CPP Fact-Checking & Reference Verification

Question 1

What is the primary goal of fact-checking during proofreading?

Accepted Answer

Verifying the accuracy of factual claims, names, dates, and figures

Answer

Improving sentence flow and readability

Answer

Correcting grammar and punctuation errors

Answer

Ensuring the document follows the client's preferred style guide

Question 2

Which of the following is considered a primary source when fact-checking?

Accepted Answer

The original published research study or official government record

Answer

An encyclopedia article summarizing a historical event

Answer

A blog post citing original research

Answer

A textbook chapter discussing a scientific concept

Question 3

A proofreader finds a quoted statistic in a document with no citation. What is the most appropriate first step?

Accepted Answer

Flag the statistic as unverified and note that a citation or source is needed

Answer

Delete the statistic since it cannot be verified

Answer

Rewrite the sentence to remove the specific figure

Answer

Search online and replace the figure with whatever statistic appears most commonly

Question 4

When a proofreader suspects a historical date in a manuscript is incorrect, what is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Cross-reference the date against at least two reliable sources before querying the author

Answer

Correct the date immediately based on general knowledge

Answer

Ignore it unless the client specifically requested fact-checking

Answer

Remove the date entirely to avoid potential errors

Question 5

Which type of error is fact-checking primarily designed to catch?

Accepted Answer

Substantive inaccuracies such as incorrect names, figures, or factual claims

Answer

Typographical errors such as transposed letters

Answer

Inconsistent hyphenation throughout a document

Answer

Passive voice construction and wordy phrasing

Question 6

When fact-checking a document about a living public figure, which source is generally considered most reliable?

Accepted Answer

An official organizational biography or verified institutional website

Answer

The subject's personal social media profile

Answer

A Wikipedia article about the individual

Answer

A recent news article from an unnamed reporter

Question 7

What does 'source attribution' mean in the context of proofreading and fact-checking?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring that all factual claims, quotes, and data are linked to identifiable, citable sources

Answer

Crediting the proofreader's contribution in the acknowledgments section

Answer

Applying the correct citation format as specified by the style guide

Answer

Checking that sources appear in alphabetical order in the bibliography