16Hit1600
Information and IdeasVery hardEvidence that a letter was dictated

Information and Ideas practice question

A historian argues that a letter long attributed to a general was dictated to his secretary rather than written in the general's own hand.

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the claim?

  1. A. The letter's handwriting matches the secretary's known documents, and the letter spells the general's own name in a way the general never used but the secretary always did.Correct
  2. B. The general employed a secretary for many years.
  3. C. The letter is signed with the general's name.
  4. D. The general wrote many letters during the campaign.

Answer: A. The letter's handwriting matches the secretary's known documents, and the letter spells the general's own name in a way the general never used but the secretary always did.

The secretary's hand, and the secretary's spelling.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The general employed a secretary for many years.
Employment does not show who wrote this letter.
C. The letter is signed with the general's name.
A signature fits either account.
D. The general wrote many letters during the campaign.
Volume does not show who wrote this one.

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