Analogy Pattern Identification

The question presents an analogy based on the increasing intensity of a state or condition. We need to identify this pattern and apply it to the second set of words.

Analyzing Word Intensity: Dryness

• dry: Indicates a lack of moisture.
• arid: Signifies a more severe lack of moisture, often associated with climate. It is a greater degree of dryness than 'dry'.
• parched: Represents an extreme state of dryness, often implying thirst or being completely desiccated. This is the highest intensity in the sequence.

The pattern is: Mild State → Increased Intensity → Extreme Intensity.

Applying Intensity Pattern: Food Intake

We apply the same pattern of increasing intensity to the second sequence: [diet → fast → _________].

• diet: Refers to the regulation or control of food intake, often for health or weight reasons.
• fast: Involves abstaining from food for a specific period. This represents a greater restriction than a typical 'diet'.
• _________: The next step should represent an extreme and severe lack of food, implying suffering or a critical condition resulting from prolonged hunger.

Evaluating Options

• starve: To suffer or die from extreme hunger. This clearly represents the highest intensity of lacking food.
• reject: Means to refuse. Not related to the intensity of hunger.
• feast: Means to eat well or indulge in food. This is the opposite of the progression.
• deny: Means to refuse or state something isn't true. While related to refusal, it doesn't fit the specific intensity progression of hunger.

Conclusion

Following the pattern of increasing intensity (dry → arid → parched), the sequence diet → fast → _________ is completed by a word signifying the most extreme state of hunger. 'Starve' perfectly fits this requirement.