Research & Citing Sources — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A candy company publishes an article claiming sugar is completely healthy for children. What should a researcher consider about this source?
A) It must be true because a company wrote it
B) The source may be biased because the company profits from selling sugar
C) Company articles are always the most reliable sources
D) The article should be ignored because companies never tell the truth
A candy company earns money by selling sugar, so it has a financial reason to downplay health risks. This conflict of interest makes the source biased and unreliable for a research report.
2. An article uses words like "amazing," "unbelievable," and "everyone agrees." What does this language suggest?
A) The article is factual because the words are positive
B) The article may contain opinion or exaggeration rather than balanced facts
C) The author is an expert who is very excited about the topic
D) All good research articles use strong emotional words
Words like "amazing," "unbelievable," and "everyone agrees" are emotional and absolute, which signals opinion or exaggeration. Reliable sources use measured language and back up claims with evidence.
3. Which strategy BEST helps a student identify bias in a source?
A) Reading only the title and the first sentence
B) Checking if the website uses colorful graphics
C) Asking who wrote the source, why they wrote it, and who pays for the site
D) Counting how many pages the source has
Knowing the author, their purpose, and who funds the site reveals possible motives for slanting information. These three questions uncover whether the source aims to inform or to persuade.
4. Two articles discuss the same event. Article A presents both sides with evidence, while Article B only shows one side and attacks the other. Which is more appropriate for a research report?
A) Article B because it has a strong opinion
B) Article A because it presents balanced evidence from multiple viewpoints
C) Both articles are equally useful because they cover the same event
D) Neither article because researchers should only use books
Article A presents both sides with evidence, allowing readers to weigh the facts and form their own opinions. Article B attacks the other side instead of using evidence, which shows bias and makes it less suitable for research.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A source has bias when it unfairly favors one side of an issue over another.
Bias means the source unfairly favors one side, often by leaving out facts that support the other view. Recognizing bias helps you choose more balanced sources for your research.
2. An author's purpose is the reason he or she wrote the text, such as to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Understanding whether an author wrote to inform, persuade, or entertain helps you judge how trustworthy the information is. A persuasive purpose may mean the author left out facts that weaken their argument.
3. Words that appeal to emotions rather than facts are called loaded language.
Loaded language is designed to trigger an emotional reaction rather than present facts. When you spot loaded words in a source, it is a warning sign that the author may be trying to manipulate your opinion.
4. A neutral source presents facts without trying to change the reader's opinion.
A neutral source sticks to the facts and presents multiple viewpoints without pushing the reader toward one conclusion. These sources are the most reliable for research because they let you form your own opinion.
5. Advertisements are examples of sources with a strong bias because they want you to buy something.
Advertisements exist to convince you to buy a product, so they only highlight positives and hide negatives. This strong bias makes ads unreliable as research sources.