Select the word that fits the analogy:
White : Whitening ∷ Light : _____
Correct Answer
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
Understanding the Analogy: White to Whitening
The question asks us to complete an analogy: White : Whitening :: Light : _____. We need to find the relationship between the first pair of words, "White" and "Whitening", and then apply that same relationship to the word "Light".
The word "White" is an adjective describing a color. "Whitening" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "to whiten". It signifies the process or action of making something white or whiter. So, the relationship is: Adjective (Color) -> Process of achieving that color.
Applying the Analogy to Light
Now we consider the word "Light". "Light" can function as a noun (illumination) or an adjective. In the context of the analogy structure (Adjective -> Process), we should consider "Light" as an adjective. As an adjective, "Light" can mean:
- Of little weight; not heavy.
- Pale in shade; not dark.
We need to find a word that represents the process of making something "light" (either less heavy or less dark).
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option based on this relationship:
- Option 1: Lightning - This refers to the natural electrical discharge during a storm. It does not relate to the process of making something lighter in weight or color.
- Option 2: Lightening - This is the present participle/gerund of the verb "to lighten". "To lighten" means to make something less heavy or to make something less dark. This perfectly matches the process derived from the adjective "light", mirroring the "White : Whitening" relationship.
- Option 3: Lighting - This refers to the act of supplying light or the way a place is illuminated. It's related to the noun "light" (illumination) but not the process of making something adjective "light".
- Option 4: Enlightening - This means giving spiritual insight or making something clear. While it uses the root word "light", it refers to a metaphorical sense of clarity or understanding, not the physical process of reducing weight or darkness.
Conclusion of the Analogy
The relationship "White : Whitening" shows an adjective and the process of making something that way. "Light" used as an adjective (meaning less dark or less heavy) corresponds to the process of "Lightening", which means making something less dark or less heavy. Therefore, "Lightening" is the word that fits the analogy.
The question asks us to complete an analogy: White : Whitening :: Light : _____. We need to find the relationship between the first pair of words, "White" and "Whitening", and then apply that same relationship to the word "Light".
The word "White" is an adjective describing a color. "Whitening" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "to whiten". It signifies the process or action of making something white or whiter. So, the relationship is: Adjective (Color) -> Process of achieving that color.
Applying the Analogy to Light
Now we consider the word "Light". "Light" can function as a noun (illumination) or an adjective. In the context of the analogy structure (Adjective -> Process), we should consider "Light" as an adjective. As an adjective, "Light" can mean:
- Of little weight; not heavy.
- Pale in shade; not dark.
We need to find a word that represents the process of making something "light" (either less heavy or less dark).
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option based on this relationship:
- Option 1: Lightning - This refers to the natural electrical discharge during a storm. It does not relate to the process of making something lighter in weight or color.
- Option 2: Lightening - This is the present participle/gerund of the verb "to lighten". "To lighten" means to make something less heavy or to make something less dark. This perfectly matches the process derived from the adjective "light", mirroring the "White : Whitening" relationship.
- Option 3: Lighting - This refers to the act of supplying light or the way a place is illuminated. It's related to the noun "light" (illumination) but not the process of making something adjective "light".
- Option 4: Enlightening - This means giving spiritual insight or making something clear. While it uses the root word "light", it refers to a metaphorical sense of clarity or understanding, not the physical process of reducing weight or darkness.
Conclusion of the Analogy
The relationship "White : Whitening" shows an adjective and the process of making something that way. "Light" used as an adjective (meaning less dark or less heavy) corresponds to the process of "Lightening", which means making something less dark or less heavy. Therefore, "Lightening" is the word that fits the analogy.