Question 1: Identify two statements in the passage that are facts. Provide evidence from the text to support your choices.

Answer: Examples include: 'Scientists report that rising temperatures and melting glaciers are clear evidence of environmental shifts caused by human activity.'; 'Some political leaders suggest that climate concerns are exaggerated or unfounded.'

Question 2: Find and underline one opinion expressed by a political leader in the passage.

Answer: An example is: 'Some political leaders suggest that climate concerns are exaggerated or unfounded.'

Question 3: What language in the passage indicates that the media presents contrasting views? Provide specific phrases.

Answer: Phrases such as 'The media often presents contrasting views' and 'some outlets emphasizing urgent scientific warnings, while others downplay the severity of the issue' indicate this.

Question 4: How does the passage describe public opinion about climate change? Summarize in two sentences.

Answer: Public opinion varies widely; some people feel anxious about the future, while others dismiss climate change as a myth.

Question 5: Identify a phrase in the passage that shows a persuasive technique used by scientists.

Answer: The phrase 'immediate action is necessary to prevent catastrophic consequences' employs urgency to persuade readers.

Question 6: Choose the best description of the tone of the passage: A) Critical, B) Neutral, C) Persuasive, D) Humorous.

Answer: C) Persuasive

Question 7: Explain in one or two sentences why it is important to distinguish between facts and opinions when reading news.

Answer: Because understanding facts helps us know what is true, while opinions show personal beliefs or attitudes, which may not be supported by evidence.

Question 8: Identify a sentence in the passage that contains a fact and one that contains an opinion.

Answer: Fact: 'Scientists report that rising temperatures and melting glaciers are clear evidence of environmental shifts caused by human activity.'; Opinion: 'Some political leaders suggest that climate concerns are exaggerated or unfounded.'

Question 9: Reflect on why the author might have included both scientific facts and political opinions in this passage.

Answer: Open-ended question encouraging students to think about balance in reporting and the importance of understanding different perspectives in news.