Understanding Ambiguity in Language

Which of the following sentences contains an example of ambiguous language?

• The cat sat on the mat.

• I saw the man with the telescope.

• She is reading a book.

• The sun rises in the east.

What is the main reason ambiguous language can be problematic in communication?

• It is too formal.

• It can lead to misunderstandings.

• It is too simple.

• It is too direct.

Which of the following phrases is an example of lexical ambiguity?

• The bank is closed.

• The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

• She sells sea shells by the sea shore.

• The stars are shining brightly.

In the sentence "The chicken is ready to eat," what type of ambiguity is present?

• Lexical ambiguity

• Syntactic ambiguity

• Semantic ambiguity

• Pragmatic ambiguity

Which of the following sentences is an example of semantic ambiguity?

• Visiting relatives can be boring.

• The dog barked loudly.

• She loves to dance.

• The car is red.

What is the term for a word or phrase that has multiple meanings?

• Homophone

• Synonym

• Antonym

• Polysemy

Which of the following is an example of pragmatic ambiguity?

• The pen is mightier than the sword.

• Can you pass the salt?

• The leaves fall in autumn.

• The book is on the table.

In the sentence "He fed her dog biscuits," what type of ambiguity is present?

• Lexical ambiguity

• Syntactic ambiguity

• Semantic ambiguity

• Pragmatic ambiguity

Which of the following sentences contains an example of structural ambiguity?

• The old man the boat.

• The sky is blue.

• She is a talented musician.

• The cake is delicious.

What is the best way to resolve ambiguity in written communication?

• Use more complex language.

• Provide additional context.

• Use fewer words.

• Avoid punctuation.