ACT Reading Practice Test

A diagram is a drawing used to explain how something works. It distills complex systems into visual parts, connections, and processes, often with arrows and labels that show function or sequence. This makes it ideal when the goal is to convey mechanism rather than describe it in words or demonstrate it through action. For example, a schematic of a machine or a flow diagram of a process helps you see how components interact and what happens next. Depict means to show or represent, but it’s a broader term; describe is about telling details in words; demonstrate is about showing how something works in practice, usually through action or evidence. So, the drawing intended to explain how something works best fits the meaning of a diagram.