Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

What type of claim asserts that something is either true or false?

1. Claim of value

2. Claim of opinion

3. Claim of policy

4. Claim of fact

The correct answer is: Claim of fact

The correct answer is based on the definition of the various types of claims that can be made in an argument. A claim of fact asserts that something is true or false, depending on its objective reality. This type of claim can be verified through evidence or factual information. For example, saying "Climate change is primarily caused by human activity" is a claim of fact that can be supported or refuted by scientific data. Claims of value, on the other hand, express judgments about what is good or bad, right or wrong. They involve subjective criteria and moral reasoning rather than objective verifiability. Claims of opinion express personal beliefs or subjective viewpoints that may not be universally accepted or able to be proven true or false. Claims of policy advocate for a specific course of action and often include proposals for change or recommendations about what should be done. In summary, a claim of fact is the only type of claim that unequivocally asserts the truth or falsity of a statement, which is why this type of claim is the correct answer.