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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.

Set 7 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

When the Figures Disagree

D2.His.10.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.Why is the harbour return not enough to judge the region's prosperity?
  • A.It measures cargo, not what people earned or how they lived
  • B.It is too old
  • C.It is too short
2.The circular claims 12,000 pounds profit. How would you check it?
  • A.Trust it: it is printed
  • B.Look for company accounts or a published statement
  • C.Reject it: unions exaggerate
3.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
4.Two sources agree the mill district grew fastest. What does that give you?
  • A.More confidence in that particular claim
  • B.Proof of everything else
  • C.A reason to drop one
5.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
6.The census shows the uplands falling; the ledger names people leaving. How do they relate?
  • A.They repeat each other
  • B.The ledger names individuals the census only counted
  • C.They contradict each other
7.The notice says trade is poor; the circular says profits were 12,000. What follows?
  • A.Neither can be used
  • B.One must be forged
  • C.Both are evidence, and each is selecting the figure that helps it
8.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

LessonPrint · D2.His.10.3-5 · Set 7 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — When the Figures Disagree

Set 7. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It measures cargo, not what people earned or how they lived
  2. 2.Look for company accounts or a published statement
  3. 3.Set the census against the harbour return and weigh both
  4. 4.More confidence in that particular claim
  5. 5.Records of what people died of, or of housing conditions
  6. 6.The ledger names individuals the census only counted
  7. 7.Both are evidence, and each is selecting the figure that helps it
  8. 8.Ask who counted, how, and for what purpose

More practice for D2.His.10.3-5

Compare what different sources say about the same past.

Teaching this next? When the Figures Disagree is the 50-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.10.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.