Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

Group of answer choices

Because the maturity risk premium is normally positive, the yield curve is normally upward sloping.

The yield curve can never be downward sloping.

Because long$-$term bonds are riskier than short$-$term bonds, yields on long$-$term Treasury bonds will always be higher than yields on short$-$term T$-$bonds.

If the maturity risk premium $($MRP$)$ is greater than zero, then the yield curve must have an upward slope.

If the maturity risk premium $($MRP$)$ equals zero, the yield curve must be flat.