Which statement describes a trapezoid?

• A. A circle with four sides.
• B. A polygon having four equal sides.
• C. A closed four-sided figure in which only one pair of the opposite sides are parallel.
• D. A parallelogram.

Answer: (C)

Understanding trapezoid definitions helps distinguish it from other quadrilaterals. A trapezoid is a four‑sided polygon with only one pair of opposite sides parallel. That exact characteristic sets it apart from shapes like a rhombus or a parallelogram, both of which have two pairs of parallel sides. The description of a circle with four sides isn’t a valid polygon, so it doesn’t describe a trapezoid. Therefore, the statement that notes exactly one pair of opposite sides being parallel correctly defines a trapezoid.