Question 1 (SO 3, AC 1)

Question

Read through the following statements and decide whether they are facts or opinions. Motivate your
answer. (6)
Questions
statements Motivation
1 a) Heroin addicts should be sent to rehabilitation homes at
the government's expense.
b) Of all the people who try heroin, about 10% will get
addicted to the substance.
2 a) HIV/AIDS is the single biggest cause of death in the age
group of 20 - 27 year olds.
b) HIV/AIDS is a form of modern plague sent to punish
people for misbehaving.
3 a) Parents who smoke should be heavily fined as they are
harming their children.
b) The children of smokers are 20% more at risk of
developing asthma than the children of non-smoker

Answer 1

1a) This statement is an opinion. The idea that heroin addicts should be sent to rehabilitation homes at the government's expense is a subjective belief about the best way to address addiction. Different people may have different opinions on how addiction should be treated.

1b) This statement is a fact. The statistic that about 10% of people who try heroin will become addicted to it is a verifiable piece of information that can be proven through research and data analysis.

2a) This statement is a fact. The statement that HIV/AIDS is the single biggest cause of death in the age group of 20 - 27 year olds can be supported by statistical data and research on mortality rates in different age groups.

2b) This statement is an opinion. The idea that HIV/AIDS is a form of modern plague sent to punish people for misbehaving is a subjective belief that cannot be proven or disproven with factual evidence.

3a) This statement is an opinion. The belief that parents who smoke should be heavily fined for harming their children is a subjective judgment about the actions of parents who smoke. Different people may have different opinions on the appropriate consequences for smoking around children.

3b) This statement is a fact. The statistic that children of smokers are 20% more at risk of developing asthma than the children of non-smokers is a verifiable piece of information that is supported by scientific research on the effects of secondhand smoke exposure.