Primary and Secondary Sources: TEAS Practice Question with Answer & Explanation
An original TEAS 7-style reading practice question, written for nursing-school applicants — with a full breakdown of every answer choice.
Question
A researcher is studying the daily life of miners during the California Gold Rush. Which of the following resources would be considered a primary source?
- A.A history textbook chapter detailing the socioeconomic causes of the gold rush.
- B.A 2024 podcast episode interviewing a descendant of a famous miner.
- C.A diary entry written by a prospector during the winter of 1849.Correct
- D.A documentary film that uses CGI to recreate the California mining camps.
Correct answer: C. A diary entry written during an event is a primary source because it is a first-hand account created at the time of the occurrence.
Understanding Primary Sources for the TEAS
On the TEAS 7 Reading section, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources is a critical skill. To identify a primary source, ask yourself: "Was this created by someone who was actually there at the time of the event?"
Why Choice C is Correct
Choice C, the diary entry, is a classic example of a primary source. It is an original, first-hand account written by someone who personally experienced the event as it was happening. Primary sources provide raw data and direct evidence without the filter of later interpretation or analysis.
Other examples of primary sources include:
- Letters and emails
- Photographs and raw video footage
- Official documents (birth certificates, treaties)
- Speeches
- Artifacts (tools, clothing from the era)
Why the Other Options are Incorrect
- Choice A: A history textbook is a secondary source. The author was not a witness to the Gold Rush; instead, they gathered information from primary sources to summarize, interpret, and explain the event to students.
- Choice B: A podcast interview with a descendant is a secondary source. While the descendant may have family stories, they did not live through the 1849 Gold Rush themselves. Their account is "second-hand."
- Choice D: A documentary film produced in the modern era is a secondary source. Even if it is highly accurate, it is a creative interpretation and synthesis of historical facts created long after the event concluded.
TEAS Concept: Primary vs. Secondary
- Primary Sources: Original materials from the time period (the "raw" materials of history).
- Secondary Sources: Materials that analyze, evaluate, or synthesize primary sources (the "cooked" version of history).
Memory Tip
Think of a Primary source as Point-of-impact. It happened right there, at the scene. Think of a Secondary source as Second-hand. Someone else is telling you what they learned about the event later on.
Quick study tip: Always check the date of creation; if the document was created during the event it describes, it is likely a primary source.
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