Which option best defines panel in a decision-making or entertainment context?

• A. A window pane
• B. A flat board used for construction
• C. A type of wind instrument
• D. A group of people who work together to make decisions, pass judgment or entertain people

Answer: (D)

In a decision-making or entertainment setting, a panel means a group of people who come together to contribute, deliberate, judge, or discuss. This emphasizes collaboration and the involvement of minds, not a physical object. For example, a panel of judges evaluates contestants and makes decisions, or a panel of experts discusses topics for an audience. In entertainment, a panel can also be a group of celebrities or experts who share views on questions and entertain via discussion. This sense is about people acting as a unit, which is why it fits best.

The other senses describe tangible items: a window pane is a sheet of glass, a flat board used for construction is a building material, and a wind instrument is a device that produces sound. Those meanings refer to objects, not groups of people, so they don’t match the context described.