Reading Comprehension

Fact & Opinion Practice 1

1. Marijuana should be legalized to reduce the effects of the current economic crisis.
Opinion : should
2. The death penalty should be abolished because its just too expensive.
Opinion : should
3. A California lawmaker Monday introduced legislation that would legalize (and tax) pot there.
Fact :
4. Last year, in an effort to cut costs, probation and parole agencies in Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey,
and Vermont sadly reduced or dropped prison time for thousands of offenders who foolishly violated
conditions of their release.
Fact :
5. President Barack Obama said Tuesday night that the country must now act boldly and wisely to take charge of
its future.
Fact :
6. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
Opinion :
7. All opinions are equally relevant.
Opinion :
8. Bruce Springsteen wrote "Thunder Road," a classic song of escape.
Fact :
9. My car, which has only 10,000 miles on the odometer, will last another six years.
Opinion :
10. A city in beautiful north Florida, Tallahassee is the state's capital.
Fact :

Fact and Opinion Practice 2

1. Americas tax laws are very confusing.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
b.opinion

2. Using the IRS e-file makes doing your taxes easier and faster.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
opinion
3. When you itemize deductions on your tax return, you cannot deduct both state income taxes and general state
sales taxes.
a. Fact
a.fact

b. Opinion

c. Mixed Fact and Opinion

4. In 2008, more than 92 million Americans filed their taxes electronically.

a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
a.fact
5. Its unfair that the IRS limits educator expense deductions to those who teach in kindergarten through grade
12.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion

6. Its not safe to file your tax return electronically.

a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
7. It makes no sense to allow only students in Midwestern disaster areas to deduct the cost of their textbooks
when they file their income tax.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion

8. According the U.S. tax laws, course-related books and supplies are not qualified Educational expenses except
for students who live in Midwestern disaster areas.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
9. The maximum Hope education credit has rightly been increased to $2,500 for most taxpayers.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
10. We should not have to pay taxes.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion

Fact and Opinion Practice 3

Determine whether the following sentences are statements of fact, opinion, or mixed (fact and opinion).
1. Pachelbel's composed the beautifully exquisite "Canon in D."
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
2. Bach is the brilliant and prolific composer who wrote the "Brandenburg Concerto."
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
3. Vivaldi wrote The Four Seasons.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
4. Classical music is easy to listen to when you are studying.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
5. According to "Crossing the Finish Line," 30% of today's 8th graders will earn a bachelor's degree by age 26.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion

6. Financial aid needs to be simpler than it is.

a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
7. You should not listen to music when you study.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
8. Once you graduate, you will get a great job.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
9. My 10-year-old refrigerator will last another five years.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
10. My daughter's dog Juliet eats tuna fish.
a. Fact b. Opinion c. Mixed Fact and Opinion

Language Focus
Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive)
1. Look! Sara (go).................................... to the movies.
2. On her right hand, Sara (carry) ....................................her handbag.
3. The handbag (be) ....................................very beautiful.
4. Sara usually (put) ....................................on black shoes but now she (wear) ....................................white trainers.
5. And look, she (take) ....................................an umbrella because it (rain) ....................................

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past perfect)
1. When he (wake up) .................................... , his mother (already /prepare) .................................... breakfast.
2. We (go) ....................................to London because our friends (invite) ....................................us
3. He (hear) ....................................the news, (go) ...........................to the telephone and (call) ..................a friend.
4. When she (start) ....................................learning English she (already /learn) ....................................French.
5. Jane (already / type) ....................................three pages when her computer (crash) ....................................
6. By the time the doctor (arrive) ....................................at the house the patient ( die) ....................................
7. Before that day we (never / think) ....................................of travelling to Japan.

8. I (know) ....................................him a long time before I (meet) ....................................his family.

9. They (not / know) ....................................where to meet because nobody (tell) ....................................them.
10. It (be) ....................................cloudy for days before it (begin) ....................................to rain.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect)
1. I (just / finish) ....................................my homework.
2. Mary (already / write) ....................................five letters.
3. Tom (move) ....................................to his home town in 1994.
4. My friend (be) ....................................in Canada two years ago.
5. I (not / be) ....................................to Canada so far.
6. But I (already / travel) ....................................to London a couple of times.
7. Last week, Mary and Paul (go) ....................................to the cinema.
8. I can't take any pictures because I (not /buy) ....................................a new film yet.
9. (they / spend) ....................................their holidays in Paris last summer?
10. (you / ever / see ) ....................................a whale?
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive)
1. The receptionist (welcome) ....................................the guests and (ask) ............................them to fill in the form.
2. The car (break) ....................................down and we (have) ....................................to walk home.
3. The boys (swim) .................................... while the girls (sunbath) ....................................
4. My father (come) .........................in, (look) .............................and (tell) ............................me to tidy up my room.
5. While one group (prepare) ........................dinner the others (collect)............................... wood for the campfire.
6. While the parents (have) ....................................breakfast the children (run) ....................................about.
7. Martha (turn) ....................................off the light and (go) ....................................to bed.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple future or future perfect)
1. Tomorrow I think I (start) ....................................my new project.
2. I (finish) .................................... it by the end of this month.
3. The teacher (probably/assign) ....................................a test to his students next Monday.
4. He (correct) ....................................it by the end of next week.
5. My friend (certainly/get) ....................................a good mark.
6. By 9 o'clock, we (finish) ....................................our homework.
7. They (leave) ....................................the classroom by the end of the hour.
8. I think I (start) ....................................my trip tomorrow
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