Advanced Moves: Get AI to Explain, Check, Quiz, and Improve, Part 1
If AI's answer is too hard to understand, ask AI to explain it more simply..
40 min · Reviewed 2026
Ask AI to Explain Simply
If AI's answer is too hard to understand, ask AI to explain it more simply.
'Explain that like I am 8' or 'Use simpler words' usually gets you a much clearer answer.
Three things to remember
AI started talking like a college teacher — but can change
Asking simpler doesn't make you sound dumb
Often the simpler version is also the BEST version
The big idea: You can always ask AI to explain things more simply. Don't be shy about it.
Ask the Same Thing Many Ways
Ask the Same Thing Many Ways
If you don't quite get something, ask AI to explain it 3 different ways. One usually clicks.
'Explain photosynthesis. Then explain it as a sports analogy. Then as a video game.' AI does all three.
Three things to remember
First explanation isn't always the best
Different brains need different explanations
Trying again is normal and smart
The big idea: If one explanation didn't click, ask for another. There are always more ways to explain.
AI Explains New Words
AI Explains New Words
When you read a word you don't know, ask AI to explain it.
'What does photosynthesis mean? Explain like I am 8.' AI gives you a clear definition.
Three places to use AI for words
When reading a hard book
When studying a new subject
When you want to use a fancy word correctly
The big idea: AI is a great word-explainer. Use it whenever you read something hard.
AI Translates Languages
AI Translates Languages
AI can translate from any language to any language. Knowing this opens up books, websites, and conversations from around the world.
'Translate this French sentence into English: bonjour, je m'appelle Marie.' AI gives you 'Hello, my name is Marie.'
Three things to be careful about
Idioms (sayings) sometimes don't translate well
Jokes don't always work
Cultural context can be missed
The big idea: AI translation makes the whole world's writing available to you.
Ask AI to Disagree With You
The big idea
AI is too nice sometimes. It tends to agree with whatever you say. Asking it to disagree (with reasons) makes you think harder and learn more.
Some examples
'I think [position]. Argue the opposite — give me your strongest case.'
'Tell me 3 reasons my idea might be wrong.'
'Pretend you disagree with my essay. What would you say?'
'What facts could change my mind on this?'
Try it!
Here's why "Ask AI to Disagree With You" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! AI tends to agree with you. Ask it to argue back — you will learn way more — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
Learn what "pushback" means and why it's important
Learn what "critical thinking" means and why it's important
Learn what "growth" means and why it's important
Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
Ask AI to Quiz You
The big idea
Studying alone is harder. But AI can be your quiz buddy! Tell it the subject and how many questions, and it will test you. Then you check your answers.
Some examples
Quiz me on planets — 5 questions.
Give me a spelling quiz with 10 words.
Quiz me on the U.S. states.
Test me on multiplication, easy level.
Try it!
Pick a topic you're learning. Ask AI for a 5-question quiz, then take it without peeking!
Here's why "Ask AI to Quiz You" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! AI can make a quiz on any topic to help you study — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
Learn what "quiz" means and why it's important
Learn what "study" means and why it's important
Learn what "practice" means and why it's important
Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
Say: Explain it Like I'm Five
The big idea
When AI uses big words, you can ask it to explain like you're 5 years old. It will use simpler words and examples you understand. This is one of the most useful tricks.
Some examples
Explain gravity like I'm 5.
What is a computer chip — like I'm 5?
Explain photosynthesis very simply.
Tell me about taxes like I'm a kid.
Try it!
Find a hard word in a school book. Ask AI to explain it like you're five. Did it work better?
Here's why "Say: Explain it Like I'm Five" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! AI can make hard ideas easy if you ask the right way — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
Learn what "simple" means and why it's important
Learn what "explain" means and why it's important
Learn what "understand" means and why it's important
Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
AI and the Magic Words: Power Phrases for Better Prompts
The big idea
Some phrases work like magic words. They tell AI to be careful, kid-friendly, or super clear. Add them and watch your answers get better.
Some examples
'Explain like I'm 10.'
'Use simple words.'
'Give me 3 ideas.'
'Make it kid-friendly.'
Try it!
Pick a topic you find tricky. Ask AI: 'Explain ___ like I'm 10. Use simple words.' See how that helps.
Here's why "AI and the Magic Words: Power Phrases for Better Prompts" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Discover little phrases that make your prompts way more powerful — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
Learn what "power words" means and why it's important
Learn what "phrases" means and why it's important
Learn what "tips" means and why it's important
Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
End-of-lesson check
15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-prompting-simpler-please
You ask an AI to explain how the sun makes energy, but its answer has words like 'nuclear fusion' and 'helium' that you don't know. What should you do next?
Ask the AI to teach you advanced physics first
Give up and search for a different website instead
Tell the AI it did a bad job
Ask the AI to explain using words an 8-year-old would understand
Which of these prompts is most likely to get a simpler, easier-to-understand answer from an AI?
Include as many technical terms as possible
Write your response in academic language
Make your answer sound more professional and smart
Use simpler words and give me an example
A friend tells you they feel 'dumb' when they ask AI to use simpler words. What does the lesson say about this feeling?
Asking for simpler words means you can't handle real information
Your friend is right to feel embarrassed
Asking for simpler explanations doesn't make you sound dumb—it's a smart strategy
You should only ask once, even if you still don't understand
What does 'plain language' mean when talking about AI?
Using the same words over and over again
Writing that is clear and easy for anyone to understand
Writing only about flat surfaces like plains
Speaking in a fancy way with big vocabulary words
You ask an AI to explain what a black hole is. Its first answer talks about 'event horizons,' 'singularities,' and 'spacetime curvature.' What should you try?
Stop asking questions about space
Tell the AI to explain it in simpler terms that a kid could understand
Ask the AI to add more complicated scientific words
Look for a different AI chatbot that only gives short answers
The lesson says that when AI first answers, it often talks like what kind of person?
A comedian who tells jokes about the topic
A friendly librarian who uses simple words
A college teacher who uses lots of technical terms
A kindergarten teacher who only uses pictures
What is the main idea of this lesson?
You should only ask AI simple questions, never complicated ones
You can always ask AI to explain things more simply if you don't understand
You need to be an expert to use AI effectively
AI always uses simple language on its own without being asked
When the lesson mentions 'accessibility,' what does it mean in this context?
Making a website load faster on your computer
Allowing people to physically enter a building
Making information easy for more people to understand and use
Checking if a book is available at the library
You ask AI to explain what photosynthesis means, and it gives a long paragraph with words like 'chlorophyll' and 'glucose.' What should you type next?
Can you give me ten more paragraphs about this?
Please explain that in simpler words with an example
Tell me what you did wrong
Now explain it using even harder science terms
The lesson says that sometimes the simpler version of an explanation is also what?
The best version of the answer
The most boring version
The shortest version possible
The only correct version
What is 'reading level' about when we talk about AI answers?
How many pages a text has
How old the reader needs to be to buy the book
How easy or hard a piece of writing is to read and understand
How fast someone can read the words out loud
If you ask 'Explain that like I am 8' to an AI, what are you really asking for?
An explanation using simple words and ideas that a young child could grasp
A explanation that requires a college degree to understand
A explanation with lots of complicated math
A very long and detailed scientific analysis
The lesson mentions three specific phrases you can use. Which one of these is NOT one of them?
Explain that like I am 8
Give me an example
Use simpler words
Make it sound like a poem
Why might asking for a simpler explanation actually help you learn better?
Because it makes the AI do all the work for you
Because clear, simple words make it easier to understand the main ideas
Because you won't have to think for yourself
Because complicated answers are always wrong
What does the lesson say about being 'shy' when asking AI to simplify?
You shouldn't ask at all—figure it out yourself
You should only ask once and accept whatever you get
You should feel embarrassed to ask for simpler explanations
You shouldn't be shy—ask for simpler explanations whenever you need them
