Intro to Paralegal Studies Practice

What characterizes a leading question?

1. It requires a lengthy explanation.

2. It suggests the desired answer.

3. It is open-ended.

4. It requires a yes or no response.

The correct answer is: It suggests the desired answer.

A leading question is characterized by its ability to suggest the desired answer within the question itself. This type of question is structured in a way that guides the respondent toward a specific response, often implying what the desired answer should be. For example, asking "You enjoyed the event, didn't you?" implies that the expectation is for the respondent to agree. In contrast, questions that require lengthy explanations or are open-ended allow for more nuanced responses and do not suggest a specific answer. Questions requiring a yes or no response can sometimes be leading, but they do not inherently suggest a desired response as effectively as a leading question. Therefore, the correct characterization of a leading question is that it suggests or hints at the answer that the asker is looking for.