Final answer:
The proper completion for the analogy Hand : Fingers :: Foot : ? is a) Toes. Toes are to the foot what fingers are to the hand, as both are the extensions or appendages of these respective limbs. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The analogy Hand : Fingers :: Foot : ? is meant to compare two sets of similar items or concepts. In this case, the comparison is between parts of the body and their sub-parts. When looking at the hand, we find that it is related to the fingers, which are the extensions or appendages of the hand. Similarly, we should identify the corresponding parts of the foot, which are its extensions or appendages.
The metatarsals are the five bones of the foot, and the phalanges are the 14 bones of the toes. Each toe, much like the fingers on the hand, consists of phalanges - three for each toe except for the big toe, which has only two. Given this information, the correct completion to the analogy would be Foot : Toes, because toes are to the foot what fingers are to the hand.
The answer, therefore, is a) Toes. The other options listed, such as the ankle and knee, do not serve the same function in relation to the foot as fingers do to the hand. The ankle is a joint, not a series of bones that extend outward as fingers or toes do, and the knee is part of the leg, not the foot. The heel is part of the foot itself, but not an appendage like the toes. Therefore, toes are the parts that are analogous to fingers in the context of the foot.