Which of these is a statement of opinion?
A. Animal trials in the Middle Ages were presided over by real judges, and cases were argued by attorneys whose job it was to either defend or prosecute the animals.
B. One court record from 1596 makes note of a dolphin trial, but there is no explanation of the crime the dolphins were accused of doing.
C. Though the court’s decision remains a mystery, French grape growers filed a complaint against weevils in 1587 to have the insects removed from their fields.
D. While absurd by modern standards, animal prosecution in the Middle Ages was an attempt by humans to maintain control in an unpredictable world.
The statement of opinion is:
D. While absurd by modern standards, animal prosecution in the Middle Ages was an attempt by humans to maintain control in an unpredictable world.
Explanation: This statement expresses a personal interpretation of the historical practice, suggesting that it was an attempt to maintain control. The use of the word “absurd” indicates a subjective viewpoint, characteristic of opinion. The other options (A, B, and C) present factual information about historical events, without expressing a subjective viewpoint.