Which term describes the process of deriving multiple meanings from a text?

• A. Evaluation
• B. Exegesis
• C. Interpretation
• D. Translation

Answer: (C)

Interpreting a text, and considering its multiple meanings, is what this item focuses on. Interpretation involves examining how word choices, imagery, syntax, and overall structure open up various readings and implications, influenced by context, culture, and the reader’s perspective. It’s different from evaluation, which is about judging merit, and from translation, which moves text into another language. Exegesis is a careful, often scholarly explanation of a text’s meaning, usually in academic or religious contexts, and while it is a kind of interpretation, the general act of deriving multiple meanings is best captured by interpretation. So the best fit is interpretation.