Which option correctly identifies a factual claim?

• A. A sentence that expresses a belief is a fact.
• B. Facts are always objective.
• C. A sentence that can be proven true is an opinion.
• D. A sentence that can be proven true or false is a fact.

Answer: (D)

A factual claim is a statement that can be proven true or false. That means the sentence can be checked against evidence, observation, or logical reasoning, and shown to be correct or incorrect. For example, "Water boils at 100°C at sea level" can be tested and confirmed, so it counts as a fact.

Expressing a belief is not the same as presenting a fact, because beliefs are about what someone thinks or feels and aren’t guaranteed to be supported by evidence. Saying that facts are always objective overstates the case, since interpretation or measurement can influence how we assess truth, and the word “always” makes that claim false. And if a sentence can be proven true, it isn’t simply an opinion; it’s a claim that can be verified, which is what makes it a factual claim.