阅读技能（reading skill): Mixture of Fact and Opinion

Mixture of Fact and Opinion 
    We have learned to distinguish between facts and opinions in Unit 2, Book 1 and Unit 3 and Unit 8, Book 2, and now in Unit 2, Book 4, we are going to develop the ability further. 
    Facts are statements that tell what really happened or really is the case whereas opinions are statements of beliefs, judgments, or feelings. It is not always easy to make a clear distinction between facts and opinions as writers often mix facts and opinions even within the same sentence, with some words representing facts and others representing opinions.
    Some tips for distinguishing facts from opinions:
    1. Test the writer's opinion by asking whether a different opinion is possible. You do not have to agree with the different opinion or with the author's, for that matter. You just have to be able to see if there is another view.
    2. Look for words that interpret one's opinions such as pretty, ugly, handsome, dangerous, evil, attractive, well-dressed, good, etc. If we say a girl is pretty or ugly, it is clear that it is only our point of view. Words like probably, perhaps, usually, often, sometimes, on occasion are used to limit a statement of fact and to indicate the possibility of other opinions. Other words say clearly that an opinion will follow; these are words like I believe, I think, in my opinion, I feel, I suggest, etc. 

Example 1  
    But only Charlie Chaplin could have created the great comic character of “The Tramp”, the little man in rags who gave his creator permanent fame. (Para. 1, Reading Passage A, Unit 2)
    Even though the words only, great, permanent state opinions, the sentence states many facts — Charlie Chaplin, created, comic character, the Tramp, the little man in rags. Even more important, the main point of the sentence is to state the fact that Charlie Chaplin created “The Tramp”, which brought him fame. Thus the sentence is basically factual. 

Example 2
    Sad to say, many English people in the 1920's and 1930's thought Chaplin's Tramp a bit, well, “crude”. Certainly middle-class audiences did; the working-class audiences were more likely to clap for a character who revolted against authority, using his wicked little cane to trip it up, or aiming the heel of his boot for a well-placed kick at its broad rear. (Para. 3, Reading Passage A, Unit 2)
    The sentence expresses an opinion that the middle-class audience thought Chaplin's Tramp a bit, well, “crude” whereas the working class enjoyed his performance. We have also found a lot of facts: using his wicked little cane to trip it up, or aiming the heel of his boot for a well-placed kick at its broad rear, as these were true of Chaplin's performance. However, we find that the facts were used to support the opinions. Thus the sentence is basically expressing opinions.

Example 3
    This physical transformation, plus the skill with which he executed it again and again, are surely the secrets of Chaplin's great comedy. (Para. 6, Reading Passage A, Unit 2)
    Even though the words surely, secrets, great state opinions, the sentence states many facts —physical transformation, the skill he executed with, again and again. The sentence is basically factual as it deals with Charlie Chaplin' skills in performance.

Example 4
    It's a relief to know that life eventually gave Charlie Chaplin the stable happiness it had earlier denied him. (Para. 8, Reading Passage A, Unit 2)
    Even though we have in the sentence words expressing opinions such as relief, eventually, stable, etc., it is a fact that Chaplin did get married in his 50's and his last marriage was happy. Thus the sentence is basically factual.

Example 5
    A few months later, a couple of almost comic body-thieves stole his body from the family burial chamber and held it for money: the police recovered it with more efficiency than Max Sennet's clumsy Keystone Cops would have done. (Para. 9, Reading Passage A, Unit 2)
    Even though we have in the sentence words expressing opinions such as comic, with more efficiency than Max Sennet's clumsy Keystone Cops, it is factual as to what had happened. Thus the sentence is basically factual.