Fact and Opinion — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The statement 'soccer is the best sport ever' is a fact because many people play it.
Corrected: The statement 'soccer is the best sport ever' is an opinion because 'best' shows personal preference.
Popularity does not turn a preference word like 'best' into something you can prove with data.
2. Fix the sentence:
Saying 'autumn leaves change color' is an opinion since not everyone notices.
Corrected: Saying 'autumn leaves change color' is a fact since it can be observed and verified by anyone.
Observable natural events are facts even when individuals fail to notice or remember them happening.
3. Fix the sentence:
The school rule 'no phones in class' is a fact, so it must also be fair.
Corrected: The school rule 'no phones in class' exists as a fact, but calling it fair is an opinion.
The existence of a rule is provable, while fairness depends on personal values and viewpoints.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A statement that the basketball game ended 78 to 65 is a fact because the score is recorded.
Specific numerical scores are verifiable evidence, which is the hallmark of a factual statement.
2. Claiming that summer vacation feels too short is an opinion shaped by personal feelings.
Length judgments based on feelings vary from person to person and cannot be objectively proven.
3. The fact that Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November is verified by the calendar.
Calendars provide a reliable, shared reference, making the date claim a verifiable fact.
4. Saying running laps in gym class is boring is an opinion because 'boring' is a personal judgment.
Boredom depends on individual taste, so judgments about it cannot be objectively proven true.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Rewrite this opinion as a fact: 'Football is the most exciting sport.'
Sample answer: More than ninety million Americans watched the Super Bowl in 2023, according to Nielsen ratings.
Swapping 'exciting' for verifiable numbers transforms a preference into a checkable factual claim.
2. Explain why 'winter is the worst season' is an opinion, not a fact.
Sample answer: The word 'worst' shows a personal judgment, and people disagree because feelings about cold weather vary.
Opinions rest on subjective feelings, while facts can be tested and confirmed by everyone.