to preview a motion path effect using the custom animation task pane, you should                           ?

The correct answer is click the play button because clicking the Play button at the bottom of the animation panel instantly previews all assigned motion paths directly on the active slide canvas.

• Step 1 (Interface Design): To verify your animations without launching a full-screen presentation, PowerPoint provides a small Play utility button right inside the Custom Animation task pane.
• Step 2 (Application): Clicking it prompts the slide canvas to quickly run through all configured effects in sequence, allowing you to easily verify their timing and positioning.
• Incorrect Options:
  • click the is an incomplete, truncated filler option string with no structural validity.
  • double click is incorrect because double-clicking an animation entry opens its advanced effect settings and timing dialog box rather than running a visual canvas preview.
  • all of above is incorrect because only the explicit 'Play' button functions as the intended preview action command.