CA Advanced Techniques & Methods 3

Question 1

In the context of archival description, what does 'accrual' refer to in a finding aid?

Accepted Answer

Additional materials added to an existing archival collection after initial processing

Answer

An accrual is a subsequent addition of records to an archival collection, and finding aids must be updated to reflect new accruals.

Question 2

Which of the following BEST describes macro-appraisal as a methodology?

Accepted Answer

Appraising records based on the functional context and societal importance of the creating body rather than document-by-document review

Answer

Macro-appraisal, developed by archivists such as Terry Cook, focuses on appraising the functions and structures of organizations rather than examining individual records.

Question 3

A 'dark archive' in digital preservation primarily functions to:

Accepted Answer

Preserve digital content as a backup that is not publicly accessible but ensures long-term survivability

Answer

A dark archive stores preserved digital content inaccessible to the public, serving as an insurance copy to ensure long-term survival against repository failure.

Question 4

When an archivist performs a 'survey' of an uncataloged collection, the primary objective is to:

Accepted Answer

Gather enough information about scope, volume, condition, and content to make processing and appraisal decisions

Answer

A survey produces a preliminary assessment that informs decisions about processing priority, resource allocation, appraisal, and access restrictions.

Question 5

Which of the following is a key characteristic of born-digital records that distinguishes them from digitized analog records?

Accepted Answer

Born-digital records never existed in a physical format and may carry embedded metadata from their creation environment

Answer

Born-digital records originate in digital form and often contain embedded metadata (author, creation date, revision history) not present in scanned analog documents.

(CA) Certified Archivist Certification Practice Test

(CA) Certified Archivist Certification Practice Test

CA Advanced Techniques & Methods 3