Fact and Opinion Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which statement should be classified as a fact, whether or not the reader already knows it?
Mercury is the most fascinating planet.
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun.
Mercury would be the worst planet to visit.
Mercury has a more appealing name than Mars.
2. Why is “The school lunch tastes awful” an opinion?
It refers to something served at a real school.
It expresses a judgment that can vary with personal taste.
It is too short to include factual information.
It uses the present tense rather than the past tense.
3. A report says, “In our survey of 500 residents, 68% selected the bus as their usual way to work.” What kind of claim is this?
An opinion because survey participants stated preferences
A universal fact about every resident in the town
A factual report about the survey results, if the data are accurate
An opinion because percentages can be interpreted differently
4. Which sentence presents an opinion supported by a factual reason?
The northern trail is exactly two kilometers shorter than the southern trail.
Official measurements list the lengths of both trails.
Because the northern trail is two kilometers shorter, it is the better route.
The northern trail begins beside the visitor center.
5. Which statement is a verifiable fact rather than an interpretation of a book?
The novel’s ending is deeply satisfying.
This edition of the novel contains 312 numbered pages.
The main character is the author’s finest creation.
The story becomes more meaningful with each reading.
6. At a public meeting, the mayor says, “The project was a great success.” Which statement can a reporter verify as a fact without adopting the mayor’s opinion?
The project was unquestionably successful.
The mayor described the project as “a great success” at the meeting.
The project produced better results than any previous project.
Everyone at the meeting agreed with the mayor.
7. A student wants to verify the claim, “The town library opened in 1998.” Which evidence would be most useful?
Dated municipal records documenting the library’s opening
An online poll about the town’s favorite buildings
A resident’s comment that the library feels old
A review calling it the town’s most historic building
8. How should the statement “This film will win the award next month” be classified before the award is announced?
As a fact, because the award ceremony is scheduled
As a fact, if many critics repeat it
As a historical claim requiring an archive
As a prediction rather than an established fact
9. Which sentence combines a fact with an opinion?
The museum opened in 1920 and is the city’s most beautiful building.
The museum is more interesting than the science center.
The museum opened in 1920.
The museum displays paintings and sculptures.
10. Which revision turns “The park was very crowded on Saturday” into a specific, verifiable claim?
Saturday was probably the park’s busiest day ever.
Everyone seemed to visit the park on Saturday.
The park was far too busy to be enjoyable.
A counter recorded 327 park entries between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
11. Which phrase can introduce a factual claim and does not automatically make the statement an opinion?
According to the published census
In my view
The most wonderful
I would rather
12. A restaurant’s records show that it served 240 meals on Friday. A reviewer calls it “the best restaurant in town.” Which classification is correct?
Both claims are facts because they concern the same restaurant.
Both claims are opinions because restaurant records can contain errors.
The meal count is an opinion; “best restaurant” is a fact.
The meal count is a fact; “best restaurant” is an opinion.
13. Which revision makes “Summer is the hottest season here” most precise and testable?
Summer always feels unbearably hot to local residents.
Summer is clearly hotter because people wear lighter clothes.
Most visitors would probably call summer the hottest season.
At this weather station, summer had a higher average daily maximum temperature than the other three seasons from 2014 through 2023.
14. Which evidence would most directly support the claim that a particular train arrived at 8:12 a.m.?
A passenger’s belief that the train service is usually reliable
A travel article praising the station’s design
The station’s timestamped arrival log for that train
A timetable showing that the train was scheduled for 8:10 a.m.
15. Why can research not establish “Dogs make better pets than cats” as a universal fact without defining additional criteria?
No factual information about pets can be collected.
Statements comparing two animals are always predictions.
The word “better” depends on selected standards and personal priorities.
The sentence becomes factual whenever most people agree with it.
16. Which statement is a fact?
Water freezes at 0°C under standard atmospheric pressure.
Winter is the most enjoyable season.
Ice makes every drink taste better.
Cold weather is unpleasant.