Free Practice Quiz Question List

3 Comparing and Assessing Sources Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 3 Comparing and Assessing Sources, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

A source’s persuasive purpose alone is enough to conclude that it is less reliable than a neutral-sounding source. True or false?

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

Three articles make the same claim, but each cites the same original report as its only evidence. How many independent pieces of evidence do the articles provide?

Choose one

1 point

A local survey records residents’ views about a new park. Before using it to estimate what people across the town think, what should you check?

A
Assume the survey reflects the whole town because it asked residents directly.
B
Check who was surveyed, how many responded, and whether the sample represents the town.
C
Prefer the survey only if it was conducted by a secondary source.
D
Use the survey to establish what most residents think even if the sample is unknown.

Fill in the blank

1 point

A letter written by someone who experienced an event is a source. A later analysis drawing on several firsthand records is a source.

Choose one

1 point

A chart uses a truncated axis that makes a change look dramatic. What is the best next step before deciding how large the change actually is?

A
Accept the visual difference because charts summarize the data.
B
Compare the chart’s colors and labels, but do not check its scale.
C
Inspect the axes, units, and original data before judging the size of the difference.
D
Assume the chart is misleading whenever its axis does not begin at zero.

Written response

1 point

When comparing two sources, what is the term for the assertion each source makes and supports with evidence?

True or false

1 point

If two reports give different figures, the difference may result from their using different definitions or methods rather than making directly contradictory claims. True or false?

A
True
B
False

Choose all

1 point

Two sources disagree about an issue. Which factors should you compare before deciding whether their claims genuinely conflict? Select all that apply.

A
Whether they address the same question, people, place, and time period
B
Whether they define key terms in the same way
C
Whether they use different evidence, methods, or samples
D
Whether they distinguish observation from interpretation
E
Whether their access, purposes, or perspectives differ

Fill in the blank

1 point

Test scores rose among students in a program, but the available information does not establish that the program the rise.

Choose all

1 point

You are assessing whether a source’s evidence supports its claim. Which checks are useful? Select all that apply.

A
Look for specific, checkable details rather than unsupported assertions.
B
Check whether the source explains where its information came from.
C
Assess whether the evidence is relevant to the question.
D
Notice whether the source acknowledges important limitations or uncertainty.
E
See whether independent sources can corroborate the claim.

Choose one

1 point

A town newsletter says a reading program improved test results, but provides only evidence that participating students’ scores rose. What is the most appropriate next step to assess the claim that the program caused the improvement?

A
Conclude that the program caused the rise because the participants’ scores increased.
B
Examine the methods, original data, and whether a comparison group was used.
C
Accept the claim if the newsletter gives a precise percentage.
D
Reject the claim solely because the newsletter may be promoting the initiative.

Open ended

1 point

A town newsletter says a reading program improved students’ test results, while an independent report calls the evidence inconclusive. Explain how you would compare the sources and state a conclusion that the evidence can support.

Choose one

1 point

You want to understand both one resident’s experience of a new park and how common that view is across town. How should you use an interview with one resident?

A
Use one interview to determine what most residents think.
B
Use the interview for firsthand detail, but seek broader evidence to assess how common that view is.
C
Dismiss the interview because firsthand sources cannot provide useful evidence.
D
Treat the interview as representative if the person speaks confidently.

Written response

1 point

A source offers facts, examples, data, documents, or firsthand observations to support an assertion. What is the general term for that support?

Choose one

1 point

A source was created to advocate for a local policy. How should you assess a factual claim it makes?

A
An advocacy source is unreliable because it aims to persuade.
B
Evaluate the particular claims and the evidence supporting them.
C
A source with a neutral tone is reliable without further checking.
D
A source's intended audience matters more than its evidence.

Written response

1 point

What type of source is a firsthand record, such as a letter, interview, or photograph?

Choose one

1 point

A local survey reports residents' views about a new park. Which check is most important for judging how common those views are across the town?

A
Whether the survey uses vivid descriptions of individual responses.
B
Whether the survey's title suggests that its findings are important.
C
Who was surveyed, how many responded, when it was conducted, and whether the sample represents the town.
D
Whether the survey reports a single clear opinion rather than varied responses.

Choose one

1 point

A chart appears to show a large change in a town statistic. Which approach best helps you judge what the chart actually supports?

A
Check what is measured, the time period, the population or sample, and the chart's axes and units.
B
Accept the chart's visual impression if its labels are easy to read.
C
Compare the colors and shapes before checking what the data measure.
D
Focus on the largest value and ignore the time period.

Choose one

1 point

Which feature most directly helps a reader test whether a source's claim is supported?

A
The claim is repeated several times in the source.
B
The source uses confident language and gives a clear conclusion.
C
The source has a large intended audience.
D
The source gives relevant, specific details that can be checked against their context.

True or false

1 point

A source that is useful for answering one question may be weak for answering a different question.

A
True
B
False