Show Which Shape Is in Front

Supplied materials

• Paper and a pencil. An adult can read aloud while you point, draw or say your answer.
• Read this example: In an original drawing, the tree covers the middle of the hill outline; the tree outline remains visible. What is the drawing’s overlap cue? Supplied candidates: (A) Both must be the same distance (B) The covered object must be smaller in real life (C) The hill appears in front of the tree (D) The tree appears in front of the hill.
• Try this question: In an original drawing, the boat covers the middle of the dock outline; the boat outline remains visible. What is the drawing’s overlap cue? Supplied candidates: (A) Both must be the same distance (B) The boat appears in front of the dock (C) The covered object must be smaller in real life (D) The dock appears in front of the boat.

Learn the idea

In a flat picture, one shape can partly cover another. This overlap can make the first shape look closer. The outline of the shape in front stays visible; part of the shape behind it is hidden.

Reason through the supplied case: The visible tree interrupts the hill boundary, so the artist’s overlap cue places tree in front. This describes how the picture suggests depth, not a measurement of actual object size or distance.

An overlap cue describes this picture’s apparent front and back. It does not measure real distance, real object size or the maker’s feelings.

1. Ask an adult to read about the tree and hill. Notice which outline stays visible and which part is covered.
2. Explain why the tree looks in front when it covers part of the hill outline.
3. Try the question and all three practice questions before checking their answers.
4. Draw two named simple shapes with one in front; erase or interrupt the hidden back outline.
5. Check your work: The front outline stays readable, the back outline stops where hidden, and a caption names the front shape.

Check your reasoning

Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.

Take it further

Try one more question: In an original drawing, the box covers the middle of the wall outline; the box outline remains visible. What is the drawing’s overlap cue? Supplied candidates: (A) Both must be the same distance (B) The box appears in front of the wall (C) The covered object must be smaller in real life (D) The wall appears in front of the box. Answer: The box appears in front of the wall. The visible box interrupts the wall boundary, so the artist’s overlap cue places box in front. This describes how the picture suggests depth, not a measurement of actual object size or distance. Now make your own work: Draw two named simple shapes with one in front; erase or interrupt the hidden back outline. Check your work: The front outline stays readable, the back outline stops where hidden, and a caption names the front shape.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.