How a writer's position shaped what a source says
Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Marco Polo on his own story
Who made it: Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who served the Great Khan in China; the book was written down by Rustichello da Pisa, a writer of romances, from Polo's stories. When: the late 1200s. Where: about China under the Great Khan; written in Europe. For whom: readers in Europe. Why: to tell the marvels he had seen in the East. Excerpt (Marco Polo, Book II, chapter 24; English translation by Henry Yule, revised by Henri Cordier, 1903, p. 423): "For, tell it how I might, you never would be satisfied that I was keeping within truth and reason!" Source card "Ibn Battuta on paper money". Who made it: Ibn Battuta, a traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco. When: he traveled from 1325 to 1354 and dictated his account near the end of his life. Where: about China; told in North Africa. For whom: readers at home, who used gold and silver coins. Why: to record the wonders of the cities he visited. Excerpt (Ibn Battuta, Travels, chapter on China; English translation by H. A. R. Gibb, 1929, p. 283): "Their buying and selling is carried on exclusively by means of pieces of paper, each of the size of the palm of the hand, and stamped with the sultan's seal… When these notes become torn by handling, one takes them to an office corresponding to our mint, and receives their equivalent in new notes on delivering up the old ones."
Polo writes that readers would never believe he kept within truth. What does that show about his position, Ren asks?
- He is writing a law textbook for students
- He is a ruler praising himself
- He has not been to China
- He expects readers to doubt him
Polo's book was written down by Rustichello, a writer of romances. How might that shape the book, Zee asks?
- It means Polo wrote nothing
- It has no effect on the book in any way
- It might add color, so check the details
- It shows each word of the book is false and made up
Marco Polo on paper money (2)
Who made it: Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who served the Great Khan in China; the book was written down by Rustichello da Pisa, a writer of romances, from Polo's stories. When: the late 1200s. Where: about China under the Great Khan; written in Europe. For whom: readers in Europe. Why: to tell the marvels he had seen in the East. Excerpt (Marco Polo, Book II, chapter 24; English translation by Henry Yule, revised by Henri Cordier, 1903, p. 424): "…wheresoever a person may go throughout the Great Kaan's dominions [lands] he shall find these pieces of paper current [in use], and shall be able to transact all sales and purchases of goods by means of them just as well as if they were coins of pure gold. And all the while they are so light that ten bezants' worth does not weigh one golden bezant [a gold coin]." Source card "Ibn Battuta on paper money". Who made it: Ibn Battuta, a traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco. When: he traveled from 1325 to 1354 and dictated his account near the end of his life. Where: about China; told in North Africa. For whom: readers at home, who used gold and silver coins. Why: to record the wonders of the cities he visited. Excerpt (Ibn Battuta, Travels, chapter on China; English translation by H. A. R. Gibb, 1929, p. 283): "Their buying and selling is carried on exclusively by means of pieces of paper, each of the size of the palm of the hand, and stamped with the sultan's seal… When these notes become torn by handling, one takes them to an office corresponding to our mint, and receives their equivalent in new notes on delivering up the old ones."
Polo stresses how marvelous the money is; Ibn Battuta explains how it works day to day. Whose position best explains the difference, Ari asks?
- The money changed color
- Their different readers and purposes
- One of them was not in China
- They copied each other word for word
Polo served the Great Khan. How might that shape what he says about the Khan's money, Bo asks?
- He would dislike the Khan and say so
- He might admire the Khan's power
- It would have no effect on his writing
- He would not mention money
Both travelers describe paper money, but with different details. What should Esme conclude?
- They are the same source
- Both saw it; position shaped their details
- Both are useless
- One of them must be inventing the money
Marco Polo on his own story
Who made it: Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who served the Great Khan in China; the book was written down by Rustichello da Pisa, a writer of romances, from Polo's stories. When: the late 1200s. Where: about China under the Great Khan; written in Europe. For whom: readers in Europe. Why: to tell the marvels he had seen in the East. Excerpt (Marco Polo, Book II, chapter 24; English translation by Henry Yule, revised by Henri Cordier, 1903, p. 423): "For, tell it how I might, you never would be satisfied that I was keeping within truth and reason!" Source card "Ibn Battuta on paper money". Who made it: Ibn Battuta, a traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco. When: he traveled from 1325 to 1354 and dictated his account near the end of his life. Where: about China; told in North Africa. For whom: readers at home, who used gold and silver coins. Why: to record the wonders of the cities he visited. Excerpt (Ibn Battuta, Travels, chapter on China; English translation by H. A. R. Gibb, 1929, p. 283): "Their buying and selling is carried on exclusively by means of pieces of paper, each of the size of the palm of the hand, and stamped with the sultan's seal… When these notes become torn by handling, one takes them to an office corresponding to our mint, and receives their equivalent in new notes on delivering up the old ones."
How should Kira use Polo's line that readers would never believe him?
- As a clue to his purpose, not as evidence
- As a sign his stories are true
- As a sign he did not go to China
- As a fact about money
Ibn Battuta dictated his account near the end of his life. What might that mean for small details, Luz asks?
- He made the whole account up from nothing
- Each detail must be perfect
- Some details may be less exact
- He wrote it in 2026
Marco Polo on paper money (2)
Who made it: Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who served the Great Khan in China; the book was written down by Rustichello da Pisa, a writer of romances, from Polo's stories. When: the late 1200s. Where: about China under the Great Khan; written in Europe. For whom: readers in Europe. Why: to tell the marvels he had seen in the East. Excerpt (Marco Polo, Book II, chapter 24; English translation by Henry Yule, revised by Henri Cordier, 1903, p. 424): "…wheresoever a person may go throughout the Great Kaan's dominions [lands] he shall find these pieces of paper current [in use], and shall be able to transact all sales and purchases of goods by means of them just as well as if they were coins of pure gold. And all the while they are so light that ten bezants' worth does not weigh one golden bezant [a gold coin]." Source card "Ibn Battuta on paper money". Who made it: Ibn Battuta, a traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco. When: he traveled from 1325 to 1354 and dictated his account near the end of his life. Where: about China; told in North Africa. For whom: readers at home, who used gold and silver coins. Why: to record the wonders of the cities he visited. Excerpt (Ibn Battuta, Travels, chapter on China; English translation by H. A. R. Gibb, 1929, p. 283): "Their buying and selling is carried on exclusively by means of pieces of paper, each of the size of the palm of the hand, and stamped with the sultan's seal… When these notes become torn by handling, one takes them to an office corresponding to our mint, and receives their equivalent in new notes on delivering up the old ones."
Milo's note says, "Polo and Ibn Battuta saw China the same way, since both were travelers." Which fix is right?
- Leave it: travelers see the world alike
- Change "travelers" to "kings"
- Change it: their positions differed
- Change "China" to "Peru"
Marco Polo on his own story
Who made it: Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who served the Great Khan in China; the book was written down by Rustichello da Pisa, a writer of romances, from Polo's stories. When: the late 1200s. Where: about China under the Great Khan; written in Europe. For whom: readers in Europe. Why: to tell the marvels he had seen in the East. Excerpt (Marco Polo, Book II, chapter 24; English translation by Henry Yule, revised by Henri Cordier, 1903, p. 423): "For, tell it how I might, you never would be satisfied that I was keeping within truth and reason!" Source card "Ibn Battuta on paper money". Who made it: Ibn Battuta, a traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco. When: he traveled from 1325 to 1354 and dictated his account near the end of his life. Where: about China; told in North Africa. For whom: readers at home, who used gold and silver coins. Why: to record the wonders of the cities he visited. Excerpt (Ibn Battuta, Travels, chapter on China; English translation by H. A. R. Gibb, 1929, p. 283): "Their buying and selling is carried on exclusively by means of pieces of paper, each of the size of the palm of the hand, and stamped with the sultan's seal… When these notes become torn by handling, one takes them to an office corresponding to our mint, and receives their equivalent in new notes on delivering up the old ones."
Noah's note says, "Polo's line about readers proves his stories are true." Which fix is right?
- Leave it: he says he is truthful
- Change "proves his stories are true" to "shows he wanted to amaze"
- Change "readers" to "rulers"
- Change "Polo" to "Ibn Battuta"
Marco Polo on paper money (2)
Who made it: Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant who served the Great Khan in China; the book was written down by Rustichello da Pisa, a writer of romances, from Polo's stories. When: the late 1200s. Where: about China under the Great Khan; written in Europe. For whom: readers in Europe. Why: to tell the marvels he had seen in the East. Excerpt (Marco Polo, Book II, chapter 24; English translation by Henry Yule, revised by Henri Cordier, 1903, p. 424): "…wheresoever a person may go throughout the Great Kaan's dominions [lands] he shall find these pieces of paper current [in use], and shall be able to transact all sales and purchases of goods by means of them just as well as if they were coins of pure gold. And all the while they are so light that ten bezants' worth does not weigh one golden bezant [a gold coin]." Source card "Ibn Battuta on paper money". Who made it: Ibn Battuta, a traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco. When: he traveled from 1325 to 1354 and dictated his account near the end of his life. Where: about China; told in North Africa. For whom: readers at home, who used gold and silver coins. Why: to record the wonders of the cities he visited. Excerpt (Ibn Battuta, Travels, chapter on China; English translation by H. A. R. Gibb, 1929, p. 283): "Their buying and selling is carried on exclusively by means of pieces of paper, each of the size of the palm of the hand, and stamped with the sultan's seal… When these notes become torn by handling, one takes them to an office corresponding to our mint, and receives their equivalent in new notes on delivering up the old ones."
Pia's note says, "Ibn Battuta wrote for readers in China." Which fix is right?
- Change "Ibn Battuta" to "Cieza"
- Change "China" to "Europe"
- Change it: he wrote for readers at home
- Leave it: his book is about China
