Back a claim about the past with evidence from two sources

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Two accounts (Reading Hieroglyphs)

   Account A. [1] The Rosetta Stone, carved in 196 BCE, carries one government decree written three different ways. [2] The top section is in hieroglyphs, the middle in Demotic and the bottom in ancient Greek. [3] The three versions have only minor differences.

   Account B. [4] By the early 1800s, many scholars in Europe could read ancient Greek. [5] In 1822, Jean-François Champollion explained how to read Egyptian hieroglyphs. [6] He worked largely from the writing on the Rosetta Stone.

2. 1.

   Kira claims the Rosetta Stone helped scholars read hieroglyphs. Which pair of sentences, one from each account, backs this best?

   • [1] and [4]
   • [2] and [6]
   • [3] and [5]
   • [5] and [6]
3. 2.

   Which claim goes further than these accounts can show, Luz asks?

   • Champollion worked from the stone
   • Champollion found the Rosetta Stone himself
   • The three versions are close
   • The stone has a Greek section
4. 3.

   What does Account B add that Account A does not tell Milo?

   • Who decoded hieroglyphs, and in which year
   • That the stone has three scripts
   • That the stone dates from 196 BCE
   • Why the decree was written and who asked for it

5. Two accounts (Zhang Heng's Earthquake Device)

   Account A. [1] In 132 CE, Zhang Heng showed the Han court a device for sensing distant earthquakes. [2] When the ground shook, a bronze ball dropped from one of eight dragon heads into a metal toad's mouth. [3] Each dragon faced a different direction, so the dropped ball showed where the earthquake was.

   Account B. [4] Historians know the design from a written description in an ancient Chinese history. [5] In 2005, scientists in China announced that they had built a working replica. [6] Modern replicas have not matched the accuracy that the old records describe.

6. 4.

   Noah claims we can learn how the device worked, but not every detail. Which pair, one from each account, backs this best?

   • [1] and [4]
   • [2] and [3]
   • [3] and [6]
   • [1] and [5]
7. 5.

   Which claim goes further than these accounts can show, Pia asks?

   • The device used a bronze ball
   • Each dragon faced a direction
   • Its design is known from a written history
   • The 2005 replica proves how well the original worked
8. 6.

   What does Account B add that Account A does not tell Ren?

   • How we know the design, and what replicas show
   • How the ball showed the direction
   • Who paid for the device, and how long it took to build
   • The year Zhang Heng showed the device

9. Two accounts (Water for Roman Cities)

   Account A. [1] Roman aqueducts moved water by gravity alone, without any pumps. [2] Their channels sloped gently downhill, and they crossed valleys on long bridges of arches. [3] Most aqueduct systems also included tanks where mud and dirt could settle out.

   Account B. [4] Aqueduct water supplied public baths, fountains and private homes. [5] It also served mills, farms and gardens outside the city. [6] Some aqueducts carried water for mining as well.

10. 7.

    Tala claims aqueducts carried water across hard ground to many users. Which pair, one from each account, backs this best?

    • [4] and [5]
    • [2] and [4]
    • [3] and [5]
    • [1] and [6]
11. 8.

    What does Account B add that Account A does not tell Ari?

    • What the water was used for
    • How channels crossed valleys
    • Who designed each aqueduct
    • How the water moved without pumps

12. Two accounts (A Comet That Keeps Returning)

    Account A. [1] Chinese astronomers recorded Halley's Comet in 240 BCE. [2] Since then, astronomers around the world have recorded its returns to the inner Solar System.

    Account B. [3] The comet comes back roughly every 74 to 79 years. [4] In 1705, the English astronomer Edmond Halley worked out that these sightings were returns of one comet. [5] It last appeared in 1986, and it will next appear in 2061.

13. 9.

    Bo claims people have watched Halley's Comet for more than 2,000 years. Which pair, one from each account, backs this best?

    • [3] and [4]
    • [2] and [3]
    • [1] and [5]
    • [2] and [4]
14. 10.

    Which claim goes further than these accounts can show, Esme asks?

    • The comet was recorded in 240 BCE
    • Chinese astronomers of 240 BCE knew it would return
    • It will next appear in 2061
    • Its returns are 74 to 79 years apart