□ Genealogy Knowledge Pre-Test □
Discover your current genealogy knowledge level and find the right starting point for your research journey.
Instructions: This 12-question assessment will help determine if our Beginning Genealogy Course is right for you, or if you might be ready for more advanced topics. Answer each question based on your current knowledge.
Course Foundation
Question 1: What should typically be your first step when starting genealogy research?
Search online genealogy databases
Interview family members and gather home records
Visit the local genealogy library
Order DNA tests for yourself and relatives
General Knowledge
Question 2: What is a primary source in genealogy?
A record created at or near the time of the event it documents
The first record you find about a person
A record that contains the most information
Any official government document
Common Misconception
Question 3: True or False: Most family history research can be completed entirely online within a few weeks.
True - online databases contain most historical records
False - comprehensive research requires multiple sources and methods
True - if you have the right subscription services
False - but only because some records aren't digitized yet
Course Foundation
Question 4: When you find conflicting information about an ancestor in different records, what should you do?
Choose the information from the most official-looking source
Document all sources and research further to resolve the conflict
Go with the most recent record since it's probably more accurate
Average the conflicting information to find a middle ground
General Knowledge
Question 5: When searching online genealogy databases, which Boolean operator would help you find records containing "Smith" OR "Smyth"?
AND (Smith AND Smyth)
OR (Smith OR Smyth)
NOT (Smith NOT Smyth)
NEAR (Smith NEAR Smyth)
Common Misconception
Question 6: Which statement about family oral traditions is most accurate?
They are usually completely accurate since they're passed down carefully
They should be ignored since they can't be proven
They are valuable research clues but should be verified with documentation
They are only reliable for events within the last 50 years
Course Foundation
Question 7: What is the most important reason to cite your sources in genealogy research?
To make your research look more professional
To allow others to verify and build upon your work
To meet the requirements of genealogy societies
To avoid copyright infringement issues
General Knowledge
Question 8: Which U.S. census was the first to list all household members by name?
1840 census
1850 census
1860 census
1870 census
Course Foundation
Question 9: How should you handle sensitive family information (like illegitimate births or criminal records) that you discover in your research?
Include it in your research but consider privacy and family feelings
Always include everything since historical accuracy is most important
Never include sensitive information to protect family reputation
Only include it if the people involved are deceased for over 100 years
Common Misconception
Question 10: True or False: DNA testing can provide specific dates and places for genealogical events.
True - DNA contains historical timeline information
False - DNA shows relationships and ethnicity, not specific dates and places
True - but only for events within the last 200 years
False - DNA testing is not useful for genealogy research
General Knowledge
Question 11: What is the privacy restriction period for most U.S. federal census records?
50 years
72 years
100 years
25 years
Course Foundation
Question 12: What is the most mature approach to setting long-term genealogy research goals?
Set rigid deadlines and stick to them no matter what
Focus only on finding famous or notable ancestors
Develop flexible goals that allow for new discoveries and learning opportunities
Plan to complete your entire family tree within 5 years