**Solution:** In the expansion of $(a + b)^n$, the \(k^{th}\) term is $\binom{n}{k-1} a^{n-k+1} b^{k-1}$. For the middle term in the case of an even $n$, it is the $$\frac{n}{2} + 1$$-th term, corresponding to $k = \frac{n}{2} + 1$. The middle term for even $n$ occurs at position $k = \frac{n}{2} + 1$, but since the question asks for the term's index, the answer is the $k = \frac{n}{2} + 1$th term. However, given the options, the proper position is the $k = \frac{n}{2} + 1$, which matches option 2.