Question

Based on the given information, which of the following is an opinion rather than a factual statement? (A) China's population is expected to fall slightly by 2050 . (B) Nigeria should encourage birth control measures to prevent its population from growing too quickly. (C) The United States population is expected to grow by less than \(30 \%\) by 2050 . (D) India is expected to become the most populous country in the world by 2050 .

Short answer

The correct answer is: (B) Nigeria should encourage birth control measures to prevent its population from growing too quickly. This statement is an opinion because it expresses a judgment about what Nigeria 'should' do and is not a statement that can be proven true or false through evidence or data.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Definitions

To correctly identify a claim as an opinion or a fact, we first need to understand what they mean. An opinion is a subjective statement based on someone's views or beliefs, it may not be based on evidence or truth. Whereas a factual statement, or simply a fact, is an objective statement that can be proven with evidence.

Read Each Statement Carefully and Individually

Treat each statement as an isolated case. Assess whether it provides a predictive, observable trend, a statistic, a variation, or if it recommends, evaluates, or assesses something in a way that is not quantifiable.

Find the Opinion Statement

These are these given statements: - (A) China's population is expected to fall slightly by 2050. - (B) Nigeria should encourage birth control measures to prevent its population from growing too quickly. - (C) The United States population is expected to grow by less than \(30 \% \) by 2050. - (D) India is expected to become the most populous country in the world by 2050. Now, find the statement that expresses an opinion.

Identify the Opinion

Statement (B) "Nigeria should encourage birth control measures to prevent its population from growing too quickly" is the opinion. This is because the statement is expressing a judgment about what Nigeria 'should' do and is not a statement that can be proven true or false through evidence or data.

Eliminate the Other Statements

All other statements (A),(C) and (D) are regarding predicted population trends by the year 2050. These are data or evidence-based statements and therefore factual, not opinions. Hence, the correct answer is: (B) Nigeria should encourage birth control measures to prevent its population from growing too quickly.

Key concepts

Critical Reading Skills

Critical reading skills are essential tools for dissecting written work, separating fact from opinion, and understanding nuanced arguments. These skills empower students to engage with texts on a deeper level, leading to better comprehension and analysis. Essential components of critical reading include identifying the author's purpose, distinguishing between implicit and explicit messages, and evaluating the credibility of the information presented.

For a practical example, let's consider the exercise about determining whether certain statements are factual or opinion-based. Critical reading skills would encourage a student to look for subjective language that may indicate an opinion, such as the word 'should' in option (B) in the original exercise, and contrast that with the objective, measurable predictions offered in the other options (A), (C), and (D). To enhance understanding, students should practice by regularly analyzing different types of text, questioning the author's viewpoints, and cross-referencing information to verify facts.

GED Test Preparation

The General Educational Development (GED) test is a suite of four subject exams designed to measure proficiency in areas corresponding to a high school education level. Preparing for the GED test involves a multifaceted approach, including strengthening comprehension strategies and critical reading skills. Students should familiarize themselves with the types of questions they might encounter, as evident in the original exercise, which mirrors the critical thinking and analysis GED test-takers must employ.

GED test preparation resources often include practice questions requiring the differentiation between fact and opinion, reinforcing the ability to analyze text structure and meaning thoroughly. Test takers benefit from focused study sessions that cover language arts, scientific reasoning, mathematical problem-solving, and social sciences. They should also consider timed practice tests, review of answer explanations, and instructional materials that cater to their individual learning styles.

Comprehension Strategies

Comprehension strategies are the approaches and techniques that readers use to understand and remember what they have read. These strategies are critical in processing information and include activities such as skimming and scanning for key details, summarizing sections of text, making predictions and connections, and visualizing content. For example, when faced with the original exercise, a student might summarize each prediction about population changes to comprehend the factual nature of those statements.

To build on these strategies, readers should practice active reading by annotating the text, asking and answering questions about the content, and seeking to form their own interpretation of the material presented. These strategies are not only crucial in academic settings but are also necessary for personal growth and informed decision-making in everyday life. A strong command of comprehension strategies can lead to more effective learning outcomes and is highly beneficial in test-taking contexts such as the GED exam.