When evaluating an author’s claim, which two types of evidence should you consider most carefully?

• A. Personal opinions that the author states without support.
• B. Anecdotal stories from unrelated sources.
• C. General statements about the topic.
• D. Specific facts, data, and expert testimony that directly support the claim.

Answer: (D)

When evaluating an author's claim, aim for evidence that is verifiable and directly tied to what’s being argued. Specific facts, data, and expert testimony provide concrete support you can check: the numbers or observations come from measurements or studies, and expert voices add informed, specialized perspectives. This kind of evidence helps show that the claim isn’t just a personal belief but is grounded in objective or authoritative sources.

Personal opinions stated without support aren’t verifiable, so they don’t give you a reliable basis for judging the claim. Anecdotal stories from unrelated sources can be interesting but may not represent a general pattern. General statements about the topic are vague and lack the specifics that show why the claim is true.

So, the strongest evidence for evaluating a claim is when it relies on concrete facts, data, and expert testimony that directly support what’s being claimed.