Reading Comprehension Fact, Opinion and Author's Bias 4

Question 1

"Yoga originated in ancient India more than 5,000 years ago. Today, over 300 million people worldwide practice it. Yoga is unquestionably the best form of exercise for both body and mind." Question: Which sentence is a fact?

Accepted Answer

Today, over 300 million people worldwide practice yoga.

Answer

The figure of 300 million practitioners comes from surveys and can be verified; 'best form of exercise' is a subjective judgment that varies by person and goal.

Question 2

A political op-ed states: "The incumbent governor raised the minimum wage by $2 per hour. Since that raise, the state's unemployment rate ticked up by 0.3%. This proves that minimum wage increases always destroy jobs and harm the economy." Question: Where does bias appear?

Accepted Answer

The author uses a single correlation to make a sweeping universal claim ('always destroy jobs').

Answer

One 0.3% uptick could have many causes; claiming this 'proves' that minimum wages 'always' harm economies is an overgeneralization that reveals the author's pre-existing bias.

Question 3

A museum brochure reads: "The exhibit displays 200 artifacts from ancient Egypt, including a mummified cat and papyrus scrolls. Visiting this exhibit is a deeply enriching experience that every student in the region should have." Question: Which sentence is an opinion?

Accepted Answer

Visiting this exhibit is a deeply enriching experience that every student in the region should have.

Answer

'Deeply enriching' is a subjective value judgment, and prescribing that 'every student should' visit reflects the author's advocacy, not a neutral fact.

Question 4

An article about coffee reads: "The United States consumes approximately 400 million cups of coffee per day, making it one of the world's largest coffee markets. Coffee is far superior to tea and anyone who drinks tea simply hasn't discovered real flavor yet." Question: What is the author's bias in the second sentence?

Accepted Answer

The author is biased in favor of coffee over tea and dismisses tea drinkers as uninformed.

Answer

Declaring coffee 'far superior' and implying tea drinkers lack taste are subjective claims that show a clear pro-coffee bias and condescension toward tea drinkers.

Question 5

"The Battle of Hastings took place on October 14, 1066, resulting in William the Conqueror's victory over King Harold II. This battle was the single most important event in all of English history." Question: Which part is a fact?

Accepted Answer

The Battle of Hastings took place on October 14, 1066, resulting in William's victory over Harold II.

Answer

The date, combatants, and outcome are documented historical facts; ranking it 'single most important' requires subjective comparison against all other events.

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Reading Comprehension Fact, Opinion and Author's Bias 4