Step by step
The question
Question: what shape is the cut, if we slice a box parallel to the front?
box, cut parallel to the front
A cross section is the flat face we see when we slice a solid.
cross section = the face of a cut
1 Look at the cut
Here is the box.
We slice it parallel to the front.
The red face is the cut.
2 Name the shape
Flat, the cut looks like this.
The cut is the same as the front face: a rectangle.
So it is a rectangle.
= cut: a rectangle
Careful!
Picture the flat face where the knife went through.
Careful: think of the flat face
3 Check
Let's check: look at the box from the side.
You see a rectangle, the same as the cut through the middle.
So the answer is right!
side view: rectangle
Let's look back.
First: look at the cut.
Then: name the shape.
Last: check.
Answer
Careful: think of the flat face