What are Fact vs. Opinion Questions?
Fact vs. opinion questions ask you to identify whether a phrase or sentence from the passage expresses an opinion rather than a fact.
Questions that ask you to distinguish opinions from facts require you to draw on your reasoning or critical analysis skills.
Fact vs. opinion questions require critical analysis or reasoning skills because you will have to think about the information in the passage and analyze it in order to determine the correct answer.
So, fact vs. opinion questions are not the type of reading comprehension question that simply requires you to read a passage and identify a specific detail.
How to Distinguish Fact vs. Opinion
Facts can be proved to be correct by statistics or records.
Opinions might seem correct when we first look at them, but on deeper inspection, we can see that opinions cannot really be verified.
Opinions are based on personal beliefs and points of view.
Writers sometimes use modal verbs when expressing opinions.
Modal verbs include verbs such as: should, would, may, and might.
Adjectives and adjectival phrases are also used when expressing opinions.
Adjectivals include words and phrases such as: effective, useless, the best, or the most beautiful.
If you see words or phrases like these, the author may also be giving his or her opinion.
Fact vs. Opinion − Passage 1
Daytona Beach is a city located in Volusia County in northeastern Florida. Without taking into account the residents of outlying areas, the city had a population of 61,000 inhabitants in the most recent United States’ census. Located approximately 50 miles from Orlando, Daytona Beach is home to various tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants. These attractions can be accessed by flying into Daytona Beach International Airport, which is situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach is descended upon every spring by thousands of obnoxious college students, in pursuit of bad behavior during spring break.
Which of the following sentences from the passage expresses an opinion rather than a fact?
A. Daytona Beach is a city located in Volusia County in northeastern Florida.
B. Without taking into account the residents of outlying areas, the city had a population of 61,000 inhabitants in the most recent United States’ census.
C. Located approximately 50 miles from Orlando, Daytona Beach is home to various tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants.
D. These attractions can be accessed by flying into Daytona Beach International Airport, which is situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.
E. Daytona Beach is descended upon every spring by thousands of obnoxious college students, in pursuit of bad behavior during spring break.
As you read through each of the sentences, ask yourself whether the statement can be verified by statistics or records.
The location of the city, mentioned in answer choice A, can be proved by looking at a map.
The population of the city, mentioned in answer choice B, has recorded statistical evidence in the form of the census.
The distance from Orlando and the existence of tourist attractions, cited in answer choice C, can be proved by geographical and municipal records.
The location of the airport in answer choice D can be verified by looking at a map.
Although the occurrence of spring break, mentioned in answer choice E, is a factual event, the statement that students who travel there are obnoxious is a personal point of view.
So, the correct answer is E.
Fact vs. Opinion − Passage 2
(1) The legend of Robin Hood identifies him as an outlaw figure who robbed from the rich to give to the poor. (2) However, evidence for his existence is flimsy at best. (3) The earliest references to Robin Hood in literature can be traced back to the 13th century. (4) Robin Hood is cited in a British manuscript record for nonpayment of a fine in the year 1225. (5) William Langland mentions Robin Hood in his 14th-century poem entitled Piers Plowman. (6) Shakespeare also mentions the outlaw in his play As You Like It. (7) In spite of these references, scholars still debate whether Robin Hood was a real person or a character compiled from various outlaws throughout history.
Which numbered sentence provides an opinion rather than a fact?
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3
D. Sentence 6
E. Sentence 7
The adjective flimsy in sentence 2 identifies this statement as an opinion.
The notion that the evidence is flimsy is followed by three statements that point to the possible existence of Robin Hood.
Since there is at least some possible evidence about the existence of Robin Hood, we can conclude a statement about the strength of this evidence is an opinion.
You may be tempted to choose sentence 7. However, scholarly debate can be evidenced by various articles and publications on this subject.
So, the correct answer is B.