Fact and Opinion — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. An editorial argues, 'Schools must start later because tired students learn poorly.' What is the writer's main claim?
A) Schools should start later in the morning
B) Tired students always fail their classes
C) Sleep is the most important thing in life
D) Teachers dislike early morning classes
Identifying the main claim helps readers track which facts are meant to support that position.
2. Which sentence in the editorial functions as a supporting FACT, not opinion?
A) Mornings feel awful for everyone
B) AAP studies show teens need 8-10 hours of sleep
C) Late starts are clearly the best plan
D) Every parent agrees with later start times
Citations from medical groups like the AAP provide verifiable evidence supporting the main claim.
3. Which sentence is an UNSUPPORTED opinion the writer offers without evidence?
A) The CDC recommends middle schools start at 8:30 a.m.
B) Early classes cut average sleep by about 90 minutes
C) Late starts will obviously fix every school problem
D) Shifting bus schedules costs districts extra money
Promises that one change fixes 'every problem' overstate evidence and signal unsupported opinion.
4. Which source would be MOST credible to cite in this editorial?
A) A random blog post by an anonymous user
B) A friend's social media comment about feeling tired
C) A community gossip page with unsigned articles
D) A peer-reviewed study from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Peer-reviewed research undergoes expert scrutiny, making it far more reliable than anonymous online posts.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The strongest paragraph in an editorial pairs each opinion with a clearly cited fact.
Pairing opinions with cited facts gives readers confidence to evaluate and accept the argument.
2. An author who repeats words like 'obviously' or 'clearly' may be hiding weak evidence.
Strong arguments rely on facts rather than insistent language, so empty intensifiers signal weakness.
3. Statistics from a peer-reviewed journal are more credible than claims from an anonymous blog.
Peer review filters errors and bias, while anonymous posts lack accountability and verification.
4. A reader judges an editorial's effectiveness by checking whether facts truly support the main claim.
Effective arguments tie evidence directly to the main claim, leaving few logical gaps.
5. Even strong writing fails when emotional language replaces verifiable evidence in critical paragraphs.
Without verifiable evidence, even passionate prose cannot prove its claims to a careful reader.