There are two forces acting on the ball, one directed upward (assuming this direction as positive, along the y-axis) which is the tension on the string (lifting force), and another aimed downward, which is the attractive force due to gravity.
Applying the Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation to a mass close to the surface of the Earth (in this case the ball), we can take the acceleration due to gravity like a constant, that we call by convention g, equal to -9.8 m/s2.
So, we can write the following expression for Fg:
b)
The net force on the ball, will be just the difference between the lifting force (32.6 N) and the force due to gravity, Fg:
c)
According Newton's 2nd Law, the acceleration caused by a net force on a point mass (we can take the ball as one) is given by the following expression:
Personally, I agree with your answer, namely that the likely-intended event happening here is one of acceleration. Having said that, I also want to add: it pains me to see this type of wording because, clearly, it is vague and only invites confusion of the type you are talking about.