Which key should you hold down to select several graphics at once before grouping?

To select several graphics at once before grouping them, the key that should be held down is the Ctrl key. When you hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on individual graphics, you enable the selection of multiple, non-adjacent items. This allows you to group all the selected graphics together once you have made your selections.

The Ctrl key is specifically designed for this type of multiple selection in many computer applications, including Microsoft Word. It provides the flexibility to choose various items that are not next to each other without affecting the selection of other items. This is particularly useful when working with graphics, shapes, or text boxes that you want to manipulate as a single entity.

In contrast, other keys serve different functions, such as Shift, which is typically used to select a continuous range of items, and Alt, which has other functions related to accessing menus and shortcuts. The Tab key is largely utilized for navigating between fields or items rather than for selecting multiple objects.