Understanding Word Analogies: Obsolete and Arrogant

Word analogies test your ability to understand the relationship between a pair of words and apply that same relationship to another word to find a missing term. In this question, we are given the analogy: Obsolete : Modern :: Arrogant : ?

This means we need to find the word that relates to 'Arrogant' in the same way that 'Modern' relates to 'Obsolete'.

Analyzing the First Pair: Obsolete and Modern

Let's look at the relationship between the first pair of words:

• Obsolete: This word describes something that is no longer produced or used; out of date.
• Modern: This word describes something relating to the present or recent times, as opposed to the past.

The words 'Obsolete' and 'Modern' have opposite meanings. They are antonyms.

Applying the Relationship to Arrogant

The relationship between 'Obsolete' and 'Modern' is that of antonyms. Therefore, we need to find the antonym of the word 'Arrogant' from the given options.

• Arrogant: This word describes someone having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. An arrogant person thinks they are much better than others.

Now, let's examine the options to find the antonym of 'Arrogant'.

Evaluating the Options

• Option 1: Modest

  Modest means humble, not arrogant or boastful. A modest person does not have an exaggerated view of their own importance.

• Option 2: Miser

  A miser is a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible. This word relates to money and spending habits, not to arrogance.

• Option 3: Eager

  Eager means looking forward to something with great interest or desire. This word describes enthusiasm, not the opposite of arrogance.

• Option 4: Sceptical

  Sceptical means not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations. This word relates to doubt or questioning, not to the opposite of arrogance.

Comparing the options, 'Modest' is the word that is opposite in meaning to 'Arrogant'.

Conclusion

Since 'Modern' is the antonym of 'Obsolete', the word that completes the analogy must be the antonym of 'Arrogant'. The antonym of 'Arrogant' is 'Modest'.

Therefore, the correct analogy is: Obsolete : Modern :: Arrogant : Modest.

Revision Table: Key Terms

Additional Information: Types of Word Relationships in Analogies

Analogies can use various types of relationships between word pairs. Understanding these types helps in solving analogy questions. Some common relationships include:

• Antonyms: Words with opposite meanings (e.g., Hot : Cold)
• Synonyms: Words with similar meanings (e.g., Happy : Joyful)
• Part to Whole: One word is a part of the other (e.g., Finger : Hand)
• Cause and Effect: One word causes the other (e.g., Rain : Flood)
• Worker and Tool: A person and the tool they use (e.g., Carpenter : Hammer)
• Action and Object: An action performed on an object (e.g., Read : Book)
• Degree of Intensity: Words showing different levels of something (e.g., Warm : Hot)

Identifying the specific relationship between the first pair is the key step to solving any word analogy question.