Chapter 2: Being Accurate, Relying on the Facts

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Accuracy is ______.

A. the most important aspect of your job

B. a waste of time

C. impossible to achieve

D. optional

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What is the goal of good media writers?

A. to entertain the audience

B. to inform the readers

C. to persuade the audience

D. to reinforce the audience’s beliefs

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Is Journalism Such a Picky Field?

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. In the past, a selection process known as ______ allowed media professionals to determine what people would and would not see.

A. sequestering

B. gatekeeping

C. publishing

D. editing

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What is a simple fact check?

A. defining your sources

B. citing your quotes

C. defining your facts

D. examining each fact for inaccuracies

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Basic Fact Checking

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Fake news ______.

A. takes on a variety of meanings

B. does not exist in current times

C. only includes things like hoaxes

D. is easy to distinguish from real news

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. When you are researching a topic or interviewing a source, ______.

A. seek “email” correspondence

B. go by memory as much as possible

C. don’t bother checking your work

D. write as quickly as possible so you don’t forget as much

Learning Objective: 2-5: Define and differentiate between primary and secondary sources, especially in terms of their value and accuracy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Source Documents

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Newspapers, magazines, books, and other publications ______.

A. are too old to be useful in researching your topic

B. are not always infallible, but you know from where they came

C. are not recommended to use by the author of this book

D. no longer exist in the digital age

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legacy Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Official websites that end in .gov or .edu ______.

A. are not trustworthy sites

B. are not as trustworthy as .com, .net, or .us sites

C. can be more trustworthy than .com, .net, or .us sites

D. should be avoided

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Official Websites

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. A simple fact check ______.

A. is rarely necessary

B. is not a good idea

C. is often overlooked

D. can take a significant amount of time

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Basic Fact Checking

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. When it comes to spelling, you should ______.

A. always run a computer-based spell-check

B. always assume the first choice is correct

C. go through it as quickly as possible

D. avoid using the computer-based spell-check

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Check Spelling

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. You need to do a ______ examination of every proper noun in anything you write.

A. word-for-word

B. computer-based spell-check

C. visual

D. letter-by-letter

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Review Proper Nouns

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Look at the ______ in your writing and make sure it’s right.

A. length

B. flow

C. math

D. rhythm

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Look Into the Numbers

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. When you list places for your events, ______.

A. go by memory

B. don’t bother checking the addresses

C. Google them

D. double-check the addresses

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Check Places

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. When you have to write something and attribute it to a source, you should ______.

A. stick to what the person said

B. go by memory

C. make it as powerful a quote as possible

D. paraphrase as often as possible

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Stick to What People Said

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. When you are writing, you need to make sure you ______.

A. make your story sound as interesting as possible no matter what

B. only say what you know for sure

C. enhance concrete details

D. use a lot of adjectives

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Say Only What You Know for Sure

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. In most cases, stating a(n) ______ is the first step toward trouble.

A. absolute

B. truism

C. theory

D. opposite

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Say Only What You Know for Sure

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. The ability to support an argument often rests on ______.

A. hearsay

B. the truth

C. how loud you argue

D. the quality and quantity of your source material

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Find More Than One Good Source for Key Facts

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. A ______ source allows you to take information from someone or something that was present for whatever it is you are researching.

A. secondary

B. primary

C. quantitative

D. qualitative

Learning Objective: 2-5: Define and differentiate between primary and secondary sources, especially in terms of their value and accuracy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Check Places

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. ______ sources retell or interpret what the primary sources provided them.

A. Primary

B. Qualitative

C. Quantitative

D. Secondary

Learning Objective: 2-5: Define and differentiate between primary and secondary sources, especially in terms of their value and accuracy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Check Places

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Wikipedia is an example of a ______ source.

A. quantitative

B. primary

C. secondary

D. qualitative

Learning Objective: 2-5: Define and differentiate between primary and secondary sources, especially in terms of their value and accuracy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Check Places

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. ______ is another internet trend that can cause problems for media outlets.

A. Focus

B. Fame

C. Hoaxes

D. Oddity

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. When you are a “non-denominational skeptic,” you treat all content as______.

A. equal

B. myth

C. fact

D. entertaining

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Become a “Non-Denominational Skeptic”

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. ______ is the most important skill you will learn as you read this book.

A. Writing

B. Accuracy

C. Editing

D. Publishing

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Big Three

Difficulty Level: Easy

24. If you don’t know something for sure, ______.

A. guess

B. skip it

C. look it up

D. ignore it

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Big Three

Difficulty Level: Easy

True/False

1. Accuracy is the most important aspect of your job, regardless of whether you are publishing a newspaper, broadcasting a news report, issuing a press release, or sending out an advertisement.

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. The goal of good media writers is strictly to provide entertainment.

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Is Journalism Such a Picky Field?

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. The more mistakes we make in journalism, the harder it is to maintain trust with our audiences.

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Why Is Journalism Such a Picky Field?

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. In the past, gatekeeping allowed media professionals to determine what people would and would not see.

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Just because a quick Google search reveals dozens of stories on a given topic, it doesn’t always follow that the information is true.

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Links in source information always lead to credible sources.

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. If you find only one source for your story, it’s a pretty safe bet you’re looking at some level of fake news.

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Where information comes from is not important in determining how much credence you should put into a story.

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. It is not necessary to get copies of original documents, because people remember what they have said.

Learning Objective: 2-5: Define and differentiate between primary and secondary sources, especially in terms of their value and accuracy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Source Documents

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. It’s a good idea to get copies of original documents so you can compare what people have told you with what someone wrote.

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Source Documents

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Newspapers, magazines, books, and other publications are not good sources of information for media writers.

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legacy Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. In most cases, .gov and .edu sites can be more trustworthy than .com, .net, or .us sites, which anyone can start.

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Official Websites

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. It’s rarely a good idea to use yourself as a source, even if you’ve become an expert on the topic.

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Your Own Work

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. It is easy to dig into a piece or challenge a statement when that information comes from a source you dislike or that espouses a position with which you disagree.

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Become a “Non-Denominational Skeptic”

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. Spelling errors have no effect on credibility.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Check Spelling

Difficulty Level: Medium

Short Answer

1. Why is accuracy important in media writing?

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What is “fake news?”

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. What are some ways to avoid spreading fake news?

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What are some places to verify information?

Learning Objective: 2-6: Identify places where you can find information and which sources of information are the best to use in specific situations.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Where to Find Your Facts

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. What are some of the basic items you need to look at during a basic fact check?

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Basic Fact Checking

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. Why is journalism so picky?

Learning Objective: 2-1: Understand why you need to be picky as a journalist.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Is Journalism Such a Picky Field?

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Why do media professionals matter now more than ever?

Learning Objective: 2-2: Understand the value media professionals have in the digital age.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. What are the best ways to fight fake news?

Learning Objective: 2-3: Assess ways in which you can fight against fake news.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Why Media Professionals Matter More Than Ever

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What are some tips for basic fact checking?

Learning Objective: 2-4: Apply the basics of fact checking for simple mistakes in areas such as spelling and math.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Basic Fact Checking

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. How do you examine a piece of writing to finalize it?

Learning Objective: 2-7: Examine the broader issues of accuracy, including acknowledging potential biases, sticking exactly to what people said and using multiple sources to verify concepts.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Examining the Broader Issues

Difficulty Level: Medium