A letter has no writer's name, and you have no other clues about its maker. The answer to 'Who wrote it?' is still unknown.

Circle one:   True   False

A newspaper names Patel as its publisher and Sami as its editor. An article about a 1962 storm has the byline 'Written by reporter Jo Chen.' Who wrote the article?

• Patel, the publisher who issued the newspaper
• Sami, the editor named on the newspaper
• Jo Chen, named in the article's byline

Nora finds a private diary about a fair, a log of July rainfall measurements, and a poster saying 'Join the army now.' Which most clearly asks people to act?

• The army poster asking people to join
• The private diary describing a day at the fair
• The weather log listing July rainfall measurements

Nora knows who wrote a letter and when it was written. Which question asks about its purpose?

• Where is the letter kept today?
• How many lines are on the page?
• Why was the letter written?

A poster asks people to donate warm coats. It can help you study what its maker wanted people to do, even if you still need to check its other claims.

Circle one:   True   False

A diary from an event and a history book written later can both be useful, even if their accounts differ.

Circle one:   True   False

A soldier's diary written just after a battle and a history book written 100 years later must describe it in exactly the same way.

Circle one:   True   False

One parade account was written that evening. Another was written from memory 40 years later. What does the recording time help you consider?

• The later account must be false in every detail.
• The later writer's memories may have changed.
• The evening account must be accurate in every detail.

A queen pays a painter to show her taller than she really is. The painter follows her request. A visitor uses the portrait as proof of her height. What did the visitor overlook?

• The fact that a painter made it proves the shown height is exact.
• The queen asked the painter to change her shown height.
• The queen's payment proves the painter recorded her real height.

After a train accident in 1869, a company boss writes a public letter saying the railway is perfectly safe. Which question helps Zara examine a possible purpose?

• Might the boss want passengers to keep trusting the railway?
• Does the letter's old date prove the railway had no dangers?
• Does the boss's job prove he cannot make mistakes about safety?