Select the appropriate figure from the four alternatives that would complete…

In a 3x3 figure-matrix item, each row usually applies one fixed transformation to a base figure as you move left to right: the figure's orientation flips laterally between consecutive cells, and an accompanying feature (a count of marks, or the density of a fill pattern) changes by a constant step. The missing cell must satisfy both the alternating orientation and the correct intermediate step of the changing feature.

1. In row 1, the fish's facing side alternates left, right, left across the three cells, while the small dot cluster beneath it grows from 1 dot to 2 dots to 3 dots, always sitting on the side of the head.

2. In row 2, the same lateral-alternation rule appears again: the pinwheel figure mirrors between successive cells while keeping the same set of curved elements.

3. In row 3, the first mug's handle is on the right and the mug body carries no pattern; the third mug's handle is back on the right and the body is fully covered in a checkered pattern.

4. Applying the alternating-orientation rule, the missing (second) mug's handle must flip to the left, the side opposite the first mug's handle.

5. Applying the changing-feature rule, the missing mug's fill must sit between "no pattern" and "fully checkered" - a checkered pattern covering only the lower portion of the mug.

A figure with the handle on the left and a checkered pattern confined to the lower half of the body satisfies both requirements together, and no other alternative combines a flipped handle with a partial (rather than absent or complete) checkered fill.