What does a historian do-quiz

What is the main job of a historian?

• To write fictional stories about the past

• To study and explain what happened in the past

• To make predictions about the future

• To create new inventions

What do historians use to learn about the past?

• Evidence

• Predictions

• Myths only

• Future events

Which of the following is a primary source?

• A textbook about the American Revolution

• A letter written by George Washington

• A history website made last year

• A novel about the Civil War

Which of the following is a secondary source?

• An ancient coin

• A diary from a soldier

• A recent history book

• A speech written by Abraham Lincoln

Why do historians use both primary and secondary sources?

• To compare different points of view

• To make their work harder

• To replace old evidence

• To ignore other opinions

A historian studying a battlefield map from the Civil War is using:

• Primary source evidence

• Secondary source evidence

• An opinion

• A legend

Which question would a historian MOST likely ask?

• What is my favorite food?

• How did this event change people’s lives?

• Where should I go on vacation?

• What time does the movie start?

Why do historians ask questions about the past?

• To stay busy

• To understand cause and effect

• To confuse people

• To make new rules

Which of the following is NOT an example of a primary source?

• A newspaper article written the day after an event

• A photograph from the time period

• A memoir written years later

• A history textbook

What does the word interpret mean in history?

• To ignore information

• To explain the meaning of evidence

• To collect coins

• To memorize dates