Ambiguity in self-evaluating Likert-scale questions
I believe that in the first part there is some confusion of empathy and self-concept ("Does Not Describe Me Well" to "Describes Very Well"), although the basic statement refers to empathy that question is made to measure self-concept of empathy. The vast majority of tests (which do not measure performance) measure self-concept dimensions. Of course you can not measure empathy by a test, what you measure are dimensions of self-concept in relation to empathy. Empathy could be measured through behavioral registers (see attachment studies).

With regard to the second part:


Ideally the test should not be ambiguous in any item (although it is common for people to comment in this regard).
Given the impossibility in most of the tests to request frequencies of behavior are usually asked similar questions.
It must be taken into account that these questions are made in test format likert, it would be a serious mistake to ask similar questions in dichotomous format.
If there is ambiguity in the test this has to be reflected psychometrically as a low correlation and error variance, provided that questions are asked that correlate with the reference question, that is to say, that usually several questions of this type are made and their Relationships when designing the test (you can also study it on your own for a class work).
The administration of the test must be performed under conditions that allow questions to be asked and the professional (or student who must know the test in detail) should clarify any doubts to the person to whom the test is administered, therefore in some countries, someone who has not studied psychology can not administer or correct (legally or validly) a psychological test.


Personally, when I require empathy measurements I always use the TECA (acronym in Spanish)
https://web.teaediciones.com/TECA--TEST-DE-EMPATIA-COGNITIVA-Y-AFECTIVA.aspx
It allows to measure cognitive and affective components (essential in the present moment): adoption of perspectives, emotional compression, empathic stress and empathic joy. Try to translate.