Sentence:  Mr. Reama , who retired as vice president of the American Screw Co. in 1955 said , `` Both parties in the last election <WSD>told</WSD> us that we need a five per cent growth in the gross national product - but neither told us how to achieve it '' . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority