OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Understanding Supporting Details Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

In a passage about Canadian healthcare, which is a supporting detail rather than the main idea?

Accepted Answer

Emergency room wait times in Ontario averaged 4.2 hours in 2025.

Answer

Canada's universal healthcare provides coverage to all citizens and permanent residents.

Answer

Healthcare is important.

Answer

Canadians value their medical system.

Question 2

A paragraph argues physical education should be mandatory. Which supporting detail is most effective?

Accepted Answer

A 2024 Ontario Medical Association study found students with daily physical activity show 23% better concentration.

Answer

Some students don't like gym.

Answer

Physical education is one of many subjects.

Answer

Exercise is good for you.

Question 3

Read: 'The Group of Seven transformed Canadian art. Their bold landscapes captured wilderness beauty. Tom Thomson painted iconic works like The Jack Pine.' What type of detail is the Thomson reference?

Accepted Answer

A specific example that illustrates the broader point

Answer

A statistical detail

Answer

A counterargument

Answer

An unrelated fact

Question 4

Which sentence contains an expert opinion as a supporting detail?

Accepted Answer

According to Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist at Dalhousie University, Atlantic salmon has declined by 40% since 2010.

Answer

Many people enjoy visiting national parks.

Answer

Fish are important to the ecosystem.

Answer

The ocean is very large.

Question 5

A paragraph about recycling includes: 'My favourite colour is blue.' How does this affect the paragraph?

Accepted Answer

It weakens it because it is irrelevant to the main idea

Answer

It strengthens it with personal detail

Answer

It serves as a topic sentence

Answer

It provides a smooth transition

Question 6

In a persuasive text about reducing plastic waste: 'Every year, Canadians discard approximately 3 million tonnes of plastic waste, with only 9% recycled.' What makes this effective?

Accepted Answer

It provides specific, quantifiable data demonstrating the problem's scale

Answer

It uses emotional language

Answer

It tells the reader what to do

Answer

It presents the opposing viewpoint