Fact and Opinion — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. 'Emperor penguins can dive over 500 meters deep' is a fact because researchers measured the depth.
Measured biological data can be verified by other scientists, which is how facts are confirmed.
2. 'These penguins are the cutest birds on Earth' is an opinion since 'cutest' shows personal preference.
Cuteness rankings cannot be tested objectively, so the claim relies entirely on subjective feeling.
3. When an article warns that penguins 'must be saved,' the word 'must' often signals an opinion.
Calls to action express what the writer believes is right, which is a hallmark of opinion.
4. A news article tends to put the most important facts first to inform readers quickly.
News leads prioritize verifiable details so readers grasp essential facts before reading further.
5. An editorial often opens with a strong opinion that the writer plans to defend with evidence.
Stating a position upfront lets the writer organize supporting facts and reasoning around it.
6. If an opinion has no supporting data attached, it is called an unsupported opinion.
Unsupported opinions weaken arguments because readers have no evidence to evaluate the claim.
7. The sentence 'penguin colonies have shrunk by 50 percent since 1980' is a fact with statistical evidence.
Population statistics from studies are facts because other scientists can check the same data.
8. Saying 'every child should adopt a penguin' is an opinion because 'should' makes a value judgment.
Value judgments reflect personal beliefs, while facts must be testable and universally checkable.
9. Comparing two articles helps a reader notice which one mixes opinion with reported facts.
Careful comparison teaches students to separate verified information from a writer's persuasive language.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Penguins are amazing swimmers
→ They reach speeds of 9 km per hour underwater
They reach speeds of 9 km per hour underwater
Climate change harms penguins
→ Antarctic ice has shrunk 13 percent per decade
Antarctic ice has shrunk 13 percent per decade
Penguins are the smartest birds
→ No measurable test ranks bird intelligence this way
No measurable test ranks bird intelligence this way
Penguin chicks need protection
→ Predators take 30 percent of unprotected chicks
Predators take 30 percent of unprotected chicks
Pairing opinions with measurable facts shows which claims rest on evidence and which do not.