CMAS CMAS Research and Critical Thinking Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?
- A primary source is more recent; a secondary source is older
- A primary source is created directly by someone who experienced an event; a secondary source analyzes or interprets primary sources (Correct answer)
- A primary source is longer; a secondary source is shorter
- A primary source is a book; a secondary source is a website
Correct answer: A primary source is created directly by someone who experienced an event; a secondary source analyzes or interprets primary sources
Primary sources are firsthand accounts (letters, photographs, eyewitness reports) while secondary sources interpret or analyze those primary sources.
Question 2: A student is comparing two informational texts about water conservation. One says 'water usage has increased' and the other says 'water usage has decreased.' What should the student do first?
- Accept the first article read as the truth
- Check the date, source credibility, and specific data each article uses (Correct answer)
- Ignore both articles and start over
- Average the two claims to find the truth
Correct answer: Check the date, source credibility, and specific data each article uses
When sources conflict, examining publication dates, author credibility, and the specific data and methodology each uses helps determine which is more reliable.
Question 3: What does 'point of view' mean when analyzing an informational text?
- The font and layout style of the text
- The perspective or stance the author brings to the topic, which may shape how information is presented (Correct answer)
- The number of paragraphs in the text
- The reading level of the text
Correct answer: The perspective or stance the author brings to the topic, which may shape how information is presented
An author's point of view is their perspective on a topic, which can influence which information they include, emphasize, or omit.
Question 4: Which reading skill involves making a logical conclusion based on information in the text and your own background knowledge?
- Skimming
- Scanning
- Inferencing (Correct answer)
- Summarizing
Correct answer: Inferencing
Inferencing means drawing conclusions that are not directly stated in the text by combining textual clues with prior knowledge.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'works cited' or 'bibliography' page at the end of a research report?
- To list questions the student still has after finishing the report
- To provide a complete list of sources used so readers can verify the information (Correct answer)
- To summarize the main argument of the report one more time
- To include extra information that did not fit in the report
Correct answer: To provide a complete list of sources used so readers can verify the information
A works cited page lists every source used in the report, giving credit to original authors and allowing readers to locate and verify the sources.
Question 6: A student reads an article claiming that a new study proves a certain food cures disease. What critical thinking question should the student ask?
- How long is the article?
- Who conducted the study, how large was it, and has it been replicated by other researchers? (Correct answer)
- Is the article well-illustrated with pictures?
- Does the article have an interesting title?
Correct answer: Who conducted the study, how large was it, and has it been replicated by other researchers?
Critical readers evaluate studies by asking about the researchers, sample size, and whether findings have been confirmed by independent research.
CMAS CMAS Research and Critical Thinking Skills 2
What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?