Which statement correctly describes a parallelogram?

Which statement correctly describes a parallelogram?

• A. It has exactly one pair of parallel sides.
• B. It has two pairs of opposite sides parallel.
• C. It must be a rectangle.
• D. It cannot be a trapezoid.

Answer: (B)

A parallelogram is defined by having two pairs of opposite sides that run parallel to each other. That means both pairs of opposite sides are parallel, which explains why opposite sides are also equal in length and opposite angles are equal. The statement describing two parallel pairs captures the essential property of a parallelogram. Saying there’s only one pair of parallel sides would be missing a critical feature, since the figure has two such pairs. It also isn’t required to be a rectangle—parallelograms can be slanted with non-right angles, while a rectangle is a special case where all angles are right. A parallelogram can also be a rectangle, a rhombus, or a square, but those are specific types, not the general definition.

A parallelogram is defined by having two pairs of opposite sides that run parallel to each other. That means both pairs of opposite sides are parallel, which explains why opposite sides are also equal in length and opposite angles are equal.

The statement describing two parallel pairs captures the essential property of a parallelogram. Saying there’s only one pair of parallel sides would be missing a critical feature, since the figure has two such pairs. It also isn’t required to be a rectangle—parallelograms can be slanted with non-right angles, while a rectangle is a special case where all angles are right. A parallelogram can also be a rectangle, a rhombus, or a square, but those are specific types, not the general definition.