Which of the following is an example of verification?

The choice of manually proofreading against the original data source is indeed an example of verification. Verification involves confirming that the data accurately reflects what was intended or originally collected. By manually proofreading, a person is actively comparing the entered data to the source document to ensure both match correctly. This thorough review process helps to identify errors or discrepancies that might have occurred during data entry, thereby confirming the integrity of the data.

In contrast, while using software to automatically check input data can aid in validation, it doesn’t involve a direct comparison to the original source like manual proofreading does. Automated tests on the data output focus more on validating that the data processing is functioning correctly rather than verifying the accuracy of the input data itself. Setting up an input mask for data entry helps prevent invalid data from being entered but is not a verification process; rather, it serves as a control mechanism during the input stage.