A statement is a sentence that tells us something. A statement can be either true (correct) or false (wrong).

• True means the statement matches the facts.
• False means the statement does not match the facts.

When you look at a picture or a real object, you need to describe it correctly. Follow these steps:

1. Look carefully at the object or picture.
2. Identify what you see (colour, size, shape, type).
3. Make a statement about the object.
4. Check if your statement is true or false.

Worked Example

Look at this example from your textbook:

Notice how we answer:

• For true statements, we say "Yes, it is."
• For false statements, we say "No, it is a ___." (and give the correct answer)

Practice: Object Statements

Try to judge these statements. Remember to look at what the object really is:

• "This is a zebra." — If you see a zebra, it is true. If you see a horse, it is false.
• "This is a motorcycle." — If you see a bicycle, say "No, it is a bicycle."
• "This is a square table." — Check the shape. Is it really square?

Some statements are about general knowledge or arithmetic. You must check the facts to decide if they are true or false.

Arithmetic Statements

Let us check each statement carefully:

Statement 1: "Mary bought three packs of pencils. Each pack had fifty-five pencils. She said she had fifty pencils in total."

Calculation: $3 × 55 = 165$ pencils

This statement is FALSE. Mary has 165 pencils, not 50.

Statement 2: "Ali had one hundred and fifty-five shillings. He spent fifty shillings at the shop. He says he has one hundred and five shillings left."

Calculation: $155 - 50 = 105$ shillings

This statement is TRUE.

Statement 3: "A teacher has ninety sweets to give to fifteen pupils equally. She says each pupil will get six sweets."

Calculation: $90 ÷ 15 = 6$ sweets

This statement is TRUE.

Statement 4: "Two boxes, each has one thousand and ten marbles. Amani says the boxes have two thousand two hundred and twenty marbles together."

Calculation: $1,010 + 1,010 = 2,020$ marbles

This statement is FALSE. The total is 2,020, not 2,220.

General Knowledge Statements

These statements are about facts we learn in class. You must know the correct facts:

• Be observant — Look carefully at objects before speaking.
• Know the facts — Learn important facts about the world around you.
• Check your math — Always calculate carefully when judging arithmetic statements.
• Speak clearly — Say "Yes, it is" for true statements and "No, it is ___" for false statements.

Make your own statements about objects in your classroom. Ask a friend to judge if they are true or false. For example:

• "That is a blackboard." (True/False?)
• "The door is brown." (True/False?)
• "Our classroom has ten desks." (True/False?)

In everyday life in Tanzania, you often need to check if statements are true or false. For example, when you go to the market to buy mangoes, the seller might say "Ten mangoes cost 5,000 shillings." You can count the mangoes and check the price to decide if the statement is true or false before paying. This helps you avoid being overcharged and ensures you get correct change.