Which statement best defines a claim in an argument?

• A. A conclusion universally accepted without support
• B. A statement or position that can be supported with evidence
• C. A personal belief not backed by data
• D. The summary of the entire text

Answer: (B)

In an argument, the claim is the position or statement the author wants you to accept. It’s a specific point that can be defended with evidence—facts, data, examples, or reasons. A claim isn’t just a personal belief or a summary of the whole text; it’s the core assertion that the rest of the argument is built to support and test.

That’s why the best description is a statement or position that can be supported with evidence. The other ideas don’t fit: a claim isn’t something already universally accepted without support, nor is it simply a personal belief without data, and it isn’t just the summary of the entire text.