Fact and Opinion

Correctly identify facts and opinions to launch your own alien

spacecraft.

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Instructions

• To advance to the next slide, click only on areas like

or

• On multiple choice questions, click on the answer of your choice.

Click to return to passage

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Directions

• Read each passage carefully.

• Choose the best answer.

• At any time, you may go back and read a passage again.

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A fact is…

• A statement that can be proven

– It can be looked up in a book

– An eyewitness saw it happen

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An opinion is…

• How someone feels or thinks

• Not everyone would agree with this statement

• There’s no way of looking it up to check its accuracy

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Triathlons

If you enjoy swimming, bicycling, and running you might want to consider becoming a triathlete. A triathlete competes in triathlons, races that combine swimming, bicycling, and running. A triathlon can be both thrilling and grueling.

The usual triathlon begins with swimming- lots of it. Participants swim different distances but 2.45 miles is a frequent goal. The swim race is usually done in open water, not a heated pool. This event is the least challenging of the three.

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Triathlons continued…

Right after racers finish swimming, they jump on their bike for the cycling portion of the race. This bike race is no spin through the park, but 112 miles of rugged terrain. There’s still running to do. That’s right, a 26.2–mile jog follows the 2.45–mile swim and the 112–mile bike ride.

Even for trained athletes, any one of these events would be a challenge. A triathlete, however, must compete in all three events. Needless to say, the best triathletes are in excellent shape.

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• Now read each statement and decide if it is a fact or an opinion.

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1. Even for trained athletes, any one of these events would be a challenge.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Correct!

• It’s an opinion because the author thinks it would be a challenge. For some athletes, it may be easy and not pose a challenge.

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Construction of your spacecraft has begun!

Look at that statement again…

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2. Right after racers finish swimming, they jump on their bikes for the cycling portion of the race.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Nice answer!

• This is a fact because it can be proven by looking up information about what order the events in a triathlon are held.

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Construction of your spacecraft continues!

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Sorry, incorrect…

3. The usual triathlon begins with swimming.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Yes!

• It’s a fact because it can be proven by looking up information on what order the events in a triathlon are held.

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Try that one again…

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4. A triathlete must compete in all three events.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Good thinking!

• Fact- this can be proven by reading the rules of a triathlon.

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Look at that one again…

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5. The swim race is usually done in open water, not a heated pool.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Excellent answer!

• Fact- this can be proven by looking up information on what type of water the swim races are held in during triathlons.

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Look at that one again…

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6. The swim race event is the least challenging of the three.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Way to go!

• Opinion- The author thinks swimming is the easiest event. Not everyone would agree.

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Not that one…

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7. A triathlon can be both thrilling and grueling.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Yes!

• Opinion- The author is telling us what he thinks. Some people might disagree and think it’s easy and boring.

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Not that one…

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8. Needless to say, the best triathletes are in excellent shape.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Yes!

• Opinion- The author thinks that good triathletes would be in excellent shape. Other people might not agree because they might not think it’s that difficult.

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Nope…

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• Now read this passage about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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Vietnam Veterans Memorial

When Maya Ying Lin was a senior at Yale University, she entered a design contest. The contest was to design a memorial. The memorial would honor the American soldiers who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Lin’s design was the most exceptional. It was chosen over 1,400 other entries. But not everyone agreed with the selection. Some people felt Lin’s design did not properly honor those who lost their lives. Others, however, disagreed. For them, the memorial is the finest possible tribute to the fallen soldiers.

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Vietnam Veterans Memorial continued…

Though people may never agree on the design, they do agree on one thing. Most people believe the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a place of comfort. Over two million people visit the memorial each year. It is the most visited memorial in Washington, D.C.

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9. Maya Ying Lin’s design for the Vietnam War Memorial was the most exceptional.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Excellent work!

• Opinion- Not everyone would agree that her design was the most exceptional out of all the designs entered in the contest.

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Try again…

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10. Maya Ying Lin is a talented designer.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Nice!

• Opinion- Not everyone would agree that Maya shows talent in designing. Some people might think she’s a terrible designer.

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Sorry…

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11. Maya Ying Lin entered a contest to design a memorial to soldiers who died in the Vietnam War.

A. Fact

B. Opinion

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Great answer!

• Fact- This can be proved by looking at the list of entrants into the contest.

Click to launch your spacecraft

Incorrect…

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Blast off!