Explanation:
Consider the case "Gun control"
(a). The second option,
"Would you favor a law giving police the power to decide who may own a firearm?"
is more favourable question to be asked for someone who opposes gun control.
Because it is expected that most americans would answer that they opposes that giving the police so much power and would likely to oppose Gun Control.
(b). How a Survey question is worded affects the result. Advocates who can afford to sponsor their own surveys can shape the result to try to demostrate support for their position.
Gun Control advocates may phrase a question
"Do you favour cracking down against illegal gun sales?"
While gun control opposition would ask
"Would you favour or oppose alaw giving the police the power to decide who may or may not own a firearm?"
Both question could result in both side of the issue appearing to having the majority of the people supporting their position. In this example a public opinion seems to divide into minorities at the 2 extremes, some favoring a ban on all guns others oppose any Gun COntrol. and a large middle mass that, presumably, favours keeping guns out of the hands of "Bad" people while letting "Good" people have guns.
The complexity of public opinion can be hard to recognize when our information comes from surveys sponsored by advocates who word questions to produce the results they desire.