Which of the following is a characteristic of a theory?

• A. describes, explains, and predicts phenomena
• B. is always supported by evidence
• C. describes a single event without generalization
• D. cannot be tested

Answer: (C)

A theory is a structured set of statements that describes, explains, and predicts how and why phenomena occur, and it is grounded in evidence and open to empirical testing. This combination—providing generalizable patterns, offering explanations, generating testable predictions, and being supported by evidence—is what makes something a theory rather than just a description of a single event. Describing one event without generalizing is simply a description, not a theory. Claiming that theories are always supported by evidence or that they cannot be tested goes against how theories function in practice, since they are continually tested and refined in light of new data.