OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Interpreting News Reports Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following sentences from a news report: "The City Council voted yesterday to approve the construction of a new public library on Elm Street.
The project is budgeted at $4 million.
Councillor David Chen called the decision 'a fantastic and desperately needed enhancement for our city.' The library is expected to be completed by 2028."
Which of the following statements from the news report is an opinion?

Which of the following statements from the news report is an opinion?

Accepted Answer

The decision is 'a fantastic and desperately needed enhancement.'

Answer

The project is budgeted at $4 million.

Answer

The library will be built on Elm Street.

Answer

The City Council voted to approve the construction.

Question 2

Read the following headline and first sentence of a news report: "Courageous Local Activists Defeat Destructive Corporate Plan. A proposal to build a massive warehouse in the sensitive Green Valley marshlands was finally stopped last night thanks to the persistent efforts of community heroes."

The language used in this report shows a bias in favour of which group?

Accepted Answer

The community activists.

Answer

The corporation that proposed the warehouse.

Answer

The local government.

Answer

The construction workers.

Question 3

A news article about a major highway closure includes the following section: "'We advise all commuters to seek alternate routes or use public transit if possible,' stated police constable Eva Rostova. 'Our primary goal is to ensure everyone's safety during the cleanup operation.'"

What is the most likely reason the reporter included the quote from Constable Rostova?

Accepted Answer

To provide an official and authoritative source for the safety warning.

Answer

To suggest that the police were responsible for the highway closure.

Answer

To fill space in the article because the reporter had no other information.

Answer

To criticize the commuters for causing the traffic problems.

Question 4

A news website published two articles about a new city-wide composting program.
- Article A Headline: "Green Bin Program Slashes Landfill Waste in First Month"
- Article B Headline: "Residents Complain of Pests and Odours from New Green Bins"

Based on the headlines, what is the primary difference between the two news reports?

Accepted Answer

They focus on different aspects and potential outcomes of the same program.

Answer

They are reporting on programs in two different cities.

Answer

One report is based on facts, and the other is based on opinions.

Answer

One report is written for experts, and the other is for the general public.

Question 5

Read the following opening paragraph of a news report: "Yesterday, hundreds of students from Northview High School walked out of class to protest the school board's recent budget cuts. The demonstration began at noon on the front lawn of the school."

Which of the following key questions is NOT answered in this paragraph?

Accepted Answer

Why did the school board make the cuts?

Answer

Who was involved?

Answer

When did it happen?

Answer

Where did it happen?

Question 6

A news report about public transit use includes a bar chart. The chart shows the number of riders per day for four different bus routes. Route 10 has 1,500 riders. Route 12 has 2,500 riders. Route 15 has 1,200 riders. Route 22 has 2,100 riders.

Based on the information in the bar chart, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Route 12 has more riders than Route 10 and Route 15 combined.

Answer

Route 15 is the most popular route.

Answer

More than 7,000 riders use these four routes daily.

Answer

Route 10 has more riders than Route 22.