Texas History Test Research & Evidence-Based Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which institution serves as the primary repository for Texas government records and historical documents?
- Texas Historical Commission
- Texas State Library and Archives Commission (Correct answer)
- Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
- Texas General Land Office
Correct answer: Texas State Library and Archives Commission
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is the official repository for Texas government records and historical documents.
Question 2: A researcher studying the Texas Revolution finds a diary written by a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. This source is best classified as a:
- Secondary source
- Tertiary source
- Primary source (Correct answer)
- Bibliographic source
Correct answer: Primary source
A diary written by a participant in a historical event is a primary source because it provides firsthand, contemporary evidence.
Question 3: Oral histories collected from elderly Tejano residents recounting life in early 20th-century South Texas are most valuable to historians because they:
- Are more reliable than written documents
- Capture perspectives often absent from official written records (Correct answer)
- Always corroborate government census data
- Replace the need for archival research
Correct answer: Capture perspectives often absent from official written records
Oral histories often preserve the experiences and viewpoints of communities underrepresented in official written records.
Question 4: When evaluating a historical source about Texas annexation, a researcher should first consider:
- The length of the document
- The author's identity, perspective, and potential biases (Correct answer)
- Whether the source agrees with the textbook narrative
- The document's physical condition
Correct answer: The author's identity, perspective, and potential biases
Identifying the author's identity, perspective, and potential biases is foundational to evaluating the reliability of any historical source.
Question 5: Archaeological excavations at San Antonio missions have provided evidence that primarily helps historians understand:
- Spanish diplomatic correspondence with Mexico City
- Daily life and material culture of mission residents (Correct answer)
- Military strategy during the Texas Revolution
- Immigration patterns from the United States
Correct answer: Daily life and material culture of mission residents
Archaeological evidence from mission sites reveals the material culture, diet, and daily practices of the people who lived there.
Question 6: Which practice best demonstrates corroboration when researching the causes of the Texas Revolution?
- Relying on the most recently published book about the topic
- Comparing accounts from Mexican government officials, Anglo settlers, and Tejano leaders (Correct answer)
- Using only sources written by Texan participants
- Selecting the source with the most footnotes
Correct answer: Comparing accounts from Mexican government officials, Anglo settlers, and Tejano leaders
Corroboration requires comparing multiple sources from different perspectives to identify agreements and contradictions in the historical record.
Question 7: The Portal to Texas History, a digital repository managed by the University of North Texas Libraries, is primarily useful for researchers because it:
- Provides access to digitized newspapers, photographs, and maps from Texas history (Correct answer)
- Offers peer-reviewed journal articles about Texas politics
- Contains classified state government records
- Publishes new historical interpretations of Texas events
Correct answer: Provides access to digitized newspapers, photographs, and maps from Texas history
The Portal to Texas History provides free online access to digitized primary sources including historic Texas newspapers, photographs, and maps.
Texas History Test Research & Evidence-Based Practice 2
Which institution serves as the primary repository for Texas government records and historical documents?