T2.2.2 Supporting ideas with factual detail Quiz: KS3 English, Unit 2

The 20 questions

1. Which sentence supports the claim that libraries help communities by adding factual detail?

   • Libraries lend millions of books each year in England and give free access to computers and reading groups.
   • Libraries are wonderful places where everyone can feel welcome and relaxed whenever they visit them.
   • Many people believe that libraries are a very important part of life in almost every kind of town.
   • Libraries help communities in many ways, and everyone who uses them should always be grateful for that.

2. A writer claims that a single school uniform saves families money. Which supporting detail is most useful?

   • Many children enjoy wearing uniform because it helps them feel like part of a special and proud group.
   • Parents who wear uniform themselves often feel more comfortable going to work in the mornings.
   • A single agreed uniform means families do not need to buy several outfits for different school occasions.
   • Uniform is clearly the best sort of clothing, and anyone who disagrees has not thought about it properly.

3. Which revision of 'Recycling is good for the planet' adds a specific factual detail?

   • Recycling is good for the planet, and everyone in the world should do it as often as they can.
   • Recycling is good for the planet since it makes the places where we live look much cleaner and nicer.
   • Recycling is good for the planet because it is a very kind and sensible thing for people to do.
   • Recycling aluminium uses far less energy than making new aluminium from raw bauxite ore.

4. Why does a persuasive writer include statistics in an argument?

   • They make the argument more convincing because the reader can check the evidence.
   • They show that the writer has read a lot, whatever the number actually shows about the topic.
   • They make the reader feel sorry for the writer, so the reader will agree without thinking about it.
   • They fill up the paragraph so that the writing looks longer and more impressive to read.

5. When summarising a long article, what should a writer do?

   • Rewrite the article in the same order, changing only a few words in each sentence as they go.
   • Include every example and quotation from the article so that nothing important is lost at all.
   • Copy the first and last sentences of each paragraph exactly as they appear in the original text.
   • Identify the main points and restate them in their own words, leaving out minor details.

6. Which detail best supports a paragraph about the Great Fire of London?

   • The Great Fire of London changed many things, and historians have written about it for a long time.
   • The Great Fire of London was something that people talk about a lot even today in many places.
   • The Great Fire of London was an extremely frightening event that terrified everyone who lived there.
   • The fire began in a bakery on Pudding Lane in September 1666 and burned for several days.

7. A pupil writes 'Sport is healthy.' Which addition gives the most useful factual support?

   • Sport is healthy, which is why teachers and parents everywhere always encourage children to take part.
   • Sport is healthy and it makes you feel good, so you should definitely think about playing it soon.
   • Guidance for children recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day to build strong bones and muscles.
   • Sport is healthy, and it is a thing that a lot of people enjoy doing with their friends and family.

8. Which is the best source of factual detail for an essay on the water cycle?

   • A friend's opinion that rain is always boring and that the sky looks grey and unpleasant most days.
   • A short poem about rain that describes how it sounds on a window during a quiet and gentle evening.
   • A textbook explanation that names evaporation, condensation and precipitation with clear definitions.
   • A general feeling that water is important and that people should use it carefully in their homes.

9. Which sentence uses factual detail to support a point about rainforests?

   • Rainforests are important, and people who care about the environment usually think they should be protected.
   • Rainforests are beautiful places that are full of colour and life, and they are very special to visit.
   • Tropical rainforests cover about 6 per cent of Earth's land surface yet hold more than half of its plant and animal species.
   • Rainforests are very big and very green, and anybody who has seen one will remember it for a long time.

10. Why should a writer check that supporting facts are accurate?

    • Inaccurate facts weaken the argument and can cause the reader to stop trusting the rest of the writing.
    • Accurate facts make the writing longer, so the teacher will know the pupil has spent more time on it.
    • Checked facts are the only kind of detail that is allowed to appear in a formal school essay at all.
    • Facts that are checked are always more interesting to read than facts that have not been checked yet.

11. A text says dinosaurs 'lived millions of years ago'. Which version is more precise and factual?

    • Dinosaurs were huge animals that lived a long time ago and are now extinct, as everyone knows well.
    • Dinosaurs lived many years ago, and scientists have found many of their bones in different places.
    • Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era, roughly 252 to 66 million years ago, before the mass extinction.
    • Dinosaurs lived a very long time ago, when the world looked very different from how it looks today.

12. Which supporting detail is a fact rather than an opinion?

    • Water is a boring subject to study, though it can be interesting if the teacher explains it well.
    • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level under standard atmospheric pressure.
    • Water is the most useful liquid, and it is the one thing that every living creature needs.
    • Water tastes best when it is cold, so a glass of chilled water is always the best drink.

13. A writer says 'Many teenagers sleep too little.' Which factual detail would support this claim best?

    • Sleep guidance for 14 to 17 year olds suggests around 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.
    • Teenagers sleep too little, and this is a big problem that adults should try to think about.
    • Teenagers are often tired in the mornings, so they must be sleeping far too little most nights.
    • Teenagers sleep too little because they are always busy with their phones and their friends.

14. Which sentence best combines a claim with a specific example?

    • Some plants, such as the Venus flytrap, catch insects to get nutrients from them in poor soil.
    • Some plants are very interesting, and many of them are quite different from one another in lots of ways.
    • Plants do lots of clever things, and it is always good to learn about how they live and grow.
    • Plants are truly remarkable, and there are so many kinds that it would be hard to name them all.

15. Which fact best supports a paragraph arguing for more bees in gardens?

    • Bees are lovely to watch, and many people enjoy seeing them in their gardens during the summer months.
    • Around three quarters of the world's major food crops depend at least partly on pollination by animals such as bees.
    • Bees are very busy insects, and they fly around gardens all day long looking for flowers to visit.
    • Bees make honey that tastes sweet, and it is something that many people like to eat on toast.

16. Why is it useful to include a date or a figure in a factual paragraph?

    • It means the paragraph will be longer, which is always a good thing in a written assessment.
    • It gives the reader a precise point of reference that can be checked and understood more clearly.
    • It shows the teacher that the pupil has memorised several numbers for the exam on the topic.
    • It makes the paragraph look more formal, so the reader will assume the whole essay is correct.

17. Which is the most precise way to support the idea that exercise improves mood?

    • Exercise is a wonderful thing for the mind and body, and it is something that people should do often.
    • Exercise makes people feel better, and everyone knows that after a run they feel much happier overall.
    • Exercise is good for lots of reasons, and most people who try it notice that they feel more cheerful.
    • Research has linked regular physical activity with lower levels of anxiety and low mood in many adults.

18. Which detail gives the most factual support for the claim that cycling is an efficient way to travel?

    • Cycling is clearly the best way to travel, and nobody sensible would ever argue otherwise about it.
    • Cycling is a fun activity that people of all ages can enjoy during the summer holidays together.
    • A typical bicycle uses far less energy per kilometre than a car carrying a single passenger.
    • Cycling makes people feel free and happy, which is why so many people choose to ride a bike.

19. A pupil claims the Moon affects the tides. Which supporting detail is a factual explanation?

    • The Moon looks very beautiful when it is full, and many people enjoy watching it from the beach.
    • The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, which creates the regular rise and fall of the tides.
    • The Moon has always fascinated people, and it appears in many poems, stories and songs over time.
    • The Moon is the most interesting object in the sky, and it is something everyone should look at.

20. Which supporting detail uses a named source to back up a claim about pollution?

    • A recent study suggested that air pollution may contribute to early deaths, and many doctors have also mentioned this.
    • Many researchers have found that air pollution is linked to a range of health problems, especially in busy cities.
    • A 2019 report by the World Health Organization stated that air pollution contributes to millions of early deaths each year.
    • Some local residents have noticed that the air in busy areas seems to cause breathing problems over several years.

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