To answer this question, you need to understand the relationship between the words "guide" and "direct" and find a similar relationship among the given options.
A guide is someone or something that provides direction or instructions. Similarly, to "reduce" something means to make it smaller or decrease its size, quantity, or intensity.
Let's go through each option to understand why it is correct or incorrect:
Option A) Decrease - This option is correct because "decrease" is a synonym of "reduce." Both words imply making something smaller or decreasing its size, quantity, or intensity.
Option B) Increase - This option is incorrect because "increase" means to make something bigger or to add to its size, quantity, or intensity. It is the opposite of "reduce."
Option C) Maintain - This option is incorrect because "maintain" means to keep something in the same state or condition, without any decrease or increase. It does not have the same meaning as "reduce."
Option D) Preserve - This option is incorrect because "preserve" means to protect or keep something in its original state or condition. It does not have the same meaning as "reduce."
The correct answer is A) Decrease. This option is correct because "decrease" is a synonym of "reduce" and reflects the similar relationship between the words "guide" and "direct."