Cup is to coffee as bowl is to?

Appeared in: RML 2023

Explanation

The question presents an analogy based on the relationship between a container and its typical contents.
A 'cup' is a container primarily used to hold 'coffee'.
Following this logic, a 'bowl' is a container primarily used to hold 'soup'.
This creates a consistent and parallel relationship: (Container 1 : Content 1) :: (Container 2 : Content 2).

Option A: A bowl is a type of dish. This establishes a 'is-a' or classification relationship, not the 'container-for-content' relationship seen with 'cup' and 'coffee'.
Option C: A spoon is a utensil used to eat from a bowl. It is an associated tool, not the content held within the bowl.
Option D: 'Food' is too general. The first pair of the analogy uses a specific item, 'coffee', not a broad category like 'beverage'. To maintain the parallel structure, a specific item like 'soup' is a better fit than the general category 'food'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Analogical Reasoning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests logical and analogical reasoning, a critical thinking skill essential for nurses.
Nurses use analogical reasoning to solve problems, such as recognizing that a patient's new symptoms are analogous to a known side effect of a medication.
This skill helps in understanding complex relationships between diseases, symptoms, and treatments, facilitating quicker and more effective decision-making in clinical practice.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the relationship between the first pair of words ('Cup' and 'Coffee'). In this case, it's a 'container and its content' relationship.
Formulate the relationship as a sentence: 'A cup is used to hold coffee.'
Apply the same sentence structure to the second pair: 'A bowl is used to hold ______.'
Evaluate the given options to see which one best fits the blank.
Option 'Soup' fits perfectly, as a bowl is commonly used to hold soup.
Eliminate other options by identifying their different relationships: 'Dish' is a category, 'Spoon' is a utensil, and 'Food' is too general.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RML 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.