Research & Citing Sources — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which source would be MOST reliable for a report about the water cycle?
A) A classmate's notes from last year
B) A science textbook published by a major educational company
C) A personal blog post titled "My Thoughts on Rain"
D) A social media post with a colorful diagram but no author listed
A science textbook is written by subject experts, reviewed for accuracy, and specifically addresses the water cycle in an educational context — making it the most appropriate source.
2. A student finds two websites about sharks. Website A was written by a marine biologist at a university. Website B has no author and was last updated six years ago. Which should the student use?
A) Website B because it has been online longer
B) Both websites equally because all websites are reliable
C) Website A because it has a credible author and likely current information
D) Neither website because online sources are never reliable
Website A has an identifiable, credible source (a marine research institute) and is current. Website B lacks authorship and is outdated — both are reliability warning signs.
3. Which of the following is a common research mistake?
A) Using three different sources to check a fact
B) Recording the author and title of every source you use
C) Copying a sentence from a website and forgetting to add quotation marks
D) Paraphrasing a paragraph in your own words with a citation
Copying text without quotation marks and a citation is plagiarism. The other options — using multiple sources, checking dates, and creating a bibliography — are all good research practices.
4. Why should a student avoid using only one source for an entire research project?
A) One source always contains false information
B) A single source may have errors or a limited viewpoint
C) Teachers only accept reports with pictures from multiple sites
D) Using one source makes the report too short to read
Any single source can contain errors, gaps, or bias. Using multiple credible sources allows a researcher to verify facts and present a more complete, balanced perspective.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A website with a .org domain is run by an organization and may still have a specific viewpoint.
Affiliation with a reputable organization — university, government, museum, or respected publisher — is a strong indicator of a source's credibility.
2. An outdated source may contain information that is no longer accurate.
Accurate sources are supported by evidence, data, or citations. Opinion-based sources that lack supporting evidence may not be reliable for factual research.
3. Checking whether the author has expertise in the subject helps determine if a source is credible.
Expertise means the author has relevant knowledge, training, or experience in the topic. Authors with demonstrated expertise are more credible than those without.
4. A source that tries to sell you a product is likely biased rather than informational.
Biased sources present information selectively to support a particular viewpoint. Recognizing bias helps researchers seek multiple perspectives and find balanced information.
5. Cross-referencing means comparing facts across multiple sources to check for accuracy.
If multiple credible sources agree on a fact, it is more likely to be accurate. Discrepancies between sources are a signal to investigate further.