Writing Opinion

Respuesta correcta: A) In my view, homework should be reduced.

• A) In my view, homework should be reduced.Correct! 'In my view' clearly marks a personal position, which is what an opinion paragraph requires.
• B) The weather was warm in March.'The weather was warm' states a fact and expresses no opinion.
• C) Homework is a form of study.'Homework is a form of study' is a definition and takes no position.
• D) The teacher gave homework on Monday.'The teacher gave homework' reports an event and supports no argument.

Respuesta correcta: B) It could be argued that

• A) It is obvious that'It is obvious that' removes any possibility of discussion, which is the opposite of hedging.
• B) It could be argued thatCorrect! 'It could be argued that' presents a claim as one that can be defended, which is the academic way to qualify a position.
• C) Everyone knows that'Everyone knows that' claims universal agreement without evidence.
• D) There is no doubt that'There is no doubt that' states certainty and admits no counterargument.

Respuesta correcta: C) Moreover

• A) However'However' contrasts two ideas, and the sentence continues the same line of argument.
• B) Therefore'Therefore' presents a consequence, which is not the function of an added reason.
• C) MoreoverCorrect! 'Moreover' adds a second point that strengthens the first.
• D) In contrast'In contrast' introduces an opposing idea and would break the flow of support.

Respuesta correcta: D) For these reasons, homework should be limited to one subject.

• A) Homework is often given on Fridays.'Homework is often given on Fridays' is a fact and closes no argument.
• B) The term has twenty weeks.'The term has twenty weeks' is background information, not a closing position.
• C) Some teachers give less homework than others.'Some teachers give less homework' is a secondary observation and does not close the argument.
• D) For these reasons, homework should be limited to one subject.Correct! The sentence gathers the reasons and restates the position, which is the function of a conclusion.

Respuesta correcta: A) Although

• A) AlthoughCorrect! 'Although' introduces a point against the writer's own position and sets up a reply.
• B) Therefore'Therefore' presents a consequence, not an opposing point.
• C) Also'Also' adds a supporting point and creates no contrast.
• D) Besides'Besides' adds extra information and also creates no contrast.

Respuesta correcta: B) In the two classes I observed, most students finished on time.

• A) All students always finish their work quickly.'All students always' claims knowledge of every student without evidence.
• B) In the two classes I observed, most students finished on time.Correct! The sentence limits the claim to the classes actually observed, which is what evidence supports.
• C) Students never finish their work on time.'Never' denies something the writer has not tested.
• D) Every student is lazy about homework.'Every student is lazy' is a value judgement presented as a fact.

Respuesta correcta: C) Some people argue that

• A) For example'For example' introduces an illustration of the previous point.
• B) In addition'In addition' adds supporting information.
• C) Some people argue thatCorrect! 'Some people argue that' explicitly presents a position held by others.
• D) As a result'As a result' introduces a consequence.

Respuesta correcta: D) maintain

• A) shout'Shout' is informal and describes a volume of voice, not an argument.
• B) happen'Happen' describes an event and cannot take a clause as its object in this sense.
• C) belong'Belong' expresses membership, not the holding of an opinion.
• D) maintainCorrect! 'Maintain' means to hold firmly to a position, which fits the register of a formal essay.

Respuesta correcta: A) While some people favour longer hours, others believe breaks are essential.

• A) While some people favour longer hours, others believe breaks are essential.Correct! The structure 'while ... others' sets two positions side by side and marks the contrast explicitly.
• B) Longer hours are common in many schools.The second sentence states one position alone and creates no contrast.
• C) Breaks are essential for students.The third sentence supports one side and ignores the disagreement.
• D) Some schools have longer days than others.The fourth sentence compares schools rather than positions.

Respuesta correcta: B) As a result

• A) Nevertheless'Nevertheless' introduces a contrast that works against the previous idea.
• B) As a resultCorrect! 'As a result' introduces what follows from the position stated.
• C) For example'For example' introduces a case that illustrates the idea.
• D) On the other hand'On the other hand' contrasts two positions.

Respuesta correcta: C) Schools should offer more activities after class.

• A) Schools must to offer more activities after class.'Must to' adds an infinitive marker after a modal, which is not allowed.
• B) Schools should offering more activities after class.'Should offering' places a gerund after a modal, which is not a possible form.
• C) Schools should offer more activities after class.Correct! 'Should' is the modal of advice and it is followed by the base form of the verb.
• D) Schools are should offer more activities after class.'Are should' places two auxiliaries in a single clause.

Respuesta correcta: D) Generally speaking

• A) Always'Always' extends a claim to every case, which the evidence rarely supports.
• B) Never'Never' denies a claim completely.
• C) Without exception'Without exception' states that no case is different, which is an absolute claim.
• D) Generally speakingCorrect! 'Generally speaking' limits the scope of a claim while leaving it clear.

Respuesta correcta: A) Reading widely gives students a wider view of the world.

• A) Reading widely gives students a wider view of the world.Correct! The sentence states a position and gives a reason that the rest of the paragraph can develop.
• B) Reading is an activity many people do.'Reading is an activity' is a definition and takes no position.
• C) Some students read at home.'Some students read' reports a habit and supports no argument.
• D) The library opens at eight.'The library opens at eight' is background information about a building.

Respuesta correcta: B) In the two schools I visited, reading scores were higher where libraries stayed open late.

• A) Libraries are important in every school in the world.'Every school in the world' is a claim about the whole planet with no evidence behind it.
• B) In the two schools I visited, reading scores were higher where libraries stayed open late.Correct! The sentence names the number of schools observed and the specific comparison made, which is evidence.
• C) Libraries are sometimes open late.'Sometimes' is too vague to support any argument.
• D) Libraries open later every year.'Every year' is a trend claim that the sentence does not evidence.

Respuesta correcta: C) firmly

• A) allegedly'Allegedly' reports something that has not been verified and weakens the position.
• B) presumably'Presumably' marks the writer's own uncertainty about the claim.
• C) firmlyCorrect! 'Firmly' states conviction without claiming that the claim is beyond dispute.
• D) apparently'Apparently' also marks the writer's uncertainty, so neither word supports a position the writer holds.

Respuesta correcta: D) I support the proposal because it saves water.

• A) I support the proposal because of saves water.'Because of' must be followed by a noun or a gerund, not by a clause.
• B) I support the proposal since of it saves water.'Since of' adds a preposition after a conjunction, which is not possible.
• C) I support the proposal because it saved yesterday.'Saved' is the past, and the reason is a general property of the proposal rather than a past event.
• D) I support the proposal because it saves water.Correct! 'Because' is followed by a complete clause with a subject and a verb.

Respuesta correcta: A) It states a position, presents a reason against it and answers that reason.

• A) It states a position, presents a reason against it and answers that reason.Correct! A balanced paragraph contains a claim, a counterargument and the writer's reply to it.
• B) It repeats the same idea four times in different words.Repetition adds no information and weakens the paragraph.
• C) It lists every fact about the topic without choosing one.A paragraph must choose a position, and a list of facts is not an argument.
• D) It begins and ends with the same sentence.Repeating the opening and the closing can be effective, but without development it says nothing new.

Respuesta correcta: B) While many people prefer group work, I believe individual study works better.

• A) Group work is common in many schools.The first sentence is a fact and takes no position.
• B) While many people prefer group work, I believe individual study works better.Correct! The concessive opening acknowledges the common view before stating a different position.
• C) I studied alone last term.The third sentence is a personal anecdote, which is not a position on the practice.
• D) The classroom has twenty desks.The fourth sentence describes a room and does not address the practice at all.

Respuesta correcta: C) Taken together, these measures make the proposal worth supporting.

• A) The proposal is worth supporting.The first sentence gives a bare opinion with no reference to the reasons.
• B) The measures cost money.The second sentence introduces a new fact instead of summarising.
• C) Taken together, these measures make the proposal worth supporting.Correct! 'Taken together' signals that the sentence gathers the points already presented.
• D) Some measures are cheap and some are not.The fourth sentence restates a detail and closes no argument.

Respuesta correcta: D) You know, it is a total disaster.

• A) This evidence suggests a clear pattern.'This evidence suggests' is a measured statement suited to formal writing.
• B) On the whole, the case is strong.'On the whole' is a hedge that qualifies a claim in an academic register.
• C) Taken together, the figures matter.'Taken together' summarises points and suits a concluding sentence.
• D) You know, it is a total disaster.Correct! The informal filler and the colloquial intensifier do not belong in a formal written argument.