Fact and Opinion — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. 'The new Riverside Park covers 12 acres' is a fact because the size can be measured and recorded.
Surveyed acreage is recorded officially, which makes the size claim verifiable and factual.
2. 'Riverside Park is the prettiest park in our city' is an opinion because 'prettiest' shows preference.
Beauty cannot be tested with shared rules, so 'prettiest' remains a personal viewpoint.
3. A news article reporting park visitor numbers should always cite a credible source for the data.
Citing sources lets readers check the data, which strengthens the credibility of factual reporting.
4. If an editorial argues the park should add a skate ramp, the word 'should' shows it is an opinion.
Recommendations express the author's beliefs, marking the statement as opinion rather than fact.
5. When an opinion stands alone with no evidence, the careful reader marks it as unsupported.
Unsupported claims should be flagged because readers cannot judge them without supporting evidence.
6. 'Builders planted 200 oak saplings' is a fact because the count can be verified.
Verifiable counts in construction reports are objective evidence supporting factual claims.
7. An editorial usually concludes with a clear call to action aimed at readers.
Calls to action reveal an editorial's persuasive purpose and signal opinion-driven writing.
8. Reading both a news report and an editorial about the park helps students compare facts and viewpoints.
Comparing structures teaches students to distinguish neutral reporting from persuasive commentary.
9. A reporter using words like 'amazing' or 'terrible' is mixing opinion into a news article.
Loaded language reveals bias, weakening the trustworthiness of supposedly factual news writing.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
The park is fun for everyone
→ Surveys show 78 percent of visitors enjoyed it
Surveys show 78 percent of visitors enjoyed it
Trees clean city air
→ EPA studies confirm trees absorb pollutants
EPA studies confirm trees absorb pollutants
This park is the best idea ever
→ No measurable test compares park ideas this way
No measurable test compares park ideas this way
Kids deserve safe play areas
→ Injury rates fall 40 percent in safer playgrounds
Injury rates fall 40 percent in safer playgrounds
Matching opinions to facts trains readers to separate strong arguments from empty assertions.