Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources

Which of the following correctly defines a primary source?

• A primary source is an original document or firsthand account.
• A primary source is a collection of various documents.
• A primary source is a secondary interpretation of data.
• A primary source is a summary of historical events.

Which of the following is an example of a primary source?

• An encyclopedia entry about ancient Rome

• A modern analysis of Shakespeare's plays

• A textbook summarizing World War II

• A diary written during the Civil War

What distinguishes a primary source from a secondary source?

• A primary source is always published, while a secondary source is not.

• A primary source provides direct evidence, while a secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources.

• A primary source is written by historians, while a secondary source is written by eyewitnesses.

• A primary source is less reliable than a secondary source.

Which of the following would NOT be considered a primary source for a historical event?

• A letter from a participant in the event

• A photograph taken during the event

• A recent documentary about the event

• A newspaper article written at the time of the event

Which of the following correctly defines a secondary sourcee?

• A secondary source is a firsthand account of an event.
• A secondary source is a primary document from a historical figure.
• A secondary source is a document that analyzes or interprets primary sources.
• A secondary source is a collection of original artifacts.

What does it mean to put something in context in historical analysis?

• To provide a summary of the event.

• To describe the event in detail.

• To place an event within its broader historical, social, or political environment.

• To compare the event with current happenings.

A fossil is a...

• primary source

• secondary source

An autobiography (book written by the person about themselves) would be a...

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

At school we use textbooks to learn about the history of the United States. When we use textbooks, what are we using?

• Primary
• Secondary

My cousins and I found an old wedding dress in our attic. My father said it belonged to our great-grandmother.

This is an example of a ___________________ source.

• primary

• secondary

Answer explanation

The question is asking about what kind of source the old wedding dress found in the attic is. A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. In this case, the old wedding dress is a physical object from the time of your great-grandmother, making it a primary source.