What makes evidence credible in an informational text?

• A. It comes from reliable sources, is relevant to the claim, and is supported by data, expert testimony, or examples
• B. It is entertaining and humorous
• C. It is based on a rumor
• D. It is copied from another source without verification

Answer: (A)

Credible evidence in an informational text comes from sources you can trust, is directly relevant to the claim, and is backed up by data, expert testimony, or concrete examples. When a source is reliable, it’s more likely to have careful methods, accurate information, and minimal bias, which helps readers trust what they’re reading. Relevance matters because evidence that doesn’t connect to the claim won’t actually support what the author is arguing. Data, expert testimony, and well-chosen examples provide concrete support that can be checked or verified, showing that the claim rests on solid reasoning rather than guesswork.

The other options don’t support credibility in the same way. Evidence that’s just entertaining or humorous may engage readers, but it doesn’t establish trust about the factual claim. Rumors lack verification and cannot be relied upon to prove something. Copying from another source without verification signals a lack of independent checking, which undermines trust in the information.