CAASPP Research Skills 2

Question 1

A student finds a website with no author listed and no publication date. What should the student do before using it as a source?

Accepted Answer

Check if the information can be verified by another credible source

Answer

When a source lacks an author or date, you should cross-check the information with another credible source before using it.

Question 2

Which search strategy would BEST help a student narrow down too many search results about climate change?

Accepted Answer

Add specific terms like 'climate change effects on California agriculture'

Answer

Adding more specific keywords narrows search results to the most relevant information.

Question 3

What does it mean to 'synthesize' information from multiple sources?

Accepted Answer

Combine information from different sources to form a new, unified understanding

Answer

Synthesizing means combining ideas from multiple sources to build a new, cohesive understanding of a topic.

Question 4

A student is writing about the history of the Golden Gate Bridge. Which source would provide the MOST reliable historical facts?

Accepted Answer

An encyclopedia article from a reputable publisher

Answer

Reputable encyclopedia articles are fact-checked and written by experts, making them reliable for historical information.

Question 5

When taking notes for a research project, why is it important to write down the source information immediately?

Accepted Answer

To avoid accidentally plagiarizing and to properly cite the source

Answer

Recording source information immediately prevents plagiarism and ensures you can cite references accurately.

CAASPP - California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Practice Test