Free Practice Quiz Question List

5 Evaluating Sources Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 5 Evaluating Sources, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

Choose one

1 point

A researcher makes a claim about nutrition, but most of their training is in economics. What is the most important question to ask when assessing their expertise?

A
Whether the author has a prestigious title, regardless of the claim
B
Whether the author's expertise is relevant to the specific claim
C
Whether the author works for a familiar institution
D
Whether the author has published a large number of pieces

True or false

1 point

A claim is trustworthy simply because it was published by a well-known institution. True or false?

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

What kind of judgment is source credibility, rather than a permanent label attached to an author or publisher?

Fill in the blank

1 point

To assess reliability, a reader should be able to inspect how a claim was reached through .

Choose one

1 point

A company promotes a product it sells. What should this potential conflict of interest lead a reader to do?

A
Treat the claim as false without further investigation
B
Assume the claim is correct because the company knows its product
C
Examine the evidence and methods carefully
D
Ignore the source's purpose if it cites a study

Fill in the blank

1 point

A source may aim to inform, , sell, entertain, or advocate.

Choose all

1 point

Select all features that can help a reader inspect how a source reached its claims.

A
The source explains the methods used to reach its conclusions
B
The source includes citations, whether or not they support its claims
C
The source provides evidence that can be inspected
D
The source uses a confident tone
E
The source has relevant review or editing

Written response

1 point

For what kind of topic is current information essential? Enter the topic category.

True or false

1 point

Peer review guarantees that every conclusion in a scholarly study is correct. True or false?

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A claim appears on a commercial website. How should you use the publisher's identity when deciding whether to rely on the claim?

A
Accept it if the publisher is a familiar news organization
B
Reject it if the publisher is an advocacy group
C
Accept it if the publisher is an established scholarly journal
D
Treat the publisher as context and examine the specific source and claim

Choose all

1 point

A supplement company's website claims its product improves memory. Select all checks that would help evaluate this claim.

A
Check whether the cited studies tested the same product and outcome as the claim
B
Rely on the company's expertise about its own product instead of checking studies
C
Look for well-designed studies supporting the claim
D
Check whether independent researchers or health authorities reach similar conclusions
E
Treat an expert endorsement as sufficient proof

Choose one

1 point

You are researching the historical origins of a long-established idea. How should you assess an older source's publication date?

A
Reject any source published more than five years ago
B
Consider whether the question is historical or foundational, or whether the topic changes rapidly
C
Prefer the newest source regardless of the topic
D
Ignore publication dates if the author is an expert

Open ended

1 point

A company's website claims that its supplement improves memory and links to one study. Describe how you would evaluate whether the claim is credible for this use.

Choose one

1 point

An author with advanced training in chemistry makes a claim about a recent economic policy. What is the best first step in evaluating the author's authority for this claim?

A
Accept the claim because the author has advanced credentials in any field.
B
Check whether the author's expertise matches the specific claim.
C
Rely on the author's institutional affiliation instead of assessing the claim.
D
Reject the claim because no author can be an expert.

Choose one

1 point

A familiar public agency publishes a claim outside its usual area of work. How should you use the agency's identity when evaluating the claim?

A
Treat the claim as accurate if the publisher is familiar.
B
Reject the claim if the publisher is an advocacy group.
C
Use the publisher's identity as context, then assess the source and its evidence.
D
Assume the publisher's reputation proves the author has relevant expertise.

True or false

1 point

A source has a financial interest in persuading readers. That interest is a reason to examine its evidence carefully, but it does not by itself prove the source's claim false.

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

For rapidly changing topics, what does the material say is essential?

Choose one

1 point

A peer-reviewed study makes a conclusion that matters to your research. What is the most appropriate interpretation of its peer-review status?

A
It can strengthen confidence, but conclusions still need to be assessed.
B
It establishes that every conclusion in the study is correct.
C
It makes checking the study's methods unnecessary.
D
It guarantees that independent sources will reach the same conclusion.

Written response

1 point

Complete the idea: A source's credibility is a reasoned judgment about how well it supports a ____.

Choose one

1 point

You are researching the origins of a long-established scientific concept and find a well-supported older source. How should you assess its age?

A
Treat it as unreliable because it is not the newest source available.
B
Use it only if it has been updated within the last year.
C
Assume its age makes it more reliable for any question.
D
Consider whether it suits the question; older sources can help with historical or foundational questions.