Understanding the Word Analogy: Bird, Feathers, Fish

The question asks us to find the word that completes the analogy: Bird : Feathers :: Fish : ?. This type of question tests our ability to identify the relationship between the first pair of words and apply that same relationship to the third word to find the fourth word.

Let's first analyze the relationship between the first pair of words:

• Bird : Feathers

A bird's body is covered by feathers. Feathers provide insulation, enable flight, and protect the bird. So, feathers are the external covering of a bird.

Applying the Analogy to Fish

Now, we need to find the word that has the same relationship with 'Fish' as 'Feathers' has with 'Bird'. We are looking for the external covering of a fish.

Let's examine the given options:

• Option 1: Scales - Scales are small, rigid plates that grow out of the skin of a fish. They overlap to cover the fish's body, providing protection.
• Option 2: Rock - A rock is a natural solid mineral formation. This is unrelated to the body covering of a fish.
• Option 3: Swim - Swim is an action that fish perform to move through water. It is not a body covering.
• Option 4: Water - Water is the environment in which fish live. It is not a body covering.

Comparing the options, we can see that 'Scales' are the external covering of a fish, just as 'Feathers' are the external covering of a bird.

Conclusion for the Analogy

The relationship 'is covered by' holds true for both pairs:

• Bird is covered by Feathers.
• Fish is covered by Scales.

Therefore, the word that completes the analogy is Scales.

The final analogy is: Bird : Feathers :: Fish : Scales.

Revision Table: Bird, Fish and Coverings

Additional Information: Types of Analogies and Fish Anatomy

Word analogies can express various relationships, such as part-to-whole, object-to-function, cause-and-effect, or in this case, object-to-covering. Understanding these relationships helps in solving analogy questions.

Regarding fish, while most fish are covered in scales, some fish like catfish and eels have smooth skin without scales. Scales vary in type among different fish species (e.g., placoid, ganoid, cycloid, ctenoid scales), but their primary function is protection.