UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) Practice Test

What does the term "uncanny" primarily refer to?

1. Strange or mysterious; difficult to explain

2. Completely safe and normal

3. A positive and encouraging feeling

4. Easy to understand and explain

The correct answer is: Strange or mysterious; difficult to explain

The term "uncanny" primarily refers to something that is strange or mysterious, often evoking a sense of the eerie or unsettling. This can include phenomena or experiences that defy logical explanation or are beyond the ordinary. For example, situations that provoke a sense of discomfort due to their unusualness or that seem to blur the line between reality and the supernatural can be described as uncanny. This term captures a feeling of perplexity combined with intrigue, making it applicable to various contexts in literature and psychology where something familiar becomes unexpectedly strange. In contrast, responses that suggest a sense of safety, normalcy, positivity, or ease in understanding do not align with the inherent connotations of the word "uncanny." Those options represent feelings and descriptions that are contrary to the mysterious and sometimes unsettling qualities that "uncanny" embodies.