Which sentence states a fact?
The typical length of a Burmese python is sixteen to twenty-three feet. Parents should not allow their children to keep Burmese pythons as pets.
Statements of fact make claims that are based on research, observation, or experimentation. Facts can be proved with evidence.
Napoleon Bonaparte was shorter than King Louis XVI.
This statement is a fact. The statement can be verified by researching and comparing the height of each man.
Statements of opinion make claims that are based on personal judgments or perspectives. Opinions can be supported by evidence, but they cannot be definitively proved.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a better leader than King Louis XVI.
This statement is an opinion. People can have different ideas about what makes someone a "better" leader, so the statement cannot be proved.
The first sentence states a fact. It can be verified by looking up the average length of a Burmese python.
The typical length of a Burmese python is sixteen to twenty-three feet.
The second sentence states an opinion. Should indicates a personal judgment.
Parents should not allow their children to keep Burmese pythons as pets.