Grade 7 Source Check worksheet
from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
How to explain it
- A trustworthy source has a qualified author, a recent date and evidence. Watch for bias.
- A primary source comes from the time or person involved. A secondary source explains or summarizes others.
- Quote exact words, paraphrase in your own words and always cite. Plagiarism is passing off others’ work as yours.
Example: Which is a primary source about school life in the 1920s: a diary written by a student in 1925, or a recent textbook? Primary sources come from the time itself. The diary was written in the 1920s by a student. Answer: A diary written by a student in 1925
Question 1
Which is a secondary source?
- A recorded interview with an eyewitness
- A photo taken at the event
- A magazine article that summarizes several scientists' studies
- A letter written by someone who was there
A magazine article that summarizes several scientists' studies
Hint: A secondary source describes or explains information that others gathered first-hand.
Question 2
Which detail is NOT usually part of a citation for a book?
- The year it was published
- The colour of the cover
- The title
- The author's name
The colour of the cover
Hint: A citation includes what someone needs to find the exact source: who, what, when and where.
Question 3
You're researching the latest advice on bike helmet safety. Which detail makes a source less useful for this topic?
- It comes from a recognized safety organization.
- It lists the sources it used.
- It names the author and their expertise.
- It was published 25 years ago.
It was published 25 years ago.
Hint: For “latest advice,” how recent the source is matters a lot.
Question 4
Which statement is a fact?
- Honeybees have six legs.
- Bees are the most interesting insects.
- Honey tastes better than jam.
- Everyone should keep bees.
Honeybees have six legs.
Hint: A fact can be checked and proven. Opinions use words like “most interesting,” “better” or “should.”
Question 5
When you use an author's exact words in your report, what must you do?
- Change a few words so they look like yours
- Put them in bold letters
- Nothing, as long as the passage is short
- Put them in quotation marks and cite the source
Put them in quotation marks and cite the source
Hint: Exact words always need quotation marks AND credit, no matter how short.
Question 6
A blog post says, “Studies show this game improves memory,” but doesn't name any studies. What is the best response?
- Ignore all research about games forever.
- Look for the actual studies before trusting the claim.
- Trust it, since it mentions studies.
- Share it, because memory is important.
Look for the actual studies before trusting the claim.
Hint: “Studies show” means little if you can't check the studies yourself.
Question 7
A website claiming that sugary drinks are healthy is paid for by a soft drink company. What is the biggest concern?
- The website is probably too old.
- The website uses too many photos.
- The source may be biased because it profits from the claim.
- The author isn't famous enough.
The source may be biased because it profits from the claim.
Hint: Ask: who benefits if readers believe this? A source that profits from a claim may be biased.
Question 8
Why do writers cite their sources?
- To make the writing longer
- To prove they used the internet
- To avoid writing a conclusion
- To give credit and let readers check the information
To give credit and let readers check the information
Hint: Citing shows where ideas came from, so others can find and check them.
Question 9
What is plagiarism?
- Using a dictionary to check spelling
- Quoting a source and citing it
- Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own
- Summarizing a source and giving credit
Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own
Hint: Plagiarism is about taking credit for work that isn't yours.
Question 10
Sort each statement: fact or opinion?
Sort into: 📋 Fact · 💭 Opinion
- 🐱Cats make better pets than dogs.
- 📏A metre is 100 centimetres.
- 🌙The Moon orbits Earth.
- ❄️Winter is the best season.
- 🕷️Spiders have eight legs.
- 🏒Hockey is more exciting than soccer.
📋 Fact: A metre is 100 centimetres., The Moon orbits Earth., Spiders have eight legs. · 💭 Opinion: Cats make better pets than dogs., Winter is the best season., Hockey is more exciting than soccer.
Hint: A fact can be checked and proven. An opinion is what someone thinks or feels, and people can disagree.
Answer key
- 1. A magazine article that summarizes several scientists' studies
- 2. The colour of the cover
- 3. It was published 25 years ago.
- 4. Honeybees have six legs.
- 5. Put them in quotation marks and cite the source
- 6. Look for the actual studies before trusting the claim.
- 7. The source may be biased because it profits from the claim.
- 8. To give credit and let readers check the information
- 9. Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own
- 10. 📋 Fact: A metre is 100 centimetres., The Moon orbits Earth., Spiders have eight legs. · 💭 Opinion: Cats make better pets than dogs., Winter is the best season., Hockey is more exciting than soccer.
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback.