In Word 2010, a colleague has inserted a hyperlink to a company web site in a document. The document is not protected and you are allowed to edit it, but when you click the hyperlink nothing happens. Which action is required in Word 2010 to follow the hyperlink from within the document?

Introduction / Context:
Microsoft Word 2010 allows you to insert hyperlinks in documents that point to web sites, email addresses, or other documents. By default, Word does not open links with a simple left click, because that would make it too easy to trigger links accidentally while editing. This question checks whether you know the correct keyboard and mouse combination for following a hyperlink directly from a Word 2010 document.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The document is created in Word 2010.
• The hyperlink has been inserted correctly using Word hyperlink features.
• The document is not protected and editing is allowed.
• When the user clicks the hyperlink, nothing appears to happen.

Concept / Approach:
In Word 2010, the default behavior is that you must hold the Ctrl key and then click a hyperlink to follow it. This prevents accidental navigation while editing text. The hyperlink is active, but Word requires this Ctrl plus click combination to open the target address in your default browser or mail client.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Word 2010 uses a safety mechanism so that single clicks edit text instead of activating links.Step 2: Remember the user interface hint: when you hover over a hyperlink in Word, a tooltip appears stating “Ctrl + Click to follow link”.Step 3: Compare the given options with this known behavior.Step 4: Option B states that you must hold the Ctrl key while clicking the hyperlink, which matches the actual behavior.Step 5: The other options either claim it is impossible or suggest using another key that is not correct.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this directly in Word by inserting a hyperlink using Insert > Hyperlink, pointing it to a web site, and then hovering the mouse over it. The tooltip clearly shows the required combination. Pressing Ctrl and then clicking opens your default web browser and navigates to the linked address, confirming that the document and hyperlink are functioning correctly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because Word hyperlinks are fully functional and do not need to be pasted into a browser. Option C is incorrect because Word fully supports actual hyperlinks and not just formatted text. Option D mentions the Alt key, but Word does not use Alt plus click for hyperlinks, so this is also incorrect. Only the Ctrl plus click combination matches Word 2010 behavior.

Common Pitfalls:
Many users expect a hyperlink to work the same way it does in a web browser, where a single click activates it. They may think something is broken when nothing happens in Word. Others may suspect document protection or security settings, when in fact Word is simply waiting for the correct key combination. Remembering the “Ctrl + Click to follow” rule avoids confusion when working with links in Word documents.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is that you must hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the hyperlink.