Learning in a digital age/LiDA104/Fact checking/Quiz

The questions which follow provide a basic knowledge test of selected concepts covered in this learning pathway: Web literacy for fact-checking.

The questions published at the end of each learning pathway are re-used for the knowledge test for learners interested in earning a digital badge or certificate of participation for the Critical Media Literacies and Associated Digital Skills (LiDA104) micro-course. Please consult the Certify participation page for more information.

True - false questions

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false:

• A biography is an example of a primary source of information.
  • True
    • No. This is a secondary source, because it is not written by the person who is the subject of the biography. (Autobiography is a primary source, however.)
  • False
    • That's right.
• Google Books is a good starting point for checking the real source of quotations.
  • True
    • Yes. This can be a useful tool.
  • False
    • No. Google Books can be a useful tool for this purpose.
• Spoke.com is well-respected fact-checking site.
  • True
    • No. Check again what the real name of the fact-checking website is - it is similar to this.
  • False
    • Well-spotted. The real name of the website is snopes.com.
• You can use images as the search object on Google to find the image's source online or similar images.
  • True
    • Yes, you can.
  • False
    • No. This is one of the recommended ways of 'going upstream' discussed in this learning pathway.

Multiple choice questions

• Which of the following is a SECONDARY source of information? (Select one.)
  • Eye-witness account recorded in a diary
    • No, this is a primary source. Look back at the ‘Go Upstream’ page to find out why.
  • Academic article presenting the findings of a research project
    • No, this is a primary source. Look back at the ‘Go Upstream’ page to find out why.
  • Academic journal article commenting on someone else’s scientific research
    • Yes, this is a secondary source.
  • A piece of creative writing
    • No, this is a primary source. Look back at the ‘Go Upstream’ page to find out why.
• Which of the following are generally regarded as reputable fact-checking sites? (Tick all that apply - there are two correct answers.)
  • Politifact
    • Yes, this is fact-checking site for US news.
  • FactsCan
    • Yes, this is a fact-checking site relating to Canadian federal politics.
  • GlobalVoices
    • No, this is a news site for citizen journalists, not a fact-checking site.
  • Truth Facts
    • No, this is a humorous site.
• Which of the following is an example of ‘sponsored content’? (Select one.)
  • A newspaper pays a news agency for the right to publish the agency’s article on the newspaper’s website
    • No - this is an example of syndication, a service provided by news agencies.
  • A company pays a newspaper to place a link on the newspaper’s website, linking to an article that directly or indirectly promotes the company’s products
    • Yes, this is an example of sponsored content - which should be labelled as such on the web page.
  • A newspaper’s review of a particular product
    • No. This is not ‘sponsored content’, as it is the newspaper’s own article, not a link to the work of an outside organisation. (However, the newspaper may have received some benefit for writing the article - for example a free holiday for a journalist reviewing a resort. Reputable newspapers should declare these benefits.)
  • A large advertisement for an airline, next to a genuine newspaper article about the benefits of foreign travel
    • No. The airline may have paid a lot of money to have their advertisement in such a prominent position, but it is only ‘sponsored content’ if the advertisement itself gives the appearance of being a newspaper article.
• You can check for web page changes and disappearances over time using which of the following tools? (Tick one.)
  • Google Snippets
    • That’s not right. Look back at the ‘Google tips’ page to learn more about Snippets.
  • Google Scholar
    • That’s not right. Look back at the ‘Google tips’ page to learn more about Google Scholar.
  • A domain search
    • That’s not right. Look back at the ‘Read laterally’ page to learn more about domain searches.
  • The Wayback Machine
    • Yes, you’re right. This is run by the Internet Archive.