Week 2: Getting Started with Research Quiz

Week 2: Getting Started with Research Quiz

Question 1: When interviewing an elderly relative about family history, what should be your primary approach?

Ask specific yes/no questions to get quick answers
Bring a list of prepared questions but allow for natural conversation
Focus only on names and dates to save time
Record everything but don't take notes during the interview

Question 2: You're starting a four-generation pedigree chart. If you place yourself in position 1, where would your maternal grandmother appear?

Position 5
Position 6
Position 10
Position 12

Question 3: Your great-aunt tells you a family story, but she seems uncertain about some details. What's the best way to handle this information?

Note the uncertainty and plan to verify through other sources
Accept the parts that seem reasonable and ignore the rest
Ask leading questions to help her remember more clearly
Focus the interview on other topics where she's more confident

Question 4: When recording information about an ancestor, which combination of details is most essential for future research?

Full name, approximate birth year, and current city
Full name, birth date and place, marriage date and place
First name, birth year, and occupation
Full name, death date, and spouse's name

Question 5: You found a family Bible that lists births and deaths, but some entries appear to be in different handwriting. How should you treat this source?

Consider it reliable since it's a family Bible
Note the different handwriting and research when entries might have been made
Only use entries that match other known information
Ignore it since the information might not be contemporary

Question 6: Your cousin claims your shared great-grandfather was born in Ireland, but a death certificate says he was born in New York. What's your best next step?

Believe the death certificate since it's an official document
Research both possibilities and look for additional sources
Ask more family members to vote on which is correct
Choose the more interesting option for your family story