Q.1 If ‘→’ denotes increasing order of intensity, then the meaning of the words
[dry → arid → parched] is analogous to [diet → fast → ________ ].
Which one of the given options is appropriate to fill the blank?
(A) starve
(B) reject
(C) feast
(D) deny

Analogies test your grasp of relationships between words, often by escalating degrees—like intensity, size, or emotion. This puzzle uses “→” to signal increasing order of intensity. The first set, dry → arid → parched, shows a progression from mild to extreme lack of moisture. Let’s break it down before tackling the blank in diet → fast → ________.

Understanding the First Sequence: Dry → Arid → Parched

• Dry: Slightly lacking moisture, like a towel after light use or soil with low water. Everyday term for minimal dryness.

• Arid: More intense, describing extremely dry climates or regions (think deserts like Rajasthan’s Thar). Implies barrenness from prolonged dryness.

• Parched: Peak intensity—utterly desiccated, cracked, and desperate for water. Often evokes thirst in living things, like parched lips or soil.

The pattern? Each word amps up the severity of dryness. Now, apply this to diet → fast → ?, where we’re escalating intensity of food restriction.

The Correct Answer: (A) Starve

Diet → fast → starve mirrors the progression perfectly.

• Diet: Mild restriction—controlled eating for health or weight loss, like skipping snacks.

• Fast: Stronger—complete abstinence from food for a period (e.g., religious fasts or intermittent fasting). No calories, but survivable short-term.

• Starve: Extreme—suffer from prolonged hunger, risking malnutrition or death. Matches “parched” as the dire endpoint.

This fits increasing order of intensity in food deprivation, just as dryness escalates. The answer is (A) starve.

Why Not the Other Options? Full Breakdown

Examine each to see why they fail the intensity pattern:

• (B) Reject: Means to refuse or dismiss (e.g., reject food). No escalation—it’s unrelated to food restriction levels. Breaks the dietary theme entirely.

• (C) Feast: Opposite direction! A feast means abundance of food (lavish eating). This decreases intensity, inverting the arrow’s logic.

• (D) Deny: Implies refusal (e.g., deny yourself treats). Vague and static—no clear ramp-up from “fast.” Lacks the life-threatening severity of “starve.”

Only “starve” completes the logical chain, making it ideal for verbal aptitude tests.

Why These Analogies Matter

Such questions appear in GRE, SAT, CAT, or civil service exams to assess vocabulary nuance and relational thinking. Practicing them sharpens your ability to spot subtle gradations—key for academics or professional writing.

Spot the pattern next time: arrows signal progression, so chase the extreme!