Multiple Sources | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	Both sources mention that monarchs migrate to Mexico and gather in oyamel fir forests. Look for facts that appear in both the encyclopedia article AND the blog.
2	From Source B (the blog) only: The 80% population decline, the threat from loss of milkweed plants, and the personal experience of seeing the butterflies ("it looked like the forest was wearing a living blanket").
3	B. Source A gives facts; Source B adds personal experience and current problems Source A is encyclopedic (factual), while Source B combines personal experience with information about threats.
4	Reading both sources gives you a more complete understanding. Source A provides the scientific facts (distance, generations). Source B helps you understand what it's like to see the butterflies AND what threatens them. Together you learn about the migration AND why we should protect it.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. Most of the debris is tiny pieces of plastic, not large visible items Source A mentions "microplastics" and Source B describes it as "a soup of tiny plastic pieces."
2	From Source A only: Specific measurements (80,000 tons, twice the size of Texas, 1.8 trillion pieces), how ocean currents/gyres form the patch, and the definition of microplastics (less than 5mm).
3	Source B adds the personal/emotional perspective (the volunteer cried), the impact on fish (90% contain plastic), and the motivation for cleaning up (so sea turtles and whales don't eat plastic).
4	A. Source A gives facts and data; Source B shares personal experience and emotion
5	Sample: I would use Source A for scientific facts like the size (twice as big as Texas) and amount of plastic (1.8 trillion pieces). I would use Source B to explain why it matters - how fish eat the plastic, how it affects marine life, and how emotional it is to see it firsthand. Together, they give readers facts AND reasons to care.
6	B. The flight covered 120 feet Source A provides the distance measurement; the letter focuses on feelings.
7	From Source B you learn: How Orville felt emotionally ("my heart nearly stopped"), that they had been working toward this for four years, and the personal excitement and joy ("happiest men in the world").
8	B. Both sources confirm that wind ended the final flight When multiple sources agree, it increases confidence that the information is accurate.
9	A historian would want both sources because the encyclopedia gives verified facts and measurements, while Orville's letter gives the personal perspective of what it felt like to make history. Together they provide both factual record and human experience.
10	B. Source B - the fact sheet Source B includes the $15 billion economic value of bee pollination.
11	A. Source A - the news article The 2023 news article provides current data on population recovery.
12	Both sources mention: Pesticides/pesticide exposure and disease/parasites as threats to bees.
13	Sample synthesis: Honeybees are essential to agriculture, pollinating $15 billion worth of U.S. crops each year (Source B). While bee populations have been declining due to multiple threats including parasites and pesticides, recent data shows improvement - colony losses dropped from 45% in 2019 to 37% last year (Source A). However, bees still face significant challenges from climate change, disease, and habitat loss.
14	This claim is incorrect because the passages show that different sources provide different information. For example, the Wright Brothers passages show that one source gives measurements while the other reveals emotions. The garbage patch sources show that one gives scientific data while the other explains the human impact. Multiple sources give us a more complete picture than any single source could.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. The oldest rock is nearly 2 billion years old Source A says "nearly 2 billion years" and Source B mentions rock "almost 2 billion years old."
2	A. Source A - the park guide Source A includes specific measurements: 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, more than a mile deep.
3	B. What it feels like to hike in the canyon and see the rock colors The diary describes personal experience, emotions, and physical details like rock colors.
4	A. Source A provides facts for visitors; Source B shares a personal experience
5	B. Both confirm that the canyon contains extremely ancient rock Both sources reference the same ancient age, supporting each other's accuracy.
6	B. Source B, because it describes the emotional experience and beauty Personal experiences and emotions are often more persuasive than facts alone.
7	B. The canyon has both a major river and smaller creeks Reading both sources reveals multiple water features exist in the canyon.
8	B. The diary reveals how people experience and feel about the canyon
9	See rubric and sample response below.
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric (Synthesis)

Score	Criteria
2	Includes at least one detail from EACH source AND combines them into a coherent paragraph that shows understanding of the topic
1	Includes information from both sources but doesn't effectively combine them, OR only draws from one source
0	Does not include information from the sources or shows misunderstanding

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
The Grand Canyon is one of the world's most impressive natural wonders. It stretches 277 miles long and more than a mile deep, with rock layers nearly 2 billion years old (Source A). Hiking to the bottom allows visitors to actually touch this ancient rock and see the stunning layers of red, orange, and purple stretching toward the sky (Source B). Both the incredible size of the canyon and the personal experience of being inside it show why 6 million people visit each year.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Source Evaluation)

Score	Criteria
2	Clearly explains what EACH source contributes uniquely AND explains how together they provide more complete understanding
1	Explains the value of multiple sources but doesn't clearly distinguish what each contributes, OR only discusses one source
0	Does not explain the value of multiple sources or misunderstands the question

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
Reading both sources gives me a better understanding because each contributes something different. Source A (the park guide) gives me facts and numbers - the exact size of the canyon, how many people visit, and when it's open. Source B (the diary) tells me what it actually FEELS like to be there - the colors, the physical challenge, and the emotional impact of touching ancient rock. Together, I understand both the scientific significance of the Grand Canyon AND why it moves people who experience it.

Quick Reference: Source Comparison