An open-ended question is one that cannot be answered by

An open-ended question is one that cannot be answered by

• A. A yes or no answer
• B. A long detailed answer
• C. A description
• D. A multiple choice

Answer: (A)

Open-ended questions invite explanation, reasoning, or description rather than a simple confirmation. They’re designed to draw out thinking and a full understanding, so a one-word or binary response doesn’t capture the depth asked for. The statement that cannot be answered by a yes or no best captures this idea: you need more detail to address an open-ended prompt. For example, asking how you would secure a facility and why those measures matter requires you to describe approaches and justify them, not just answer in the affirmative or negative. While you may provide a long, detailed answer or a clear description, those formats naturally align with the open-ended nature, and a yes/no would fall short of conveying meaningful content.

Open-ended questions invite explanation, reasoning, or description rather than a simple confirmation. They’re designed to draw out thinking and a full understanding, so a one-word or binary response doesn’t capture the depth asked for. The statement that cannot be answered by a yes or no best captures this idea: you need more detail to address an open-ended prompt.

For example, asking how you would secure a facility and why those measures matter requires you to describe approaches and justify them, not just answer in the affirmative or negative. While you may provide a long, detailed answer or a clear description, those formats naturally align with the open-ended nature, and a yes/no would fall short of conveying meaningful content.