Question

Consider the analogy:
Water : P :: Food : Q
Choose the combination of P and Q from the options below that forms a meaningful analogy.

• A. P = Thirst; Q = Hunger
• B. P = Drink; Q = Hunger
• C. P = Thirst; Q = Satiated
• D. P = Wet; Q = Critic

Hint:

Think about the specific bodily sensation caused by lacking water, then find the matching sensation caused by lacking food.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This analogy asks us to fill in P and Q so that Water is to P as Food is to Q. The trick is to first name the exact relation joining Water and P, then test each option to see if Food and Q follow that same relation.

1. P = Thirst; Q = Hunger: Not having water gives the feeling of thirst, and not having food gives the feeling of hunger. Both pairs describe a need turning into a specific sensation, so the relation matches on both sides.
2. P = Drink; Q = Hunger: Drink is something you do about water, not a feeling caused by its lack, so the first half does not follow the same pattern as the second half (Hunger, a feeling).
3. P = Thirst; Q = Satiated: Thirst is the feeling of wanting water, but Satiated is the feeling of having had enough food, which is the opposite kind of state. The two halves point in opposite directions, so they do not match.
4. P = Wet; Q = Critic: Wet describes a physical condition, not a need-based feeling, and Critic has nothing to do with food at all. Neither half fits the pattern, and the two do not relate to each other either.

Only the first option keeps a consistent relation: lacking the item in the first word produces the named feeling in the second word, for both halves of the analogy. So P = Thirst and Q = Hunger.

Let's summarize:

• Water : Thirst mirrors the pattern of a need producing a specific bodily sensation.
• Food : Hunger follows the exact same need-to-sensation pattern.

So the correct combination is P = Thirst and Q = Hunger.