You are reading an article on a news site. You click a blue underlined phrase and land on a completely different website. How do you return to the original news article?
AYou cannot — once you leave a page, it is gone
BYou must retype the news site's web address in the address bar
CClick the browser's back button
DClose the browser and reopen it to reset your location
The browser's back button is always available to return you to the previous page. Navigation via hyperlinks is entirely reversible — clicking a link simply changes what is displayed in your browser. The original page is not deleted or lost; your browser remembers where you were. This is the fundamental principle that makes free exploration of the web possible.
Question 2 Multiple Choice
You are browsing a webpage and want to identify which elements are hyperlinks before clicking. Which is the most reliable indicator?
AThe text is underlined
BThe text is displayed in a different color than surrounding text
CYour cursor changes to a pointing hand when you hover over it
DThe text appears in bold
The pointing-hand cursor is the browser's universal signal that an element is interactive — a clickable link. Text styling (color, underline, bold) varies widely across websites and can be applied to non-link text for emphasis. Modern websites frequently style links without underlines or in custom colors. The cursor behavior is the reliable, consistent test that works across all sites.
Question 3 True / False
Clicking a hyperlink does not alter or delete any content on the original page — it simply changes what your browser is displaying.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
Web navigation is entirely non-destructive. Clicking a link is more like turning a page than tearing one out — the original page remains intact and accessible via the back button. Nothing on the web is modified by visiting or navigating away from a page. This is what makes exploratory browsing safe and reversible.
Question 4 True / False
Most underlined text on a website is a hyperlink and will navigate you to a new page when clicked.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
Underlines have traditionally been used to indicate hyperlinks, but they are also used for emphasis, citations, and stylistic purposes — without any link functionality. A more reliable test is to hover over the text: if your cursor becomes a pointing hand, it's a link. If it stays an arrow or text cursor, it's just styled text.
Question 5 Short Answer
Why is it described as 'non-destructive' to navigate a website by clicking links? What does this mean for how you should explore an unfamiliar website?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Non-destructive means clicking links changes only what your browser displays — nothing is damaged, deleted, or permanently altered by your navigation. The back button always reverses any click. This means you can explore an unfamiliar website freely and boldly, following any link that looks interesting, without fear of getting stuck or causing harm. The explore-and-backtrack pattern is the most efficient way to learn what a site contains.
Many new internet users hesitate to click links because they worry about making irreversible mistakes. Understanding that navigation is non-destructive removes that barrier. The worst that can happen from clicking a link is that you land somewhere you didn't intend — and one press of the back button fixes that. This confidence is the foundation of efficient web browsing.