminished/modified quality” Prompt: Sound : Muffled ⇒ ? Choose the pair that mirrors a base phenomenon described by a reduced-intensity quality.

Introduction / Context:
“Sound : Muffled” shows a phenomenon (sound) described by a quality indicating reduced intensity or clarity (muffled). We must find a base entity described by a similarly diminished attribute, not merely any adjective descriptor.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Muffled implies softened, less clear, or damped sound.
• The best analogue is a sensory quality showing reduction from normal vividness.

Concept / Approach:
Scan for a noun–adjective relation where the adjective expresses weakening or loss of vividness compared to the norm, paralleling how “muffled” weakens sound.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare degrees: normal sound → muffled sound (less distinct); normal colour → faded colour (less vivid). The structure and direction (reduction) match.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Moisture : Humid — category mismatch; adjective applies to air, not to moisture, and indicates abundance.
• Despair : Anger — unrelated emotions; no base–quality relation.
• Odour : Pungent — intensity increases, not decreases.

Common Pitfalls:
Picking any noun–adjective pair without checking whether the adjective denotes a weakening of the base attribute, which is the core of the analogy.

Final Answer:
Colour : Faded