diff --git a/lib/graph/question-formulator.js b/lib/graph/question-formulator.js
index 7d337d9..c2f9e85 100644
--- a/lib/graph/question-formulator.js
+++ b/lib/graph/question-formulator.js
@@ -671,7 +671,9 @@ function countIndependentAnswerDimensions(node, graph) {
     conjunctionCount,
     implicitConclusion,
     multipleEvidenceDimensions:
-      prerequisiteConceptCount >= 2 || conjunctionCount >= 2,
+      prerequisiteConceptCount >= 2 ||
+      (conjunctionCount >= 2 &&
+        unresolvedDependencies > 0),
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/graph/unknown-answerability.test.js b/tests/graph/unknown-answerability.test.js
index 4bf21bc..1c93fdc 100644
--- a/tests/graph/unknown-answerability.test.js
+++ b/tests/graph/unknown-answerability.test.js
@@ -136,3 +136,182 @@ describe("answerability-triggered decomposition", () => {
     expect(selectedChild.status).toBe("unknown");
   });
 });
+
+describe("conjunction corroboration — Option C", () => {
+  it(
+    "Case 1: alternative labels for one concept with surface 'or' tokens stays answerable",
+    () => {
+      const unknown = makeNode({
+        id: "n-case1",
+        label:
+          "The actual scenario, problem description, or data set intended for analysis.",
+        description:
+          "The actual scenario, problem description, or data set intended for analysis.",
+        kind: "unknown",
+        status: "unknown",
+        confidence: "low",
+      });
+
+      const graph = makeGraph({
+        centralStatement: "test",
+        nodes: [unknown],
+        edges: [],
+        activeUnknownNodeId: unknown.id,
+        resolvedNodeIds: [],
+        currentSummary: "Minimal clarification fixture",
+      });
+
+      const answerability = assessUnknownAnswerability({
+        node: unknown,
+        graph,
+      });
+
+      expect(answerability.independentlyAnswerable).toBe(true);
+      expect(answerability.decompositionRequired).toBe(false);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it(
+    "Case 2: surface conjunctions alone cannot make composite without corroborating signal — this is the correct trade-off of Option C",
+    () => {
+      const unknown = makeNode({
+        id: "n-case2",
+        label:
+          "What evidence supports the savings estimate and what evidence supports the retention assumption?",
+        description:
+          "Determine what data validates both the projected savings and the customer retention figures before making a decision.",
+        kind: "unknown",
+        status: "unknown",
+        confidence: "medium",
+      });
+
+      const graph = makeGraph({
+        centralStatement:
+          "Evaluate whether the expansion plan is viable based on financial projections.",
+        nodes: [unknown],
+        edges: [],
+        activeUnknownNodeId: unknown.id,
+        resolvedNodeIds: [],
+        currentSummary: "Surface conjunction fixture — no deps",
+      });
+
+      const answerability = assessUnknownAnswerability({
+        node: unknown,
+        graph,
+      });
+
+      // Option C trade-off: surface 'and/or' without corroborating signal
+      // (unresolvedDependencies > 0 or prereqConcept >= 2) stays answerable.
+      // This is the correct behaviour — conjunctionCount alone must not make composite.
+      expect(answerability.independentlyAnswerable).toBe(true);
+      expect(answerability.decompositionRequired).toBe(false);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it(
+    "Case 2b: same text WITH unresolved dependencies stays composite via corroboration",
+    () => {
+      const prereq = makeNode({
+        id: "n-case2-dep",
+        label: "What is the savings estimate?",
+        description:
+          "Determine the projected savings figure to use as a reference.",
+        kind: "unknown",
+        status: "unknown",
+        confidence: "medium",
+      });
+
+      const unknown = makeNode({
+        id: "n-case2-dep-unknown",
+        label:
+          "What evidence supports the savings estimate and what evidence supports the retention assumption?",
+        description:
+          "Determine what data validates both the projected savings and the customer retention figures before making a decision.",
+        kind: "unknown",
+        status: "unknown",
+        confidence: "medium",
+        dependsOn: ["n-case2-dep"],
+      });
+
+      const graph = makeGraph({
+        centralStatement:
+          "Evaluate whether the expansion plan is viable based on financial projections.",
+        nodes: [prereq, unknown],
+        edges: [],
+        activeUnknownNodeId: unknown.id,
+        resolvedNodeIds: [],
+        currentSummary: "Corroborated conjunction fixture",
+      });
+
+      const answerability = assessUnknownAnswerability({
+        node: unknown,
+        graph,
+      });
+
+      // With unresolvedDependencies > 0 as corroborating signal,
+      // conjunctionCount >= 2 now correctly flags composite.
+      expect(answerability.independentlyAnswerable).toBe(false);
+      expect(answerability.decompositionRequired).toBe(true);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it(
+    "Case 3: commercial-validation container unknowns stay composite",
+    () => {
+      const graph = makeCommercialContainerGraph();
+      const unknown = graph.nodes[0];
+
+      const answerability = assessUnknownAnswerability({
+        node: unknown,
+        graph,
+      });
+
+      expect(answerability.independentlyAnswerable).toBe(false);
+      expect(answerability.decompositionRequired).toBe(true);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it(
+    "Case 4: explicit unresolved dependencies stay composite even without conjunctions",
+    () => {
+      const prereq = makeNode({
+        id: "n-prereq",
+        label: "What is the current baseline measurement?",
+        description:
+          "Need the baseline to determine the starting point for comparison.",
+        kind: "unknown",
+        status: "unknown",
+        confidence: "medium",
+      });
+
+      const unknown = makeNode({
+        id: "n-case4",
+        label: "What is the current state of the primary metric?",
+        description:
+          "Determine the current value before comparing against targets.",
+        kind: "unknown",
+        status: "unknown",
+        confidence: "high",
+        dependsOn: ["n-prereq"],
+      });
+
+      const graph = makeGraph({
+        centralStatement:
+          "Evaluate whether the expansion plan is viable based on financial projections.",
+        nodes: [prereq, unknown],
+        edges: [],
+        activeUnknownNodeId: unknown.id,
+        resolvedNodeIds: [],
+        currentSummary: "Explicit prerequisite fixture",
+      });
+
+      const answerability = assessUnknownAnswerability({
+        node: unknown,
+        graph,
+      });
+
+      expect(answerability.independentlyAnswerable).toBe(false);
+      expect(answerability.decompositionRequired).toBe(true);
+    },
+  );
+});