Final answer:
A dissolve is a film editing technique for a smooth transition, with superimposed images briefly merging from one shot to the next.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the student's question is a) Dissolve. A dissolve is a film editing technique where the end of one shot is gradually merged with the beginning of the next shot. This effect causes the two images to be superimposed for a brief moment, allowing for a smooth transition that suggests a passage of time or a connection between the scenes. Unlike a simple cut, which abruptly changes from one scene to another, or a wipe, where one shot pushes the other off the screen, a dissolve allows for a more poetic or emotional shift between scenes. A fade, on the other hand, involves the screen going to black or white before the new scene appears. Dissolves are often used to create meaning or convey a certain mood in film and video editing.