Question

How can electric field lines be directed?

Answer 1

Electric field lines always start from positive charges and end at the negative charges. They don't form closed loops.

If an isolated charge is present, the electric field lines are directed radially from the charge (inward if `q<0` or outward if `q>0`).

The tangent to the field line at any point gives the direction of the electric field at that point.

The field lines crowd in regions of relatively strong electric field and move away in regions where the field is weak.
In a region of uniform electric field, the field lines are parallel to each other.