What the hell is this asking?

The difference in the place value of the digit 4 in the number 834041 is?  There are 2 digit 4's?!?

It's asking for the DIFFERENCE in the place value of the digit 4.
so you will need to values for there to be a difference, right?
you have two '4's! what a fucking coincidence!
4000 - 40 = 3960
and wowe that's one of the choices too!
not to mention with these MC problems you know that when you see multiple similar answers (3960 or 396), (unless the answer you come to is one of the other ones obviously) one of those is probably bound to be the correct answer because the other is there to trick you. Just a little tip for your future in MC questions.
in the question they obviously meant digits, not digit, it's probably a typo. And if you couldn't figure that out it's probably time you drop out of the first grade.