Select the best related pair: Stare is to Glance as which of the following pairs shows a similar contrast in intensity?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy explores differences in intensity between two related actions. Stare and Glance both refer to looking, but they differ in duration and force. You must choose the option that reflects a similar relationship between two actions. Recognising this type of subtle contrast is a common requirement in verbal reasoning questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
1) Stare means to look at something with eyes wide open for a long time, often intensely.
2) Glance means to look at something quickly, briefly, or casually.
3) The options are Gulp : Sip, Confide : Tell, Hunt : Stalk, and Step : Walk.
4) We must find a pair where the first action is an intense or strong version and the second is a milder or lighter version of a similar basic activity.

Concept / Approach:
Stare and Glance share the same general activity category, which is looking, but they differ mainly in intensity and duration. To maintain the analogy, the second pair should also involve two actions in the same domain, such as drinking, where one is stronger or more intense than the other. Gulp and Sip both describe drinking, but gulp is forceful and fast, whereas sip is gentle and small. This is directly parallel to the stare versus glance contrast.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Analyse Stare : Glance. Both are ways of looking, but stare is long and intense while glance is short and light. Step 2: Examine Gulp : Sip. Both are ways of drinking. Gulp refers to swallowing large amounts quickly, while sip refers to taking small amounts slowly or carefully. Step 3: Examine Confide : Tell. Confide means to tell something private to someone you trust, while tell is more general. These are not primarily differentiated by intensity but rather by the type of information. Step 4: Examine Hunt : Stalk. Both relate to pursuing animals or people, but stalking is a secretive form of moving, whereas hunting is a broader term. The difference is not a simple intense versus mild contrast. Step 5: Examine Step : Walk. Step is a single movement, and walk is a series of steps. Here, the difference is more about unit versus process, not a direct contrast of intensity. Step 6: Conclude that only Gulp : Sip mirrors the pattern where the first word represents a strong form of the basic action and the second represents a mild form.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check the pairs using simple sentences. One can say to stare is to look very hard, while to glance is to look briefly. In the same way, to gulp is to drink very quickly, while to sip is to drink slowly in small amounts. No similar contrast appears in the other options, confirming Gulp : Sip as the correct analogue.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Confide : Tell relates to confidentiality rather than intensity. Hunt : Stalk involves different aspects of pursuit, with stalking being a particular technique. Step : Walk describes parts of a process, not weak versus strong forms of the same action. Thus, these pairs do not reflect the intense versus mild contrast that defines the original pair.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse any pair of related verbs as suitable, without checking the exact type of relationship. It is important to identify that the focus is on degree and intensity. Once you frame the pair as strong look versus light look, it becomes easier to see strong drink versus light drink in Gulp : Sip.

Final Answer:
The best related pair is Gulp : Sip, which reflects the same intensity contrast as Stare : Glance.