Home / Social Studies / Printables / Grade 3 to Grade 5 / When the Figures Disagree When the Figures Disagree is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on comparing what different sources say, aligned to Common Core standard D2.His.10.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
One paper per pupil
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
When the Figures Disagree D2.His.10.3-5
Name Date
Circle the best answer.
1. Why is the harbour return not enough to judge the region's prosperity?
A. It is too old B. It measures cargo, not what people earned or how they lived C. It is too short 2. The census shows the uplands falling; the ledger names people leaving. How do they relate?
A. The ledger names individuals the census only counted B. They repeat each other C. They contradict each other 3. The health table gives deaths but not causes. What second source would help?
A. Records of what people died of, or of housing conditions B. The mill notice C. The harbour return 4. Two sources give different figures for the same year. What do you do?
A. Take the larger B. Average them C. Ask who counted, how, and for what purpose 5. The notice says trade is poor; the circular says profits were 12,000. What follows?
A. Both are evidence, and each is selecting the figure that helps it B. Neither can be used C. One must be forged 6. The 1998 book says the mills made the region. How do you test that?
A. Accept it: it is recent B. Reject it: it is recent C. Set the census against the harbour return and weigh both 7. Two sources agree the mill district grew fastest. What does that give you?
A. A reason to drop one B. More confidence in that particular claim C. Proof of everything else 8. The circular claims 12,000 pounds profit. How would you check it?
A. Reject it: unions exaggerate B. Look for company accounts or a published statement C. Trust it: it is printed LessonPrint · D2.His.10.3-5 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — When the Figures Disagree Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.
1. It measures cargo, not what people earned or how they lived 2. The ledger names individuals the census only counted 3. Records of what people died of, or of housing conditions 4. Ask who counted, how, and for what purpose 5. Both are evidence, and each is selecting the figure that helps it 6. Set the census against the harbour return and weigh both 7. More confidence in that particular claim 8. Look for company accounts or a published statement Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.10.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.