These are the ONLY questions that are not based on the passage itself. You should not refer to the passage to answer a fact or opinion question. Don't be fooled into thinking these are true or false questions.
If a statement expresses a fact, someone could do a test or do some research to determine whether the statement is true or false. For example: The temperature outside is 98 degrees. We can check this with a thermometer.
If a statement expresses an opinion, there is no real way to agree on whether the statement is true or false. For example: It's hot outside. While most all of us would agree that it's hot outside, this is an opinion. The word hot represents a judgment that is not clearly defined. Is 70 degrees hot? Is 80 degrees hot? What's hot for one person or place may not be for another.
How are you at determining whether a statement expresses a fact or an opinion? Try the following exercises from the Townsend Press website:
Level 3 Critical Thinking Exercise 1
Level 4 Fact and Opinion Exercise 1