Final answer:
Pseudoscience is characterized by claims that may appear scientific but lack empirical support and the systematic method of investigation that defines real science. It involves beliefs and opinions rather than evidence-based, testable assertions that conform to the scientific method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes pseudoscience is: 'Not a branch of science and involves beliefs and opinions'. Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice that is presented as scientific but does not adhere to the rigorous standards and methods of science. It lacks the empirical support and methodology that characterize true scientific research and findings. Scientific work involves a systematized process known as the scientific method, which includes stating a hypothesis, rigorously testing this hypothesis, refining the hypothesis, and only then can a hypothesis evolve into a theory or law if consistently supported by empirical evidence. In contrast, pseudoscience often relies on anecdotal evidence and is not falsifiable, meaning that it cannot be subjected to controlled, repeatable experiments that are the hallmark of scientific investigation. Thus, pseudoscience does not contribute to our understanding of the natural world in the reliable and verifiable way that science does.