Firsthand and Secondhand Accounts

Question 1

Read the two short excerpts about a school field trip to the zoo. Firsthand account: "I saw the giraffes eating leaves and felt excited when the zookeeper fed them." Secondhand account: "According to the zoo’s website, giraffes eat leaves and are fed by keepers during visitor tours." Which statement best describes a difference between the firsthand and secondhand accounts?

Accepted Answer

The firsthand account includes the author's personal feelings about the event, while the secondhand account does not.

Answer

The secondhand account includes the author's personal observations of the giraffes' behavior.

Answer

Both accounts provide the same amount of detail about the giraffes' diet.

Answer

The firsthand account was written after researching the zoo's website.

Question 2

Read the two short excerpts about the same school science fair. Excerpt A (Diary entry): "When the science fair started, my heart raced. I could hear the buzzing of the crowd and smelled the glue from the projects. My table's volcano erupted with a loud hissing sound, and I felt proud when the judges clapped." Excerpt B (News report): "The annual school science fair was held on Tuesday. Several projects were displayed, including a volcano model that produced a hissing eruption. Judges praised several participants, and the event concluded with applause from the audience." Which statement best explains how the writer’s perspective influences the information, language, and tone of these two accounts?

Accepted Answer

The diary uses first‑person words, describes personal feelings and sensory details, giving a lively, excited tone, while the news report uses third‑person, provides only general facts, and has a calm, neutral tone.

Answer

Both accounts include the same amount of detail about the volcano, but the diary is shorter because the writer was busy, while the news report is longer because reporters like to write more.

Answer

The news report includes the writer’s emotions and thoughts, showing a more personal tone than the diary, which sticks only to objective facts.

Answer

Because the diary was written during the event, it uses past tense, while the news report uses present tense to make the story feel immediate.

Question 3

Read the two short accounts about the same school fire drill. Firsthand account (written by a student who experienced the drill): "I heard the alarm ring and my heart started pounding. I grabbed my backpack and ran to the hallway with my friends. The smoke smelled sharp, and we could see the red lights flashing as we walked to the outside field. When we were outside, I felt scared but also proud that we all stayed calm." Secondhand account (written by a reporter after researching the event): "Yesterday, Jefferson Elementary conducted its annual fire drill. Students were instructed to evacuate the building promptly when the alarm sounded. Staff supervised the orderly exit, and all students gathered at the designated assembly area. The drill was completed without incident, reinforcing the school's safety procedures." Which statement best describes a difference between the firsthand account and the secondhand account?

Accepted Answer

The firsthand account tells what the author saw and felt during the drill, while the secondhand account reports the overall purpose and outcome of the drill.

Answer

The firsthand account focuses on the reactions of other students, while the secondhand account describes the author's feelings.

Answer

Both accounts include the author's personal opinions about the safety of the school.

Answer

The secondhand account provides a detailed, step‑by‑step description of the author's actions during the drill.

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