Given below are two statements.
Statement $I$: Phenols are weakly acidic.
Statement $II$: Therefore they are freely soluble in $NaOH$ solution and are weaker acids than alcohols and water.
Choose the most appropriate option.

• A
  Both Statement $I$ and Statement $II$ are correct.
• B
  Both Statement $I$ and Statement $II$ are incorrect.
• C
  Statement $I$ is correct but Statement $II$ is incorrect.
• D
  Statement $I$ is incorrect but Statement $II$ is correct.