Which practice involves verifying specific claims against reliable, independent sources and following the evidence, not the headline?

• A. Advocacy
• B. Critical Thinking
• C. Source Triangulation
• D. Fact-Checking

Answer: (D)

Fact-checking is the practice of verifying specific claims against reliable, independent sources and following the evidence wherever it leads, not the headline. It involves pinpointing the exact claim, locating credible data or documents, checking dates and context, and looking for corroboration from multiple independent sources. It stays true to what the evidence shows, even if that challenges a bold claim or sensational wording. This makes it the best fit because it names a deliberate, evidence-driven verification process rather than persuasion or general analysis. For contrast, advocacy aims to promote a viewpoint and isn’t about verifying facts; critical thinking is a broad skill for evaluating information but doesn’t by itself specify the step-by-step verification of each factual claim; source triangulation is a technique used within verification to confirm facts by multiple sources, not the overarching practice on its own.