All 6 Uses of

demonstrate
in
The Poisonwood Bible

He planned to make a demonstration garden, from which we'd gather a harvest for our table and also supply food and seeds to the villagers.
Chpt 1 *

demonstration = display (showing how to do something)

Someday perhaps I shall demonstrate to all of Africa how to grow crops!
Chpt 1

demonstrate = show

Several days later, once Father had regained his composure and both his eyes, he assured me that Mama Tataba hadn't meant to ruin our demonstration garden.
Chpt 1

demonstration = display (showing how to do something)

Leah fell to her knees in a demonstration of grief on Our Father's behalf.
Chpt 1

demonstration = display

Nelson spent part of an afternoon demonstrating to me that fine linguistic difference while we scraped chicken manure from the nest boxes.
Chpt 3

demonstrating = showing

He rubbed at his own black forearm and then held up two ashy fingers, as if demonstrating how the ink in Rachel's sad case had all come off.
Chpt 3

Definitions:

(1) (demonstrate as in: It demonstrates my point.)
to show
The exact meaning of this sense of demonstrate can depend upon its context. For example:
- "I will demonstrate how to throw a Frisbee." -- show how to do something
- "I will demonstrate how much quicker the new computer is than the old one." -- show how something works
- "Her questioned demonstrated that she was listening and thinking deeply about what was said." -- showed to be true or proved
(2) (demonstrate as in: demonstrate to protest)
a public display supporting a cause -- usually joining with others in a political protest