Question 1: Identify one phrase in the passage that suggests bias or a positive slant towards the council's initiative.

Answer: The phrase 'revolutionise our city, making it more liveable for generations to come.'

Question 2: Find and correct the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'Critics argue that the plan is an expensive vanity project that will strain local resources and increase taxes for hardworking families.'

Answer: No grammatical error present.

Question 3: What technique is used in the statement: 'This initiative will revolutionise our city, making it more liveable for generations to come.'? Explain briefly.

Answer: It uses hyperbolic language (exaggeration) to emphasise the perceived benefits.

Question 4: Analyse how the leaked memo might influence readers' perception of the council's motives. What bias could this introduce?

Answer: The leaked memo suggests that some councillors are more interested in political gain than genuine community benefit, which could lead readers to view the initiative as opportunistic or insincere, thus introducing a bias against the council's motives.

Question 5: Select the option that best indicates an example of biased language in the article.

Answer: b) 'Critics argue that the plan is an expensive vanity project.'

Question 6: Identify and correct any spelling or punctuation errors in the passage.

Answer: No spelling or punctuation errors identified.

Question 7: Explain how the use of quotations in the passage affects the reader's perception of the council's position.

Answer: Quotations from the spokesperson lend authority and credibility, making their positive claims more persuasive to the reader.

Question 8: Based on the passage, what strategies does the article use to report both sides of the argument? Provide examples.

Answer: The article presents supportive comments from officials and advocates, as well as criticism from opponents and residents. It includes direct quotes, contrasting opinions, and references to leaked internal documents to provide a balanced view.

Question 9: Create a short paragraph (about 100 words) that criticises the article's portrayal of the council's initiative, based on bias detection.

Answer: Students should craft a paragraph that argues the article may be biased towards criticism by emphasising negative aspects such as costs and political motives, possibly neglecting the potential benefits. The paragraph should demonstrate critical thinking about bias in media reporting.