Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'analyse' ?

• A. To examine something critically.
• B. To separate something into its parts in order to examine it or better understand it.
• C. To psychoanalyze.
• D. To guess or estimate without data.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is the way analyse means looking at something with careful, detailed consideration to understand its meaning, structure, or causes. The best choice captures that depth and evaluative approach: to examine something critically. It conveys more than just listing parts or describing surface details; it emphasizes scrutinizing evidence, weighing factors, and forming reasoned interpretations or conclusions. When you analyse, you often break things into parts to see how they fit together and what they reveal, but the core purpose is an in-depth, thoughtful examination rather than guessing or applying a unrelated method like psychoanalysis.