作为读者，我们在阅读中要养成分析判断的习惯，要注意分清作者所写的是客观事实 (fact) 还是主观看法 (opinion) ，这对我们的阅读理解十分重要。事实陈述的是真正发生过的事或客观存在的事物，通常都是有直接依据的； 而看法则是对判断、信念、感情等的陈述。

      比如下面两句就是“事实” ：

(1) Today, Grameen Bank has 1,048 branches and over 2 million borrowers. (Text B, Unit 6, Book 3)

(2) The bank has disbursed over a billion dollars, the average loan being about $150. (Text B, Unit 6, Book 3)

      而下面的句子则是“看法” ：

(1) By rich, we mean having enough money so you never have to work for money again, if you do not want to. 

(2) Winning money seems easy, but it really is not, and it often does not make you really rich. 

(3) Earning money is the hardest way to get rich because it means you have to work, and you usually have to work hard or be especially talented or lucky or both. 

      但是，有时分清作者所写的是客观事实还是主观看法并不是很容易的。作者认为是 “事实” 的可能并不被读者认同， 当然读者自己的意见也会影响到自己对 “事实” 和 “看法”的判断。如下面这句话中作者陈述的“事实” ，你就不一定会同意 ：

      Going to college has always had its ups and downs, but today the “downs” of the college experience are more numerous and difficult, a fact that the schools are responding to with increased support services. (Text A, Unit 7, Book 3)

●  Read the following sentences and decide which of them are facts and which are opinions.

 1. She is an attractive, intelligent twenty-year-old college junior at a state university. (Text A, Unit 7, Book 3)

 2. Suicide rates and self-inflicted injuries among college students are higher now than at any other time in history. (Text A, Unit 7, Book 3)

 3. The suicide rate among college youth is 50 percent higher than among non-students of the same age. (Text A, Unit 7, Book 3)

 4. College health officials believe that these reported problems represent only the tip of the iceberg. (Text A, Unit 7, Book 3)

 5. There are three reasons why today’s college students are suffering more than earlier generations. (Text B, Unit 7, Book 3)

 6. Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. (Text A, Unit 1, Book 3)

 7. Happiness is an attitude, the one attitude that most people strive for. Recent studies have shown that we can choose to have a happy attitude. (Text B, Unit 1, Book 3)

 8. My wife, Tere, and I bought a new car in December. 

 9. Today’s wearables can actually connect with your existing devices, like computers and smartphones... (Text A, Unit 2, Book 3)

10. I truly believe our attitudes and moods are our choice and right now I choose to be happy.

* Suggested Answers: 

1. Opinion 2. Fact 3. Fact 4. Opinion   5. Opinion

6. Opinion 7. Opinion 8. Fact 9. Fact  10. Opinion