Which choice best defines an annotation?

• A. A conclusion drawn from evidence.
• B. A note or comment added to a text to explain, question, or emphasize.
• C. A summary of the entire article.
• D. An illustration drawn by the author.

Answer: (B)

An annotation is a note or comment added to a text to explain, question, or emphasize something in what you’re reading. When you annotate, you’re actively engaging with the text—writing in the margins, underlining or highlighting key ideas, noting definitions for unfamiliar terms, and asking questions or making connections. This helps you understand the material more deeply and keeps your thoughts organized for discussions or writing tasks.

This choice best captures what an annotation does: it’s personal commentary or explanation you attach to the text itself, not a standalone conclusion, a full summary, or a drawn illustration. A conclusion drawn from evidence is an inference you make about what the text means. A summary restates the main points of the entire piece. An illustration is a visual representation created by the author. Annotating stays with the text to help you think through and engage with it. When you annotate, you focus on clarifying meaning, tracking evidence, and highlighting ideas you might want to revisit later.