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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.

assessment

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.

assessment

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.