Direction Words

What does it mean to 'analyze' something?

• To briefly share the main points
• To examine something in detail to understand it
• To show or explain something in clear terms
• To make something more clear or visible

Which of the following best describes the action of 'explaining'?

• To point out or show
• To make something clear using description, facts, or ideas
• To note similarities and differences
• To figure something out by using evidence

What does it mean to 'illustrate' in the context of test directions?

• To draw a picture
• To make something more clear or visible
• To explain the meaning of something
• To briefly share the main points

How is 'compare' different from 'contrast'?

• Compare only looks at similarities, while contrast only looks at differences
• Compare looks at both similarities and differences, while contrast only looks at differences
• They mean the same thing
• Compare looks at differences, while contrast looks at similarities

What does it mean to 'interpret' something?

• To show or demonstrate
• To explain the meaning of something
• To briefly share the main points
• To point out or indicate

When asked to 'summarize', what should you do?

• Examine something in detail
• Make something clear using facts
• Briefly share the main points
• Note similarities and differences

What does it mean to 'demonstrate' something?

• To show or explain something in clear terms
• To figure something out using evidence
• To briefly share the main points
• To note details about something

When a question asks you to 'indicate', what are you being asked to do?

• Explain in detail
• Point out or show
• Compare and contrast
• Summarize briefly

What does it mean to 'infer' something?

• To explain the meaning of something
• To note details about something
• To figure something out using evidence and reasoning
• To briefly share the main points

When asked to 'describe' something, what should you do?

• Examine it in detail
• Note details about it
• Explain its meaning
• Compare it to something else