Primary and Secondary Sources Quiz

NAME:

What defines a primary source?

• A book written about a historical event years later
• A summary written by a historian
• A document created during or by a participant of the event
• A textbook explanation of historical facts

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a primary source?

• A letter written by a soldier during a war
• A biography written about a historical figure
• A photograph taken during an event
• A diary from World War II

Why are primary sources valuable to historians?

• They cost less to research
• They provide direct, first-hand accounts of events
• They are easier to find than secondary sources
• They are always completely objective

A secondary source is best described as:

• An analysis or interpretation of historical events
• A document written by a government official
• A primary source that has been republished
• An original document from a specific time period

Which of these would be considered a primary source?

• A history textbook
• A scholarly article about World War II
• A personal journal from the Civil War
• An encyclopedia entry

When evaluating whether a source is primary or secondary, which question is MOST important to ask?

• When was the source created?
• What color is the document?
• How long is the document?
• Who published the document?

An oral interview with a former slave would be considered:

• An unreliable source
• A secondary source
• A primary source
• A modern interpretation

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

• A history professor's lecture notes
• A letter written by Abraham Lincoln
• A documentary about World War II
• A biography of Abraham Lincoln

What makes a primary source unique?

• It provides a first-hand account of an event
• It is always published in a book
• It is always written by a famous person
• It is always completely accurate