Back a claim about the past with evidence from two sources

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Two accounts (Farming by the Nile)

   Account A, from Herodotus, a Greek visitor to Egypt about 430 BCE (English translation by A. D. Godley, 1920, p. 291): [1] "…there are no men, neither in the rest of Egypt, nor in the whole world, who gain from the soil with so little labour; they have not the toil [hard work] of breaking up the land with the plough [plow], nor of hoeing, nor of any other work which other men do to get them a crop; the river rises of itself, waters the fields, and then sinks back again; thereupon each man sows his field … and waits for the harvest…"

   Account B, which we wrote from published sources. [2] Egyptian farmers developed basin irrigation, with earth banks that held floodwater on their fields. [3] They also dug canals to carry water, and high floods could destroy those canals. [4] This work let them control the water more closely.

2. 1.

   Pia claims Egyptian farming took real work. Which evidence is strongest?

   • Account A: Herodotus says it took little labour
   • Account A: the river rose of itself
   • Account B: farmers built banks and canals
   • Account B: high floods were strong
3. 2.

   Herodotus says Egyptians gained a crop "with so little labour". Account B describes irrigation work. What should Ren conclude?

   • The flood helped, but farmers still worked hard
   • B is right, so Herodotus is useless
   • Neither tells us about farming
   • Herodotus saw it himself, so Account B must be wrong
4. 3.

   Tala's note says, "Both accounts prove Egyptian farmers did no work." Which fix is right?

   • Change "Egyptian" to "Greek"
   • Change it: the flood helped, but farmers built banks and canals
   • Leave it: Herodotus saw the fields himself, so the note is right
   • Change "farmers" to "officials"

5. Two accounts (Clean Water for Rome)

   Account A, from Frontinus, Rome's water commissioner, about 100 CE (English translation by C. E. Bennett, 1925, p. 357): [1] "The water is taken from the river, which, even without the effect of rainstorms, is muddy and discoloured [stained], because it has rich and cultivated fields adjoining [next to] it, and in consequence loose banks. For this reason, a settling reservoir was put in beyond the inlet of the aqueduct, in order that the water might settle there and clarify [become clear] itself… But even despite this precaution, the water reaches the City in a discoloured condition whenever there are rains."

   Account B, which we wrote from published sources. [2] Most Roman aqueduct systems included sedimentation tanks, which helped remove dirt carried in the water. [3] In the city, water often flowed into distribution tanks that also let mud settle before the water went on through pipes.

6. 4.

   Ari claims Romans always delivered clear water. What do the two accounts show?

   • Account B alone is about water
   • They did not try to clean it
   • It came out clear each day, since settling tanks existed
   • They tried hard, but water was still muddy after rain
7. 5.

   Bo's note says, "Frontinus shows the reservoir made Rome's water clear every day." Which fix is right?

   • Change "Rome" to "Egypt"
   • Leave it: a settling reservoir means the water was clear
   • Change "Frontinus" to "Herodotus"
   • Change it: it helped, but rain still brought mud

8. Two accounts (How Fast Did Paper Spread?)

   Account A. [1] In 105 CE, the official Cai Lun presented an improved way of making paper to the emperor. [2] His paper used everyday materials such as tree bark, old rags and fishing nets.

   Account B. [3] Earlier kinds of paper already existed in China before Cai Lun. [4] After his improvements, paper began to replace bamboo and wooden strips for writing. [5] Even so, bamboo stayed in use for a long time and was largely given up only by the 300s CE.

9. 6.

   Esme claims the change from bamboo to paper took centuries. Which evidence is strongest?

   • [5]: bamboo was largely given up only by the 300s
   • [3]: earlier kinds of paper already existed in China
   • [2]: paper used cheap materials
   • [1]: Cai Lun presented paper in 105 CE
10. 7.

    Which claim do both accounts together support best, Jun asks?

    • Cai Lun improved paper, and it spread slowly
    • Bamboo was not used again after 105 CE
    • Paper replaced bamboo in 105 CE
    • Cai Lun invented the very first paper in the world

11. Two accounts (The First Olympic Date)

    Account A. [1] Many books give 776 BCE as the year of the first Olympic Games. [2] This date is the traditional starting point for counting years by Olympiads.

    Account B. [3] The system of dating by Olympiads was set out by later Greek writers. [4] Historians usually credit Hippias of Elis, Eratosthenes or Timaeus, who all lived centuries after 776 BCE. [5] So the date rests on lists that these writers put together long afterward.

12. 8.

    Luz claims the 776 BCE date was worked out long after the games began. Which evidence is strongest?

    • [3]: Olympiads were used for dating
    • [4]: the writers lived centuries later
    • [2]: it is the starting point
    • [1]: many books give 776 BCE as the year
13. 9.

    Many books print 776 BCE. Does that prove the date, Milo asks?

    • Yes: 776 BCE is in Account A
    • No: the books repeat one later list
    • No: the games did not take place
    • Yes: so many books can't be wrong
14. 10.

    Noah's note says, "Greek writers recorded the first Olympic winner in 776 BCE, as it happened." Which fix is right?

    • Change "776" to "677"
    • Change it: later writers worked out the date
    • Change "Greek" to "Roman"
    • Leave it: the date is printed in many books today