Reading Comprehension

Fact & Opinion Practice 1

1. Marijuana should be legalized to reduce the effects of the current economic crisis.
Opinion :
2. The death penalty should be abolished because its just too expensive.
Opinion :
3. A California lawmaker Monday introduced legislation that would legalize (and tax) pot there.
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.
5. President Barack Obama said Tuesday night that the country must now act boldly and
wisely to take charge of its future.
Opinion :
6. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
7. All opinions are equally relevant.
8. Bruce Springsteen wrote "Thunder Road," a classic song of escape.
9. My car, which has only 10,000 miles on the odometer, will last another six years.
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
2. Using the IRS e-file makes doing your taxes easier and faster.
a. Fact
b. Opinion
c. Mixed Fact and Opinion
3. When you itemize deductions on your tax return, you cannot deduct both state income taxes
and general state
sales taxes.
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
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).....is going............................... to the movies.
2. On her right hand, Sara (carry) ....................................her handbag.
3. The handbag (be) ........................is............very beautiful.
4. Sara usually (put) ................puts....................on black shoes but now she (wear) ...........is
wearing.....................white trainers.
5. And look, she (take) .....is taking...............................an umbrella because it (rain) ....is
raining................................

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past perfect)
1. When he (wake up) ..............woke up...................... , his mother (already /prepare) .....had
already prepared............................... breakfast.
2. We (go) ...............went.....................to London because our friends (invite)
.....................invited...............us
3. He (hear) ......heard..............................the news, (go) ...............went............to the
telephone and (call) ....called..............a friend.
4. When she (start) .............started.......................learning English she (already /learn)
.....had already learned...............................French.
5. Jane (already / type) ........had already typed............................three pages when her
computer (crash) .............crashed.......................
6. By the time the doctor (arrive) ........arrived............................at the house the patient
( die) .............died.......................
7. Before that day we (never / think) ....................................of travelling to Japan.
8. I (know) ........knew............................him a long time before I (meet)
.............met.......................his family.
9. They (not / know) ..........did not know..........................where to meet because nobody
(tell) ......told..............................them.

10.It (be) .............was.......................cloudy for days before it (begin)

...........began.........................to rain.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect)
1. I (just / finish) ....................................my homework.
2. Mary (already / write) ..have already written..................................five letters.
3. Tom (move) .......moved.............................to his home town in 1994.
4. My friend (be) ............was........................in Canada two years ago.
5. I (not / be) ....................................to Canada so far.
6. But I (already / travel) .........have already travelled...........................to London a couple of
times.
7. Last week, Mary and Paul (go) .......went.............................to the cinema.
8. I can't take any pictures because I (not /buy) ....................................a new film yet.
9. (they / spend) .....did they spend...............................their holidays in Paris last summer?
10.(you / ever / see ) .....did 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) .......were swimming............................. while the girls (sunbath) .....were
sunbathing...............................
4. My father (come) .........................in, (look) .............................and
(tell) ............................me to tidy up my room.
5. While one group (prepare) ..was preparing........................dinner the others
(collect)...........was collecting.................... wood for the campfire.
6. While the parents (have) ....were having................................breakfast the children
(run) ..were running..................................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) .......will start.............................my new project.
2. I (finish) ..will have finished.................................. it by the end of this month.
3. The teacher (probably/assign) .will probably assign...................................a test to his
students next Monday.
4. He (correct) ..shall have corrected ..................................it by the end of next week.

5. My friend (certainly/get) ....................................a good mark.

6. By 9 o'clock, we (finish) ...will have finished.................................our homework.
7. They (leave) .....will have left...............................the classroom by the end of the hour.
8. I think I (start) ......will start..............................my trip tomorrow
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