Contents. Unit 1 Cultural Traditions 6. Unit 2 Health 10. Unit 3 Non-profits 14. Unit 4 Social Issues 18. Unit 5 Sport 26.

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1 Contents Introduction Fact and Opinion 4 Unit 1 Cultural Traditions 6 Unit 2 Health 10 Unit 3 Non-profits 14 Unit 4 Social Issues 18 Unit 5 Sport 26 Unit 6 Law 30 Unit 7 Labour 34 Unit 8 Environment 38 Answer Key 44

2 Introduction > Fact and Opinion Fact and Opinion Is it a fact? Or an opinion? Sometimes, it s difficult to tell the difference between facts and opinions. Take these two sentences, for example: Mangoes cost $1.99 each at Budd s grocery store. The mangoes are too expensive. The first statement is a fact because it can be proven to be true. Just walk down to Budd s grocery store and check the price of mangoes. A fact is a statement based on direct evidence. The second statement is an opinion because it is based on what the author thinks about the price. An opinion is a statement of belief or feeling and is someone s viewpoint. Opinions might be supported by facts, but they cannot be proven. Good writers support facts and opinions with details and examples. Good readers always try to distinguish between facts and opinions. This workbook contains 20 non-fiction passages. The first activity asks you to distinguish between facts and opinions. The second activity asks you to find text evidence that supports the author s facts and opinions. Try it out! Read this paragraph and answer the questions. Bats the Pest Patrol People can suffer from various phobias. Some people hate and fear snakes. Others jump onto a chair at the sight of a rodent. And some people stay indoors after the sun sets because of their bat phobia. A recent study found that one in five people either dislike or hate bats. Perhaps this is because the media portrays bats as flying rodents that bite people. Humans like to label animals as either bad or good. Despite their scary appearance, bats, or flying rodents to some, are good. Bats play an important role in the environment. For example, the majority of bats eat night flying insects. No larger than a human thumb, a brown bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes an hour. 4

3 Fact and Opinion < Introduction Bats can also be a farmer s best friend. Organic farms do not use pesticides. Insects cause major damage to crops. Bats assist organic farmers by eating insects that feed on produce. In the U.S. alone, bats save farmers nearly four billion dollars per year. Bats also help to pollinate many plants. Bananas, mangoes, and peaches pollinate better because of bats. Fact or Opinion? Read the following statements. Are they facts or opinions? Write F or O to indicate your answer.! Bats are a farmer s best The majority of bats eat night flying insects. # A recent study found that one in five people either dislike or hate bats. Finding Text Evidence Quote details from the text to support the statements below. The first one is done for you. $ FACT: People can suffer from various phobias. (Quote two details.) Text evidence: Some people hate and fear snakes. Others jump onto a chair at the sight of a rodent. % FACT: Bats play an important role in the environment. (Quote two details.) 5 Photo Credit: istock

4 Unit 1: Cultural Traditions Cultural Traditions DID YOU KNOW? In Bali, nobody can enter or leave the country on New Year s Day. New Year s Day New Year s Eve in North America can be a noisy affair. At the stroke of midnight people watch fireworks, make toasts, and cheer. Many will eat, drink, sing, and dance till dawn. After the parties, some people watch the New Year s Day college football games. Watching TV is the perfect way to recover from a night of partying. Others head for the shopping malls to find a bargain. Even though it s a national holiday, stores are open and the roads are busy. In the evening, many gather with friends and family for a New Year s Day dinner. In contrast, New Year s Day in Bali is a day of silence. On this day, which is called Nyepi, the island comes to a complete halt. Everything is closed, even the airport. The roads are empty except for emergency vehicles. And no one is allowed to leave their home. Streets are patrolled by local policemen to ensure people stay indoors. Even the hum of electricity is silenced, as people turn off their lights. And some people don t even talk. Nyepi is a day of reflection for the Balinese people. The silence encourages bad spirits to believe the island is empty, which causes them to leave. Nyepi is a day for the Balinese to forget about the modern world. People use the day to meditate and pray. Bali: an Indonesian island of over four million people, most of whom are Hindu. Photo Credit: Alamy 6

5 Cultural Traditions What do you think about celebrating New Year s Day in silence? Discuss. Fact or Opinion? Read the following statements. Are they facts or opinions? Write F or O to indicate your answer.! New Year s Day in Bali is called Silence encourages bad spirits to leave. # Watching TV is the perfect way to recover from a night of partying. Finding Text Evidence Quote details from the text to support the statements below. $ FACT: New Year s Eve in North America can be a noisy affair. (Quote two details.) % FACT: The island comes to a complete halt. (Quote two details.) ^ FACT: Nyepi is a day of reflection for the Balinese people. (Quote one detail.) 7