Analogy Explanation

The question presents an analogy: "Oasis is to sand as island is to ______". To solve this, we need to understand the relationship between the first pair of words ("Oasis" and "sand") and then apply that same logical relationship to the second pair, where one word ("island") is given and we need to find the missing word.

Understanding the Oasis Analogy

Let's break down the first part of the analogy: "Oasis is to sand".

• An Oasis is a fertile spot in a desert where water is found.
• A desert is typically a large area covered predominantly by sand.
• Therefore, an oasis is a distinct, relatively small area of life and water that is found within or surrounded by a much larger expanse of sand. The relationship is one of a specific feature existing within a dominant surrounding medium.

Island and Its Surroundings

Now, let's apply this established relationship to the second part: "island is to ______".

• An island is a piece of land.
• An island is completely surrounded by a large body of water.
• Similar to how an oasis is a distinct feature within a vast area of sand, an island is a distinct piece of land within a vast area of water.

Evaluating the Options

We need to find the option that best completes the analogy, maintaining the relationship identified (a distinct feature surrounded by a dominant medium).

• Mountain: A mountain is a large natural elevation of the earth's surface. While it's a distinct feature, it's typically part of a larger landmass or surrounded by other landforms, not a specific dominant medium in the same way sand surrounds an oasis.
• Water: This option fits perfectly. An island is a piece of land surrounded by water. This directly mirrors the relationship of an oasis being a fertile spot surrounded by sand.
• Stone: Stone is a material, not a vast surrounding medium for an island in the same way sand is for an oasis. An island is not defined by being surrounded by stone.
• Land: An island itself is land. While an island is distinct from surrounding land (if it's an inland island, for example), the most common and defining characteristic of an island is its isolation by water, not by other land. The defining contrast is with water.

Based on the logical relationship of a small, distinct feature being surrounded by a vast, dominant medium, "Water" is the only option that maintains a similar logical relation to "island" as "sand" does to "oasis".