Final answer:
The anchor question pertains to a signpost in English, guiding readers through an author's argument or narrative to emphasize the importance of differences and their significance within a text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anchor question "What is the difference & why does it matter?" is indicative of a signpost in the context of English, specifically related to critical reading or analysis. In literature or non-fiction, signposts are strategic questions or statements authors or speakers use to guide readers and listeners through their argument or narrative. For instance, an author might use such a question to highlight the differences between two concepts, characters, or situations and then discuss why these differences are significant to the overall message or theme. In the examples provided, the use of signposts varies from discussing the precession of the equinoxes in astrology, emphasizing the rights of people with disabilities in the context of service animal regulations, interpreting road signage, to understanding the concepts of displacement in physics.
Therefore, when faced with the question "What is the difference & why does it matter?" the reader is being alerted to important information that will likely play a significant role in understanding the author's message or the text's overarching themes.