Which word best completes the phrase: 'that in the manner of its actual, attempted, or threatened use is _________ to cause serious bodily injury or death' ?

Which word best completes the phrase: 'that in the manner of its actual, attempted, or threatened use is _________ to cause serious bodily injury or death' ?

• A. Likely
• B. Capable
• C. Possible
• D. Probable

Answer: (A)

The key idea is capability—the instrument’s inherent ability to cause death or serious bodily injury in the way it’s actually used. That’s why “capable” fits best: it expresses that, by its nature and use, the object could cause serious harm. The other options talk about probability or likelihood, which is not what the standard is describing; they would imply how likely harm is, rather than whether the instrument has the capacity to cause it. For example, a common tool can be used in a way that could seriously injure someone, so it’s capable of causing that harm.

The key idea is capability—the instrument’s inherent ability to cause death or serious bodily injury in the way it’s actually used. That’s why “capable” fits best: it expresses that, by its nature and use, the object could cause serious harm. The other options talk about probability or likelihood, which is not what the standard is describing; they would imply how likely harm is, rather than whether the instrument has the capacity to cause it. For example, a common tool can be used in a way that could seriously injure someone, so it’s capable of causing that harm.