News and Information Online

by Vocafy Verifisert

Engelsk (US) B1 15 spørsmål Nyheter og blogger

Spot warning signs in online news, from old photos to claims that go beyond the evidence.

1. 1. Velg riktig svar.

   Which source would provide the strongest evidence that school is closed tomorrow?

   A social media post says, "No school tomorrow! A friend told me."

   • Another post repeating the same message.
   • A current notice on the school's official website.
   • A comment saying, "I hope this is true!"

   Show solution

   • A current notice on the school's official website.

   For school closures, look for a recent announcement from the school itself.

2. 2. Velg riktig svar.

   Which statement could be checked using the park's opening records?

   "The park opened on Monday. It is the most beautiful place in town. Everyone should visit it."

   • The park opened on Monday.
   • It is the most beautiful place in town.
   • Everyone should visit it.

   Show solution

   • The park opened on Monday.

   "Most beautiful" expresses an opinion, while "should visit" gives advice. Neither can be proved by opening records.

3. 3. Velg riktig svar.

   What warning sign does the search reveal?

   A post shows a flood photo with the caption, "Our town this morning!" An image search finds the same photo in a report published two years earlier.

   • The photo proves that there is no flooding today.
   • The earlier report proves that the photo was taken today.
   • An old photo is being presented as a new one.

   Show solution

   • An old photo is being presented as a new one.

   A real photo can still mislead people when its caption gives it a different date.

4. 4. Velg riktig svar.

   How does the headline change the meaning of the offer?

   Headline: "Free bus rides for everyone!" Article: "Children under 12 ride free on Saturdays. All other passengers pay the usual fare."

   • It makes a limited offer sound available to everyone.
   • It gives the same limits as the article.
   • It makes the offer sound more limited than it is.

   Show solution

   • It makes a limited offer sound available to everyone.

   Headlines may leave out important limits. The full article explains who actually qualifies.

5. 5. Velg riktig svar.

   How should this story be understood?

   A page reports, "Town elects a talking cat as mayor." The page is clearly labeled, "Humor: All stories on this page are invented."

   • A real report about an unusual event.
   • An invented story meant to amuse readers.
   • An unconfirmed report waiting for official election results.

   Show solution

   • An invented story meant to amuse readers.

   Humor pages can copy the format of news. Their labels help explain the purpose of the stories.

6. 6. Velg riktig svar.

   What does the label tell readers?

   An article praises a company's running shoes. At the top, it says, "Sponsored content: This company paid for the article."

   • The article is an independent test with no company support.
   • The payment proves that every claim about the shoes is false.
   • The article has a financial link to the shoe company.

   Show solution

   • The article has a financial link to the shoe company.

   Paid content may include accurate facts, but its purpose can include promoting a product.

7. 7. Velg riktig svar.

   What does the demand to share add to the claim?

   "This drink cures every cold! SHARE NOW before they delete this!" The post gives no sources or test results.

   • It pressures readers but provides no evidence for the cure.
   • It shows that experts have tested the drink.
   • It proves that someone is hiding a real cure.

   Show solution

   • It pressures readers but provides no evidence for the cure.

   Urgent language can make readers react before checking whether a claim has support.

8. 8. Velg riktig svar.

   What is misleading about the posted photo?

   A post says, "Every seat was taken!" Its photo shows only a crowded front row. The full photo shows many empty seats behind that row.

   • The full photo confirms that every seat was taken.
   • The photo was cropped to hide empty seats.
   • Cropping the photo proves that the whole event was invented.

   Show solution

   • The photo was cropped to hide empty seats.

   Cropping does not have to change the objects in a photo to change the impression it gives.

9. 9. Velg riktig svar.

   What was the actual increase in umbrella sales?

   A shop sold 20 umbrellas on Monday and 30 on Tuesday. A post claims, "Umbrella sales doubled!"

   • 100%
   • 10%
   • 50%

   Compare the increase with the starting number.

   Show solution

   • 50%

   The increase was 10, which is half of 20. Sales would need to reach 40 to double.

10. 10. Velg riktig svar.

    Why does the survey not support the headline?

    A running club asks its own members whether they enjoy running. Most say yes. A website reports, "Most people in our city love running."

    • The survey asked a group already likely to enjoy running.
    • The members' answers show how every city resident feels.
    • The results prove that nobody outside the club enjoys running.

    Show solution

    • The survey asked a group already likely to enjoy running.

    A survey about a whole city needs people with different interests, not just members of one club.

11. 11. Velg riktig svar.

    What other explanation could account for both increases?

    On hot days, a beach shop sells more ice cream and more people go swimming. A post claims, "Buying ice cream makes people swim."

    • The increase in swimming proves that every swimmer bought ice cream.
    • Hot weather may increase both ice cream sales and swimming.
    • The two increases prove that buying ice cream causes swimming.

    Show solution

    • Hot weather may increase both ice cream sales and swimming.

    Two things can happen together because of a shared cause, rather than one causing the other.

12. 12. Velg riktig svar.

    What do these five stories actually provide?

    Five websites say that the local museum is closing. All five quote the same unnamed online post. None has contacted the museum.

    • Five separate checks with the museum.
    • An official announcement from the museum.
    • Several copies of one unconfirmed claim.

    Consider where each website got its information.

    Show solution

    • Several copies of one unconfirmed claim.

    Repeated claims can look well supported even when they all lead back to one source.

13. 13. Velg riktig svar.

    What can readers now say about the cause of the fire?

    An early report blamed an electrical fault. An update says, "Firefighters have not yet found the cause. The earlier statement was a guess."

    • An electrical fault has been confirmed.
    • The cause is still unknown.
    • An electrical fault has been ruled out.

    Show solution

    • The cause is still unknown.

    Removing an unsupported explanation does not prove the opposite. The cause may remain uncertain.

14. 14. Velg riktig svar.

    What would help test whether the course caused the improvement?

    A class takes a memory course, then scores higher on the same test. An ad says the course caused the improvement. No other class was tested.

    • Compare with a similar class that repeats the test without taking the course.
    • Compare only the class's scores before and after the course.
    • Ask only the students whose scores improved whether the course worked.

    Repeating a test might itself help students score higher.

    Show solution

    • Compare with a similar class that repeats the test without taking the course.

    A comparison class helps separate the course's effect from the effect of practicing the test.

15. 15. Velg riktig svar.

    What can we conclude from the information given?

    A post says, "The town is secretly selling its park. Nobody has proved me wrong, so this must be true." It provides no documents or named sources.

    • The claim is definitely true because nobody has disproved it.
    • The claim is definitely false because the post gives no evidence.
    • The post has not shown that the claim is true.

    Show solution

    • The post has not shown that the claim is true.

    An unsupported claim may be true or false. A lack of proof against it is not proof for it.