What is a universal negative statement commonly characterized by?

A universal negative statement is commonly characterized by its assertion that a certain quality does not apply to any member of a particular category or group. This makes option B the correct choice. A universal negative effectively states that "no members of this group possess this quality," which directly conveys the absence of the quality among all members.

In contrast, the other options fail to accurately capture the essence of a universal negative. A claim about some members would imply that there are some instances where the quality could exist, which conflicts with the notion of a universal negative. A statement affirming existence suggests that a quality or attribute is present in at least some members, which is the opposite of what a universal negative conveys. Lastly, a statement describing levels of quality implies a variation or gradation among members, again not resonating with the clear negation that characterizes a universal negative.