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Distinguishing Fact and Opinion Flashcards

7 cards from real LNAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A legal commentator writes: 'The defendant was present at the scene at 9:00 PM, which the CCTV footage confirms.' How should this statement be classified?

    Answer: Fact, because it is a verifiable claim supported by evidence

    A claim that is verifiable through objective evidence — such as CCTV footage — is a factual statement, regardless of its legal implications.

  2. In a newspaper editorial: 'It is undeniable that the new sentencing guidelines are too lenient.' What is this statement?

    Answer: Opinion, because 'too lenient' reflects a value judgment

    'Too lenient' is an evaluative judgment that cannot be objectively verified, making the statement an opinion regardless of the framing.

  3. A researcher states: 'Studies show that recidivism rates dropped by 15% after the rehabilitation program was introduced.' This is best described as:

    Answer: Fact, because it references measurable data from studies

    A statement referencing measurable, documented data is a factual claim, even if the underlying cause-effect relationship is debated separately.

  4. A politician says: 'This bill will destroy our legal tradition if passed.' This statement is:

    Answer: Opinion, because 'destroy' is a subjective and predictive term

    Predictive and emotionally charged language like 'destroy' makes this a subjective opinion rather than a verifiable fact.

  5. Which of the following is most clearly a statement of fact?

    Answer: The Court of Appeal was established in 1875

    The establishment date of the Court of Appeal is a historically verifiable event, unlike the evaluative or prescriptive claims in the other options.

  6. A law professor argues: 'In my view, mandatory minimum sentences are counterproductive.' The phrase 'in my view' indicates:

    Answer: The statement is an opinion being explicitly signaled as such

    Phrases like 'in my view' are epistemic markers that signal the author is presenting a personal opinion rather than an objective fact.

  7. A passage states: 'The UK has one of the highest incarceration rates in Western Europe.' To classify this as fact or opinion, the most important consideration is:

    Answer: Whether the claim can be verified against official statistics

    Factual claims about comparative statistics can be verified against official datasets, so the key test is verifiability.