Which statements from “On Becoming an Inventor” are facts?

"I was intimidated by the huge buildings devoted to these studies."
"I also enlarged my mother's kitchen and pantry."
"Then Bart went off to college and I had use of the rest of the basement."
“They were treasures!”
“Everyone wanted to buy a box that could connect to their stereo to create new light and sound effects.”
“Not only was this invention used in theaters, but it was sold to the Museum of Natural History and the New York Planetarium to project views of the heavens on the ceiling.”

1 answer

To identify which statements from “On Becoming an Inventor” are facts, we look for statements that can be objectively verified or are based on concrete evidence. Here’s the analysis of each statement:

  1. "I was intimidated by the huge buildings devoted to these studies." - This is a subjective statement reflecting personal feelings, not a verifiable fact.

  2. "I also enlarged my mother's kitchen and pantry." - This is a specific action that could be verifiable, depending on context, so it can be considered a fact if the context confirms it.

  3. "Then Bart went off to college and I had use of the rest of the basement." - This is a statement about a specific event that can be verifiable, so it can also be considered a fact if true.

  4. “They were treasures!” - This statement is subjective and expresses an opinion rather than a fact.

  5. “Everyone wanted to buy a box that could connect to their stereo to create new light and sound effects.” - This is somewhat subjective and generalizes the desires of "everyone," thus may not qualify as a factual statement.

  6. “Not only was this invention used in theaters, but it was sold to the Museum of Natural History and the New York Planetarium to project views of the heavens on the ceiling.” - This is a specific statement that can be verified, making it a factual statement.

In conclusion, the statements considered factual based on the content provided are:

  • "I also enlarged my mother's kitchen and pantry."
  • "Then Bart went off to college and I had use of the rest of the basement."
  • “Not only was this invention used in theaters, but it was sold to the Museum of Natural History and the New York Planetarium to project views of the heavens on the ceiling.”