i don't understand how to use a variable outside of a function?

[wavic]

Any function returns an object which you can assign to a variable.
So you define one. Simplified because I am lazy today:

def test(arg):
    return a

Then define another:

def second(some_argument):
    b = test(some_argument)
    if b != 'stupid example':
        return 'Good enough'

Now call 'second':

s = 'No?'
second(s)

You can pass any argument to a function and use it inside another one. some_argument could be any python object, however, it is called. Of course, its type has to be suitable to use it at all.