In the paragraphs below you are to designate whether or not the sentence (and the idea the sentence conveys) before the blank is fact or opinion by writing “fact” or “opinion” in the spaces provided.

Question

Not long ago divorce was seen as a disaster. It was an issue that was whispered about; not to be spoken about in front of the children. If someone in the family was going through a divorce, it brought shame and embarrassment to the entire family. The divorced person became the skeleton in the closet. a.________________ Today, much of the stigma of divorce is gone. Many public schools offer support groups for children of divorced couples. The number of people who are divorced has increased substantially. In 1970 some four million Americans were divorced. In 1995 the figure was seventeen million. b.________________ Why has this happened? What has contributed to the two hundred and eight-percent increase in the number of persons who have been divorced? c.________________ One factor has already been noted. With more divorced individuals, the stigma has lessened. This is not to say that divorce is completely accepted. A lifelong marriage is still the ideal. d.________________ However, it has become more acceptable for people to terminate their marriage if they find themselves in unhappy relationships.
Another factor that contributes to the increase in divorce is a more lenient legal system. In the past, it was extremely difficult to get a divorce. Today, in most states, the legal process for obtaining a divorce has been made easier. As a relatively easier process, it is thus more likely that larger numbers of people would be willing to go through the process. It is possible that in the past there were just as many unhappily married people as there are today. e.________________

Answer 1

a. Opinion b. Fact c. Fact d. Opinion e. Opinion