The word 'arbitrary' often suggests judgments made...

• A. based on personal choice rather than reason
• B. based on careful evidence
• C. justified by data
• D. consistent and predictable

Answer: (A)

Arbitrary means decided by personal whim rather than by reason, evidence, or a formal rule. That’s why the option describing judgments based on personal choice rather than reason is the best fit: it captures the idea of decisions driven by preference or caprice rather than objective justification. When a choice is arbitrary, it isn’t guided by careful evidence or data, and it isn’t anchored in consistent criteria, so it can feel random or inconsistent. In contrast, options that emphasize careful evidence or data point to reasoning and justification, while the notion of being consistent and predictable implies a rule-based approach rather than whim.