Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Contrast
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question deals with verbal analogy based on word meanings. The pair Vaunt and Flaunt are near synonyms that both suggest showing off or boasting. You must identify which option bears a similar relationship with the word Disparate. This type of question checks vocabulary depth and the ability to see subtle meaning connections.
Given Data / Assumptions:
1) Vaunt means to boast about or praise something in an exaggerated way.
2) Flaunt means to display something ostentatiously or proudly, usually to gain attention.
3) Disparate describes things that are fundamentally different or distinct in kind, often with a strong sense of contrast.
4) The options are Similar, Homogenous, Contrast, and Alike, all of which relate to the idea of sameness or difference.
Concept / Approach:
The first pair uses synonymy. Vaunt and Flaunt both involve showing off. Therefore the second pair should also link a word with another word that expresses or captures its core idea. Disparate stresses strong difference or lack of similarity. Among the options, the word that aligns most closely with this sense of strong difference is Contrast, which refers to a clear dissimilarity between two things.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the relationship in the first pair. Vaunt and Flaunt both involve boasting or ostentatious display, so they are near synonyms.
Step 2: Determine the core meaning of Disparate. It describes items or ideas that are essentially different, not comparable in a close way.
Step 3: Examine the options. Similar and Alike both indicate closeness or sameness. Homogenous describes things that are of the same kind or nature.
Step 4: Contrast refers to a marked difference between two things, which matches the idea that disparate items stand in strong contrast to each other.
Step 5: Therefore, Disparate is best paired with Contrast in the same way that Vaunt is paired with Flaunt.
Verification / Alternative check:
Think of example sentences. You may say the two paintings are disparate in style, showing a sharp contrast between them. The word Contrast naturally appears as both a noun and a verb in contexts where you talk about disparate features. On the other hand, it would be incorrect to say that disparate paintings are similar, alike, or homogenous, since all of those terms suggest a close match rather than a difference.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Similar indicates resemblance, the opposite of the idea in Disparate. Homogenous means of the same kind or uniform in nature, again conflicting with the idea of fundamental difference. Alike also suggests similarity. None of these options echo the meaning of Disparate, which emphasises strong difference rather than sameness.
Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to assume that all analogy questions always demand synonyms, and then choose a word like Similar for Disparate. However, in this analogy, Vaunt and Flaunt are synonyms, but Disparate is not paired with a synonym meaning the same thing. Instead, we look for a word that captures the kind of relationship Disparate has with other things, and that is Contrast. Being flexible with how you interpret the relationship is important.
Final Answer:
Hence, the word that best completes the analogy is Contrast. Vaunt is to Flaunt as Disparate is to Contrast.
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