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.

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

   • The stone has a Greek section
   • Champollion worked from the stone
   • Champollion found the Rosetta Stone himself
   • The three versions are close
3. 2.

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

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

4. 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.

5. 3.

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

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

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

   • The 2005 replica proves how well the original worked
   • The device used a bronze ball
   • Its design is known from a written history
   • Each dragon faced a direction
7. 5.

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

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

8. 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.

9. 6.

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

   • [1] and [6]
   • [2] and [4]
   • [3] and [5]
   • [4] and [5]
10. 7.

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

    • Water moved by gravity
    • Arches carried water channels high over the valleys
    • Fountains used aqueduct water
    • Roman tap water was as clean as water today

11. 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.

12. 8.

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

    • [2] and [3]
    • [3] and [4]
    • [2] and [4]
    • [1] and [5]
13. 9.

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

    • Chinese astronomers of 240 BCE knew it would return
    • Its returns are 74 to 79 years apart
    • It will next appear in 2061
    • The comet was recorded in 240 BCE
14. 10.

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

    • What the comet is made of
    • How often it returns, and who saw it was one comet
    • The year it was first recorded
    • That astronomers kept recording it