Solving Analogy Questions: ROASTER : DUTY ∷ INVENTORY : _______

Analogy questions test your ability to understand the relationship between a pair of words and apply the same relationship to another word to find the missing term. In this question, we need to find the word that completes the analogy: ROASTER : DUTY ∷ INVENTORY : ______.

Analyzing the First Pair: ROASTER : DUTY

Let's look closely at the first pair of words, ROASTER and DUTY. The word "roaster" might seem confusing initially. However, considering common usage and the options provided for the second pair (which relate to business/goods), it's highly probable that "ROASTER" here is a misspelling or alternative spelling of "ROSTER". A roster is a list of people, often employees, and their allocated tasks, duties, or responsibilities for a specific period.

Therefore, the relationship between ROSTER and DUTY is that a ROSTER lists or specifies DUTIES (or the people assigned to them).

Applying the Relationship to the Second Pair: INVENTORY : _______

Now we apply this identified relationship to the second incomplete pair: INVENTORY : _______. An INVENTORY is a detailed list of all the items of property, goods in stock, or the contents of something. Based on our established relationship, we are looking for what an INVENTORY lists or specifies.

Evaluating the Options

Let's examine the given options:

• A. GOODS: An inventory is a list of goods or items held in stock. This fits the relationship – an INVENTORY lists GOODS.
• B. SALES: An inventory is related to goods, but it lists what you *have*, not what you have *sold*. Sales are transactions, not the items listed in an inventory itself.
• C. EXPORT: Export is the act of sending goods to another country. While inventory goods might be exported, the inventory is a list of the goods themselves, not the act of exporting.
• D. PRODUCTION: Production is the process of making goods. Inventory lists finished goods, raw materials, or work-in-progress, but it doesn't list the production process itself.

Comparing the options, the word that is listed or specified by an INVENTORY is GOODS. This mirrors the relationship where a ROSTER lists DUTIES.

Conclusion

The relationship is that the first word is a list, and the second word is what is contained in or specified by that list. Applying this to the second pair, an INVENTORY lists GOODS.

Therefore, the complete analogy is ROASTER (ROSTER) : DUTY ∷ INVENTORY : GOODS.

Selected Answer

Based on the analysis, the word that completes the analogy is GOODS.

Matching the relationship, the blank should be filled with what an inventory lists, which is GOODS.

Revision Table: Key Analogy Concepts

Additional Information: Understanding Inventory and Rosters

Understanding the terms like inventory and roster can help solve such analogy questions more easily. These terms are common in business and management contexts.

• Inventory: Refers to the goods and materials that a business holds for sale or use in production. Maintaining accurate inventory records (the inventory list) is crucial for managing stock levels, tracking assets, and determining costs. Inventories can include raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
• Roster: Primarily a list of people belonging to a group, organization, or team, often used to assign specific tasks, shifts, or duties. For example, a work roster lists employees and their scheduled shifts or jobs. A sports roster lists players on a team.

While the question used "ROASTER", recognizing the probable intended word "ROSTER" is key to identifying the list-contents relationship that holds true for both pairs.