I usually preface by explaining that some items may be easier, and some may be harder, and that both of those are normal experiences.

Also, Sia, FWIW your evaluator should have given the teaching cue for the first item after just one or two queries, instead of querying to the extent that she showed frustration. I've had the same experience of too much specificity and complexity at the same time on this type of task--from postdoctoral fellows.

...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...