[massysett]

“I assume it's because he is seeking to pay rent, food bills, and other expenses through employment.”

Fair enough, so if there were one “right” answer, that would be the one to give whether true or not.

But here there is no obvious right answer. If the employer is looking for a particular answer, the poster doesn’t know what it is. In that case, the best thing to say is simply the truth, particularly when the truth that the poster gives here is completely reasonable.

[inigyou]

The best thing to say when you don't know the answer probabilistically is to give the most likely correct answer.

[tmcdos]

Or just say that you do not know the answer - but have the capacity to find it.

[incognition]

Common sense not common

[what]

You can’t have common sense when you have no shared values.

[lwansbrough]

> But here there is no obvious right answer.

According to you. That's not the opinion of every prospective employer. Hedging is the right strategy.