Question

INSIPID : PIQUANT :: (Select the pair that shows the same relationship as the capitalized pair)

• A. relish : spice
• B. tasty : bland
• C. sweet : dessert
• D. flat : spicy

Hint:

For analogy questions, first label the relation (synonym, antonym, part-whole, cause-effect, degree). Then also check that the order of the relation matches the stem.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Decode the relationship in the stem. 
\(INSIPID\) means tasteless, dull, or \(\textit{bland}\). 
\(PIQUANT\) means pleasantly sharp, stimulating, or \(\textit{spicy}\). 
Thus the pair shows an antonym relation: bland \(\leftrightarrow\) spicy.

Step 2: Test each option for the same antonym relation \(\textit{and order.}\) 
(a) \(\textit{relish : spice}\) — near synonyms (both relate to flavor), not antonyms. 
(b) \(\textit{tasty : bland}\) — antonyms, but the order is \(\textit{tasty}\) then \(\textit{bland}\), which is the \(\textit{reverse}\) of the stem (bland \(\rightarrow\) spicy). 
(c) \(\textit{sweet : dessert}\) — association, not antonyms. 
(d) \(\textit{flat : spicy}\) — \(\textit{flat}\) \(\approx\) insipid (bland), and \(\textit{spicy}\) \(\approx\) piquant; antonyms in the \(\textit{same order}\) as the stem.

Step 3: Conclude. 
The only pair matching both the \(\textit{relation}\) (antonym) and the \(\textit{order}\) is \(\boxed{\text{flat : spicy}}\).