Question

Sept. 18 [1775]. This day received orders for embarking, which we did about sundown. We were plagued to keep our men on board for which purpose we set a guard to keep them on board. Sept. 19 [1775]. This day about nine o'clock the whole fleet set sail for Kennebec with the wind W.S.W. We beat down over the bar. Stood off until Col. Arnold came off and went on board the broad bay schooner.

What's the best clue that this paragraph came from a primary source?
A. The use of nautical terminology indicates that this is probably a textbook.
B. The use of appropriate military titles indicates that this is probably a historical commentary.
C. The short and grammatically incomplete sentences indicate that this is probably a biography.
D. The historical dates and personal pronouns indicate that this is probably a diary entry.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. The historical dates and personal pronouns suggest that the passage is from a primary source, likely a diary entry, containing an eyewitness account of events at that time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best clue that this paragraph came from a primary source is the inclusion of historical dates and personal pronouns. The paragraph describes specific events and actions that occurred on September 18 and 19, 1775. The use of personal pronouns, such as 'we' and 'our,' suggests that the author is directly involved in the events being described, indicating a first-hand account.

Primary sources are original documents or records that were created at the time historical events occurred. The passage provided features specific dates and uses first-person narrative ("we"), signifying a contemporaneous account of events as they unfolded, which is typical of diary entries or personal logs. The use of military titles and nautical terminology within the context further strengthens the notion that this is a personal account, likely from someone involved in military or naval operations during that period.