In these types of questions, focus on the most common associations between the words. For example, "deck" fits naturally with "cards" and "thieves den".
Step 1: Analyzing the association.
- "Thieves" and "Den" are commonly associated with the word "Deck" (e.g., card deck, a place where thieves may meet, etc.). The term "Cards" is also commonly associated with a deck. Therefore, "Deck" is the most appropriate word to associate with all three words. Step 2: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (b), "Deck".